It seems hard to imagine but fishermen are still catching a few flounder in the main east channel behind Ocean City. A number of fishermen are still holding a few live spot in holding boxes or pens and are drifting them on an ebbing tide for striped bass or whatever picks them up; hopefully it will not be a bluefish. The day time gang at the inlet area has been enjoying good to excellent fishing for tautog from the Route 50 Bridge and nearby bulkheads as well as the jetties. Sand fleas and pieces of crab are the baits of choice and a falling or ebb tide seems to offer the best fishing. The throwback ratio generally runs about 50/50. At night fishermen have been drifting live eels or casting swimming shad type lures for striped bass.
Surf fishermen have endured some rough conditions lately but at present conditions are calm with a water temperature of about 53-degrees. The big news this week has been the large bluefish that have been moving in and out of the surf up and down the beaches. These large bluefish are a much larger class than the 1-pound blues that continue to be caught and have surf fishermen excited. Finger mullet continues to be the bait of choice. The number of large striped bass over 28” being caught in the surf has been steadily increasing as more and more fall migrant fish move into the region from up north. Most fishermen who are targeting large striped bass have been using cut menhaden or spot if they can find them. The fresher the better and the head is always the prize piece due to the fact that it will hold up better. Skates are of course part of the scene along the beaches and as waters cool even more dogfish will soon arrive.
The boats heading out to the wreck sites in search of sea bass have been finding them in good numbers. Limits are not common but most fishermen are able to put a double digit catch together. Large bluefish have moved into the area and have really been pesky at many of the reef site chomping sea bass on their way up from the bottom. Fishermen have been extracting some payment and most everyone is able to catch all the bluefish one could ever think of consuming. The bluefish are also in residence on some of the inshore shoal areas and cutting up hapless bait and have brought the gannets with them also. A number of fishermen have been fishing on some of the inshore reefs and wrecks and finding some very nice tautog for their troubles.
There have not been many reports from anyone fishing offshore but a few nice bluefin tuna have been reported at the docks from the region around the Hambone.
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 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/articles/catch_release.shtml
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
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.
