Slowly ever so slowly water temperatures are climbing in the Ocean City region. The current surf water temperature is holding around 44-degrees this week. Fishermen are reporting that the hickory shad are at the inlet and a number of anglers have been enjoying some light tackle catch and release fishing for them. Small colorful shad darts or small spoons is the usually fodder for these frisky fish. There have a number of reports of a few tautog being caught in the inlet area this week from the usual locations such as the bulkheads at 2nd and 4th Streets and the jetties. A couple of flounder catches were also reported at the inlet this week and a couple of undersized striped bass.
The nice weather has been causing surf fishermen to get itchy to try their luck out in the suds and the first reports are of spiny dogfish and skates; which should come as no surprise to most knowledgeable anglers.
Reports from North Carolina tell of the bluefin tuna starting their move out this past week and it would be a good guess that they are headed north; so just maybe fishermen might find them moving through our waters in the next couple of weeks. Tautog are holding on many of the wrecks and artificial reef sites as are the spiny dogfish.
If you submitted a photo and don't see your picture in the regular report please look in the photo gallery that we periodically run. Click here for this week's gallery!
Real-time water information for selected points in the Coastal Bay
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:
-
Date
-
Angler(s)
-
Hometown(s)
-
Photo credit
-
Location
-
Weight/length of catch
-
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.
