Let there be no doubt that the Ocean City area is in the peak of the summer season. Despite crowded boat traffic conditions in the back bay channel areas; flounder fishermen managed to catch some nice flounder this past weekend without getting cut in half. The classic spots such as the Main East Channel, the Thorofare and Sinepuxent Bay were all good places to fish. The flounder are biting and people are catching a lot of them although the throwback ratio remains high. Spot and croaker have moved into the back bay areas as have small bluefish.
In and around the inlet area fishermen are catching some striped bass at first light before the boat traffic starts; especially around the South Jetty. Casting swim shads and drifting live spot have been very effective; especially during an incoming tide. Bluefish are being caught in the evenings on Got-Cha lures and a few small tautog continue to be caught near the bulkheads and rocks. Flounder are being caught on live spot and casting bottom rigs from shore or drifting in boats.
Surf fishermen are seeing water temperatures rising into the low 70’s this week and those warmer water temperatures are bringing a mix of kingfish, croakers, spot and flounder in close to the beaches. Small bluefish are being caught on finger mullet and large cut baits of squid or menhaden will get you large sharks and sting rays.
The wreck fishing for sea bass has been off lately; speculation is spawning activity. Catches of big flounder near the wreck sites and a few triggerfish have been helping pick up the slack.
Offshore fishermen are catching a lot of small yellowfin tuna out near the canyons; many are too small to keep but there is a sprinkling of others up to 60 lbs to keep fishermen hopeful. Gaffer size dolphin, white marlin and an occasional bluefin tuna are helping round out the mix. The season’s first wahoo was caught this past weekend and a variety of sharks continue to be caught.
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:
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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.
