Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
Ocean City experienced a surge in visitors over the past week as the summer season kicked into full swing. With more boats on the water, fishing pressure has increased, but fortunately, the fishing has been excellent for this early in the season. Anglers have found success by seeking out less crowded spots to catch keeper fish. Both nearshore wrecks and reefs and the back bays have been fruitful for anglers.
Nearshore Wrecks & Reefs
The nearshore wrecks and reefs have become hot spots for flounder fishing with most anglers easily reaching their catch limits. The fish can be found on the down current side of wrecks and other bottom structures like rocks and shells.
The "Angler" headboat reports a mix of sea bass and flounder on their trips, providing anglers with a satisfying dinner.
The "Ocean Princess" had productive days of sea bass fishing, with calm weather creating ideal conditions. Flounder fishing has also picked up, with one angler catching an impressive 12 flounder on a single trip, although only one was a keeper.
Other notable catches in the area include cutlass fish,red hake and triggerfish.
"Bad Wind Charters" targeted bluefish and spanish mackerel with much success, along with some nice flatfish.
The Fenwick Shoals and the area near the first lump have been particularly productive for spanish mackerel. Trolling small Clark spoons and using jigs near feeding schools has proven effective, and using smaller spoons increases the chances of a bite. Small bluefish have also been present but can be a nuisance when targeting Spanish mackerel.
"Fish Bound” charters had excellent fluke fishing, consistently bringing home limits of fish for their anglers. Spanish mackerel, bonita and bluefish were also caught during their trips. The weather is expected to calm down, providing favorable conditions for both anglers and captains.
Fishing at Great Gull or Little Gull is worth a try, as cobia should start showing up soon. A rare sighting occurred when a young angler caught a nice-sized cobia in the back bays while fishing on the headboat "Tortuga".
The area has also seen some impressive catches of flounder weighing over 5 pounds, providing exciting battles for anglers.
"Flip N Fins" had a successful trip, catching sheepshead, triggerfish and various other keepers.
Back Bays of OC
The back bays of Ocean City have been on fire with big flounder being caught regularly. The "Tortuga" had a memorable trip, bringing home trophy-sized flatfish and creating smiles and good times for all on board. Wild ponies from Assateague Island often make appearances, adding a wildlife element to the fishing experience.
The "OC Bay Hopper" offered crabbing trips in the back bays, providing an opportunity for visitors to learn the art of crabbing from Captain Dave.
Anglers in the Thorofare area, such as Ken Bechtel and his wife Molly, have successfully caught three keeper flounder measuring 17.5, 16.5, and 16 inches.
The "Tipsy Tikis" boat, captained by Jeremy Michalski, had a great outing with his 9-year-old daughter Brooke, catching four keeper flounder up to 21 inches. Mario Simone caught a nice keeper fluke using minnows near 26th Street.
"Miss OC Fishing" consistently put anglers on respectable flounder throughout the week.
Notable catches outside of flounder fishing include a 16-inch striper caught by Nick Wojnowski from the surf using cut bunker and a massive 40-inch red drum caught by Tanner Adkins while fishing the Rt 50 Bridge with a live mullet—a remarkable trophy for this early in the summer.
Looking forward to the next week of fishing adventures...
Tight Lines and Fins Up §
