New Feature - Real-time water information for selected points in the Coastal Bay

Offshore fishing action off Ocean City has really taken a focus on the area around the Hambone and the Baltimore canyon lately. The bluefin tuna fishing at the hambone continues to be very good. Fishermen are chunking or trolling near working scallop boats and making some impressive catches of bluefins up to 140 lbs. Many boats are catching their three fish limit in as little as an hour or so. Yellowfin tuna are being found at Massey's Canyon and the Baltimore Canyon as well. The big news from the Baltimore Canyon is the longfin albacore and white marlin bite that has developed there recently. Dolphin continue to be found throughout the area and at times it can be a real "hay day" when a concentration of dolphin can be found hovering around some form of floating debris.

Boats fishing a little more closely to shore have been finding excellent croaker fishing in 80' of water off Ocean City. The sea bass season remains closed until September 22nd, so the attention is now focused on croakers and flounder, the later can be found in 60' of water.

Surf fishermen continue to catch a mix of summer species of smaller surf species, such as kingfish, spot, croaker, sea trout and flounder. Many fishermen are now focusing their attention to the abundant snapper bluefish that seem to be everywhere, especially in the surf. Surf anglers are using cut finger mullet to make good catches of these good eating little fighters. A few sharks are keeping things interesting for surf fishermen and fishermen are also catching small to medium size black drum now and then in the surf.

Inside the Ocean City inlet tautog, sheepshead and triggerfish can be found while bottom fishing along with a horde of small sea bass that have recently invaded the area waters. As evening darkness falls upon the inlet area and the Route 50 Bridge, some large sea trout and a few striped bass are being caught on live spot and by casting swimming shad type lures. The area is also a hot spot for snapper bluefish and at times the smaller school-sized sea trout. Everyone involved seems to agree the ebb tide is the best time for this action. Flounder fishing in the Back Bay areas has been rather lack luster this past weekend due to off color water. This surely will improve as the water clears up from recent rains. There is a mix now of blowfish, spot, snapper bluefish, sea trout, a few croaker and a lot of small hungry sea bass also present in the Back Bay waters waiting for squid offerings from flounder fishermen.

NOAA Fisheries adjusts the daily retention limit for the recreational fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the 2004 Fishing year as described on their website. Read more...

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 320 pixels. Please keep the file size small. 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/catchrelease.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.

Send your photos and information to Keith Lockwood

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