Fishermen had good flounder fishing last weekend right up to the closing bell on Sunday evening. There were numerous fishermen who used live finger mullet and spot to catch some doormat size flounder to end their 2009 flounder season with a high note.
In and around the Ocean City Inlet fishermen are catching increasing numbers of tautog as water temperatures begin to cool. At present it has fallen to about 70-degrees. There are still trigger fish around the bulkheads and jetties and sand fleas has been the preferred bait for triggers and tautog lately. In the evenings bluefish have been moving in and out of the inlet and casting Got-Cha lures has been the most popular method to catch a mess of them. Striped bass are also part of the evening equation and casting swim shad type lures has been a productive way to catch them. Live lining a small American eels is another traditional and productive way to catch a nice striped bass also.
Surf fishermen are enjoying themselves once again now that surf conditions have calmed. Small bluefish are being caught on finger mullet and croakers and kingfish on squid and bloodworms. Fishermen will begin to sling large cut menhaden baits soon in anticipation of migrating large red drum this coming weekend. The run usually passes through the region around the third and fourth week of September.
Sea bass fishing on the wreck and reef sites took a nice turn for the better this past weekend and many fishermen walked off the boats with near limit catches of sea bass. Captains were very happy to see this positive change in sea bass fortunes; especially now that flounder season is closed in Maryland. The boats working closer to the beaches have been finding croaker and hopefully cooler water temperatures will cause them to school up in the near future.
Now that the region is recovering from last week’s northeaster; fishermen found good fishing from the 30-fathom curve out to the canyons. False albacore are moving through the region and can be pesky at times but can provide some fun and exercise for fishermen longing for some pull. White marlin are being caught from the 30-fathom line out to the canyons and several boats reported dolphin catches up to 4-dozen per trip. Yellowfin tuna are being caught here and there as are bluefin tuna and even a few wahoo came into the docks this week.
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.
