Article by Capt. Lance Smith
Can't we all just get along? On a recent Sunday during the Ocean City Air Show, I had some of my family out for a day of flounder fishing. The bay was packed and we were fishing a small side channel that is perhaps 60-feet wide and marked for 6 knots or less. Onboard were my senior aged parents, my sister and brother-in-law, their two young children and of course, my dog Sonny B. As we drifted, boats passed by in either direction and when they did, I bumped the engine of my 20-foot pontoon boat into gear to move to one side of the channel or the other and we exchanged friendly waves. In no time, had a 19-inch flattie on a stringer that was caught on tandem rigged pink bucktails with white GULP! Swimming Mullet trailers.
At some point, a gentleman and a woman approached in their brand new 24-foot boat. As they approached, the man slammed the boat into reverse, did some very odd maneuvers, almost hit some solid objects and turned around in the direction he had come from. About a half an hour later they returned, he with a determined, yet unsure look on his face, and her giving some strange and frantic hand gestures as the copilot. As they passed, and with a very unfriendly tone and grimace, the man told me that this was not a good place to fish. I replied that it is actually an excellent spot to fish and with proper captaining there has never been an issue. After all, I had been fishing this particular spot for over 20 years with no problems to speak of. His next words included quite a few that no even-tempered person would ever think of uttering with two children in plain sight.
While this was the first time something like this has happened in this location, road rage (or water rage I suppose) is as common in our local waters as a dead horseshoe crab. Some of us know to leave it be, and others insist on fouling the air. While I know my dream of making Boater Safety Courses mandatory may never come to fruition, everyone on the water should know some common and courteous captaining maneuvers. Many of the incidents that cause problems happen when boats at different ends of the size spectrum meet. I have the privilege of navigating the bay in both my pontoon and a 43-foot sportfishing vessel, so I know what it is like to be on both sides of the table.
When fishing in the bay, there are many spots with plenty of fish where most of these encounters can be avoided. Even though a significant channel runs through the Thorofare, there is plenty of deep water and room for drifting here. When fishing for flounder in the Thorofare, keep in mind that depths in this area can reach over 20-feet in spots. On a running tide you may need to add some extra weight if fishing close to the bulkhead. Large frozen shiners, big bull minnows, live spot, bunker and mullet are all great baits to drag down deep. Just be careful of snags and be sure to allow plenty of time for your prey to swallow a large bait. In the heat of summer, this can be an excellent spot to land a doormat.
The flats to the North of the Thorofare are typically thought of as a spring flounder haunt. Fish do linger here all summer and fishing the 4 to 10-foot deep smaller channels that run through the flats is a good place to do some light tackle jigging with Gulp! Swimming Mullets.
The area from 26th to 30th Street is another location where there is plenty of room for boats to drift with no confrontations. Depths here average from 8 to 15-feet and both bait and scented plastics will catch you some flounder. When the croaker arrive, this spot can become packed and you can easily catch more fish than your arms can handle. Please keep in mind when you are landing croaker hand over fist, you are going to have to clean all of them when you get home. Also, no matter where you are drifting in the bay, never begin your drift too close down current of another boat. It is common courtesy not to do so and some boats drift slower/faster than others based upon hull design, gunnel height, and wind resistance. The boat that you setup too close to may soon be right on top of you! Plus, the other boat will view you as a fish stealing rookie.
Locally known as "The Fishbowl," the area between Skimmer Island to the west and the large sandbar to the east, north of the Route 50 Bridge is a well known flounder drift. Often times, you will see the large, flounder headboats fishing here. For most of this drift, the water is relatively shallow and averages about 4 to 7-feet deep. The exception to this is near the Rt. 50 Bridge where depths may reach 15-feet or so. When the tide is slacking, fishing close to the bridge may get you snagged quite a bit, but it may also land you the keeper flattie you are after. If the tide is coming in, begin your drift close to the bridge and drift to the north. When the tide is outgoing, start your drift around 3rd street until you reach the bridge. Keep your engine on and idling during an outgoing tide. Finding out that your boat won't start when you are only 10-feet from the bridge is a horrible feeling. Snapper bluefish also blitz this area throughout the summer and can be a blast on light spinning tackle. Look for diving terns and splashing fish and launch Gotcha Plugs, bucktails, spec rigs or spoons into the foray. Keep some wire leaders handy and remember not to run directly over the action or you may send the fish deep and they will never be seen again.
Just offshore of Harbour Island, the water can reach 30-feet deep and some very large flounder hang here through the summer months. As in the Thorofare, use heavier weights and try some larger live baits. This area can become quite crowded but there is always plenty of room to fish. When running back to the top of your drift in crowded locations, please don't go full throttle through a fleet of drifting boats. The fish will still be there when you arrive and no one will flip you the bird if you take your time.
The water behind Assateague typically has less boat traffic than the rest of the bay and definitely holds flounder. On a stiff south wind or a hard outgoing tide however, the waters here can become extremely dirty and filled with weeds. This can make fishing impossible and be a waste of time, so monitor the wind and tide before you take a trip back there.
Still, there are times when fishing the main channels can be the most productive, especially to the north and south of the Route 50 Bridge. Here, and in the Ocean City Inlet, are where most problems between captains occur. Although the area is marked as 6 knots or less, the current often runs so hard that high engine rpm's and the associated larger wake created are necessary just to make headway. For instance, when I was coming home in the afternoon from an offshore trip and the tide is running out hard, I may have to bump the throttles up to 2,000 rpm's or so. This can create some very large standing waves under the drawbridge and I have seen many a smaller boat's bow go completely underwater in this situation. Another very rude and very dangerous maneuver smaller boat captains often pull is to attempt sneaking through the draw when a line of large sportfishers have been waiting patiently for half an hour. Boats waiting for the drawbridge to open, that have the tide at their stern, have the right of way when coming through here. When the tide is running hard and you jump in front of a much larger boat, keep in mind that we are just trying to get through without damaging our vessels. You may find yourself looking up at a very large bow overhead if you try this and are taking your time getting through. Even head on, it is best to simply wait for the offshore guys to just pass through first and not try to sneak by.
Fishing the main channel on either side of the bridge is always better on a dying tide. Depths directly under the bridge are close to 40-feet and 25-feet or so on either side. Fishing here may require some serious lead to reach the bottom, but it can also produce some keeper stripers and doormat flounder. Live spot drifted on a fishfinder rig with appropriate weight for the tide can land you some monster fish. Common sense dictates that when a line of larger vessels are coming through, you should bump your boat into gear to reach the side of the channel and not just sit there as an obstruction. The area close to the old concrete plant is a very popular place to target flounder on a slow tide. The closer to the rocks you get, the more likely you are to get snagged and you may get pushed into them if you are too close when the drawbridge opens.
The inlet is a terrific area to target just about every species that swims in the bay. Extra caution should be taken when drifting here so ALWAYS keep your engine running. Boats coming in from offshore can be seen coming from quite a distance, so it is wise to back off the jetties or simply vacate the area entirely until they pass through. Larger sportfishing vessels like to come through the inlet at high speeds with their flags flying, myself included. Yes, I will be the first to admit that this is a macho/pride thing. Basically we are saying, "Hey, look at me and my big boat and all of my flags flying! Aren't we awesome?" Sometimes though, it is simply a matter of making the next opening of the drawbridge. Even when boat traffic is light in the inlet, a wind that is opposing the tide can create some seriously dangerous wave action. And to you guys in the sportfishers, I know you want to get home after a long day, but when running the channel north of the bridge, it isn't going to kill you to back off the throttles when necessary. There is no glory in scaring a boat full of children who’s captain doesn't know any better to move out of the way.
In conclusion, if you are new to boating or have rented a boat and don't have much experience, stay clear of areas that you may not feel comfortable in. The inlet and the area around the Route 50 Bridge is no place to have your engine die. I've been there many times, drifting out to sea or bouncing off of bridge pilings, so I can tell you firsthand that it can be stroke worthy. Don't anchor in any main channels, don't expect other boats to slow down to accommodate you and be aware that not everyone possesses the same boating skills. Keep a cool head and don't be aggressive or act in a dangerous manner. Far too often these on-the-water confrontations spill over to the dock or marina and lead to the police becoming involved. A good way to learn where to fish in the bay on what tide and how to do it properly is to hop on board one of the many flounder headboats or the smaller bay charter boats that advertise here in the Coastal Fisherman. After a trip or two, captaining your own vessel or a rental boat will be much more enjoyable and you may feel more confident in your own captaining capabilities. Stay safe out there and please be friendly!
Lance Smith is an outdoor writer and Captain of his family’s boat, the “Longfin”.
