Fishermen in the Ocean City area have been taking it on the chin lately in regards to rough seas, wind and rain. The back bays have often been experiencing cloudy water conditions from the rains and wind. Fishing at the inlet area has been a bright spot for fishermen lately as the tautog fishing there has been very good. Pieces of green crab or sand fleas have been the most popular baits and although there are a number of throwbacks; fishermen have been catching limits of nice tautog from the Route 50 Bridge and the bulkheads and jetties.

Bluefish continue to move in and out of the inlet and fishermen are catching plenty of them on Got-Cha lures and various lures. The fishing for striped bass has been steadily improving and fishermen have been catching legal sized striped bass with regularity during the day and night. Most fishermen are casting swim shad lures such as Storms; but others are finding great success with drifting live spot and small eels.

Surf fishermen have been dealing with heavy surf conditions on a regular basis but they also have been experiencing the first “Bluefish Blitzes” of large bluefish chasing menhaden and mullet into the surf. At times fishermen have been reporting bait being washed up onto the beaches. Most fishermen are casting a variety of lures during this intense action and fishing bottom rigs with finger mullet when the action is slower. Increasing numbers of large striped bass are being caught everyday now and the next couple of weeks hold the promise of memorable fall surf fishing.

---

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

---

OFFSHORE MAP Click Map Icon For a Larger View	Please click for the latest sea surface temperatures from Rutgers University Marine Remote Sensing
	Please Click for the latest automated weather observations from Station 44009 - DELAWARE BAY 26 NM Southeast of Cape May, NJ
Please click for the latest automated weather observations from THE HOTEL BUOY.

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.