Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
As the 2021 fishing season begins, many look to this new year with a renewed sense of hope. The past year has been a hard one with Covid shutdown, sickness, and uncertainty. As more people are vaccinated and begin to return to a sense of normal we look to the new fishing season with anticipation. Last year gave the fish a much needed break with fewer anglers on the water. For anglers living by the beach,fish seemed to be more plentiful and less wary to bite a hook than in past years. Many anglers look to see if this restock of the population will affect the bite as the summer crowds return to a normal size.
Sea bass will open in two weeks on the 15th. I have received a few reports from tog fishermen that sea bass are starting to show up on the wrecks but most are on near shore wrecks where the water is warmer. On the deeper wrecks the tog bite is some of the best we have seen in years. Large fish can be found on the African Queen site as well and most wrecks in the 60-120 ft. range. If you can find peeler crab that will be your best bait to try and catch one of these elusive fish. Tog or blackfish stay very close to the wrecks only coming a short way out of their holes to snatch a crab that got too close. Sand fleas usually work well this time of year, however most anglers are telling me that this year the tog want very little to do with them. Sunset Marina as well as other tackle shops in the area have some green crab but supplies are low and slow to be restocked. So if you find some get them because the odds are when you return they won't be there. Bluefish and stripers are beginning to show up off our shores and even in our back bays. Ocean City Fishing Pier reports some nice keeper rockfish being caught off their dock on predominantly high tides. Cut bait such as bunker is producing the best bites. On the near shore humps small stripers can be trolled up on mojos as well as stretch 25/30’s. Due to the temp of the water (about 55 degrees) not many rockfish or bluefish have been reported. I expect after this past week of warm weather that number should rise dramatically. Targeting areas very near the coast or very close to the 3 mile line tend to produce the most amount of activity this time of year.
Big Bird Cropper reports small rockfish and a few bluefish have been caught in the inlet. Casting bucktails or soft swim jigs such as the Roy rig are best when targeting these fish. The flounder have begun showing up in the back bays. Ocean City Guide Service reports several nice catches of keeper flounder on green Otter Tails in the channels behind Assateague Island. With this past week of 80 degree weather the bite should really pick up. Squid and minnow combinations are always good this time of year with gulp being a close second. Areas around the Verrazano Bridge are a usual hot spot during late spring. Several black drum have been reported off the beach of Assateague Island. Most of these fish are being caught on surf clams or sand fleas. The closer to the Virginia line the better your chances are. If you are looking to catch a big fish and don’t have access to an offshore boat black drum beach fishing can produce fish 60 lbs. and over. In the surf, small rockfish and blues are starting to show up. I have not received any reports of keeper stripers, although small fish are being caught on a regular basis. Cut bait, clams and sand fleas being used by drum fisherman are accounting for most of the catches. Bucktails and plugs have also been catching a few. Reports are that these fish are very close to the shore line so don't cast out real far or you will be outside of their strike zone. A reminder when targeting rockfish with cut or live bait, a non offset circle hook is required.
I have not received any clam reports so far this year. With the water still in the 50’s I’m sure the clams will be deep and difficult to find. Crabs in the upper bay behind north Ocean City are beginning to turn on, however, catches are very low. I spoke to a commercial crabber who reported for 130 pots set he only caught 13 dozen crabs. Cold water is the blame for the slow start. So if planning on buying crabs when you get to Ocean City just be aware that prices are definitely high.
So as we wait to see what opens and what the state regulations will be for our town, I wish you all Tight Lines and Fins Up!
Captain Martin B. J. Pietryak
