Article by Larry Jock
You knew that one of these weeks we were going to get a string of good weather and anglers were going to hit the water hard, and that is exactly what happened last week.
Tuna
We saw a tremendous number of yellowfin tuna arrive at the scales all week, but particularly over the weekend. The vast majority of them were small, just barely legal fish, but we also saw some bruisers as well. The largest yellowfin landed last week came in on Friday when the “Rahcas” brought a 93.8 pounder to the scale at Sunset Marina.
Most of the action occurred in 50 to 80 fathoms between the Baltimore and Poor Man’s Canyons, although reports of good catches and bigger fish in the Wilmington Canyon gave anglers some choices over the weekend.
To make things even more exciting, several bigeye tuna were caught by anglers in the Baltimore Canyon. Although most of them were hooked in the deeper water of the canyon, we also saw one caught in a shallow 70 fathoms as well. On Thursday, the charter boat, “Moore Bills” took a long range trip down to the waters off Hatteras, NC and returned with a 212 lb. bigeye, 24 yellowfins and a pair of dolphin. Also on Thursday, the “Tide Up” weighed a bigeye caught in the Baltimore Canyon that weighed 154 lbs. cored. On Saturday, the “Work Release” landed a pair of eyeballs weighing 125 lbs. and 147 lbs. on the southern end of the Wilmington Canyon during an overnight trip where they also released a swordfish. Also on Sunday, Tony Gay boated a 184 lb. bigeye and the “Sea Hunt” had a 189 pounder, both in the Baltimore. Finally, on Sunday the “Skattebol” ventured out to 70-degree water in the Baltimore Canyon and slayed a 144 lb. bigeye and the charter boat, “That’s Right” killed a 160 pounder.
We hadn’t seen any longfin albacore tuna caught out of Ocean City until Sunday when “Carol’s Tea Kettle” returned with 2 in the box after trolling daisy chains in the Baltimore Canyon. Their heaviest fish weighed 28 lbs.
On a side note, just a word of caution to all tuna fishermen. A lot of the yellowfins that are being caught are right around the legal limit of 27-inches so be careful with your measurements. I saw the Maryland DNR Police and the Coast Guard taking exceptional interest in those returning with tuna in the box.
Blue Marlin
The first blue marlin was released on Friday, June 21st by a pair of anglers on the “Muff Diver”. The blue marlin, estimated at 350 lbs., hit a ballyhoo dressed up with a purple and black Hawaiian Eye in 65 fathoms in the Baltimore Canyon.
Another blue marlin was released on Saturday by the “milliRem” when they were fishing between the Baltimore and Poor Man’s Canyons.
Wahoo
Another “first” arrived at Sunset Marina on Sunday when anglers on the “Ridin’ Thirty” brought over a wahoo to be weighed. The 46 lb. speedster was caught in 68-degree water between the Baltimore and Poor Man’s Canyons.
Sharks
Although shark action is almost nil, I wanted to relay a surprise catch by the anglers on “Just Add Sauce”. The guys were sea bass fishing in the Small Boat Tournament at an ocean wreck when they hooked a thresher shark on a green crab. Yep, a green crab. Just goes to show you when fish are hungry they’ll eat anything!
I also want to remind everyone that until July 15th, only makos, threshers and blue sharks can be caught.
Tilefish
It was a good week for those looking for blueline and golden tilefish off the coast. Early in the week, the “Dawg Haus” had 10 bluelines and a golden from the Baltimore Canyon. On Tuesday, Gino Mautschke caught himself a 54 lb. golden.
Getting specific locations for finding tilefish is harder than getting a straight answer, or any answer, out of an Obama adminstration official.
Flounder
Flounder fishing in the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island have never rebounded since the bad storms we had a couple of weeks ago. Dirty water conditions have plagued flounder fishermen ever since. However, the funny thing is that Capt. Nick Clemente on the charter boat, “Get Sum” ventured down past the duck blinds behind Assateague on Saturday where he found nasty water, yet his charter ended up with 10 keeper flounder.
It also looks like the bite has improved in both the East and West Channels. For those unfamiliar with these spots, the East Channel runs on the east side of the bay, from the Coast Guard Station north to Harbour Island. The West Channel is on the west side of the bay and runs from the beach at Gudelsky Park up past Hooper’s Crab House.
For those wanting to escape the congestion in the bay, anglers had good luck finding flounder on ocean wrecks, such as the African Queen.
Live spot are being found in good numbers in the bay, but anglers are having a tough time finding ones small enough to use for flounder bait, having to resort to using spot fillets. If you don’t have live bait, white Gulp! Swimming Mullets have been productive all season.
Striped Bass
Early in the week, the striped bass bite around the North and South Jetties and the Rt. 50 Bridge was spectacular. The vast majority of the fish were short, but an occasional 33 to 38-incher was caught. The bite petered out mid-week, but a few fish were caught over the weekend. I heard a rumor of a 38-incher being landed, but nothing has been confirmed (I haven’t seen a picture).
The best action occurred for anglers drifting live spot across the tip of the South Jetty.
Sea Bass
According to Capt. Monty Hawkins on the head boat, “Morning Star” and Capt. Chris Mizurak on the “Angler”, sea bass fishing has greatly improved recently. Numbers are up and I know we have seen an increase in the average size. The “Jezebel” ventured out to the Great Eastern Reef on Saturday and returned with multiple coolers full of sea bass. Their heaviest weighed a little over 2 lbs. Early in the week, an angler on the “Morning Star” boated a 4 pounder and “Hurricane” Murray Adams caught himself a 3 pounder.
Bluefish
Small bluefish can be found in the Ocean City Inlet or around the Rt. 50 Bridge. Larger choppers were caught around the Hambone and the Jackspot over the weekend.
Weakfish
A couple of weakies were caught last week. Susan Carr caught a 28-incher over the weekend around the South Jetty. Brad Regan nabbed himself a 27-incher while casting a Rat-L-Trap off the beach at Gudelsky Park on Friday night and earlier in the week, David Leizear caught a 19-incher on a Roy Rig around the Rt. 50 Bridge.
Upcoming Tournaments
I know it is hard to believe, but this weekend there are no tournaments on the schedule. The next tournament in town is the Ocean City Marlin Club Canyon Kick-off on July 5th to July 7th. For more information, call the club at 410-213-1613.
See you at the scales!
