Flounder fishermen reported a lot of undersized flounder were caught over the weekend and there was a lot of rock and rolling due to the Labor Day weekend boat traffic. Boat traffic should be noticeably lighter now that the big weekend is past and fishermen can settle down to some serious fishing. A number of large flounder in the doormat size category are being caught; some by traditional baits of squid and silversides or bull minnows. Fishermen that are targeting the big ones have been drifting live spot in the channels leading to the inlet or in the inlet itself with good results. Those fishermen that choose this kind of fishing in the late evening hours also stand a chance of catching large sea trout or a striped bass. The third possibility is a bluefish if you’re lucky enough to not get cut off.
There still a lot of croakers being caught in the deeper areas near the inlet from upper Sinepuxent Bay to the Thorofare area. Most are small to medium sized but offer some extra action for fishermen; small sea bass, sea robins and smooth dogfish are also part of the mix.
The evening crew at the Route 50 Bridge/ Inlet area continue to cast swimming shad lures for striped bass and they are catching a few. Bluefish keep moving in and out of the inlet and fishermen targeting them are using Got-Cha lures.
Surf fishermen continue to see a mix of small summer species in the surf such as kingfish, spot and croakers on bloodworms or similar baits. Flounder and small bluefish are being caught on strip baits. The best fishing continues to be early in the morning and late evening due to warm temperatures. Large sharks and rays are being caught at night.
The boats heading out to the artificial reefs and wreck sites are reporting fair catches of sea bass, good catches of large flounder and the first catches of croakers on the way back to port.
A number of boats heading offshore have been finding good fishing at traditional locations such as the Hambone, Hot Dog and the Sausages for bluefin tuna, dolphin, a few wahoo, small yellowfin tuna and white marlin. The boats running out to the canyons report plentiful dolphin and good numbers of white marlin.
Click here to view recent bay region satellite images at mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/NASAimagery/EyesInTheSky.cfm
A Couple of Closing Notes...
Don't hesitate to e-mail your recent
fishing/crabbing photos and trip information. Send your photos via E-mail by the
following Monday in order to be included in the next update. The file should be
in .jpg format with the longest side sized at 600 pixels. Please keep the file
size under one megabyte if possible. The photo should clearly depict the angler(s), fish, and ethical
handling practices. For information on ethical angling practices please
reference the Catch and Release information located at URL:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/articles/catch_release.html
Include the following information:
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Date
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Angler(s)
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Hometown(s)
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Photo credit
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Location
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Weight/length of catch
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Bait/lure
Important Note:
If anyone in your picture is under 18
years of age, we must have a
photo release
signed by that person and a parent/guardian before we can post your picture. By sending any photos or art to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources you are giving DNR permission to use the image(s) online and in print. You are also giving DNR permission to distribute the photo for non-commercial purposes to other media, print, digital and television for their use. You are not giving up your copyright, but are allowing the photo(s) to be used for educational and news purposes.
Send your photos and information to
Keith Lockwood
The Fisheries
Service is pleased to have you visit. We want to make this
site as user friendly as possible, if you have any suggestions, please
mail them to
Paul Genovese.
