Article by Larry Jock
As this report is being written we are only a few hours away from the start of the 43rd Annual White Marlin Marina. This year, 329 boats are competing for over $4,400,000 in prize money. Weather is predicted to be nice all week, so I would expect to see a good number of fish being brought to the scale at Harbour Island.
This past weekend saw a couple of tournaments in town. On Saturday, the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Flounder Tournament was held on Saturday with 201 anglers looking for flatties in the bay. Although we saw some nice size flounder caught last week, anglers fishing in the bay behind Ocean City are still contending with a large number of small fish, so it was no surprise that most of the flounder brought to the scale were in the 16 to 17-inch range. The winner, Robert Densomore, did manage a 21 1/8-incher that ate a minnow he was drifting in the Ocean City Inlet. Other than Robert’s fish, none cracked the 20-inch mark. Overall, it was another great flounder tournament and it looked like everyone had a great time.
The other tournament last weekend was the 8th Annual Ocean City Marlin Club Heels & Reels Ladies Tournament. This is another tournament that has really grown in popularity with 42 boats registered in this years event, an increase of 10 boats versus last year. Payouts have also grown, with lady anglers looking to cash in on part of the $46,250 purse.
The tournament was dominated by billfish and dolphin. No tuna were caught during the 2 days of fishing.
On the first day, anglers on the “Tra Sea Ann” took the early lead and never looked back, releasing 13 white marlin while trolling in 200 to 500 fathoms in the Wilmington Canyon. Although we saw some boats looking for marlin in the Poor Man’s Canyon, most headed to the Wilmington to take advantage of the good marlin fishing in water that pushed down from the Spencer Canyon late in the week. Right behind the “Tra Sea Ann” was the “Brenda Lou” who also trolled in the Wilmington Canyon and picked up 9 white marlin releases. Anglers on the “Brenda Lou” ended up tied with the ladies on the “Max Bet”, who also released 9 whites in the Wilmington, but won the tiebreaker by releasing their 9th fish earlier in the day.
Another notable catch was the blue marlin, that some folks estimated at close to 800 lbs., caught on the “Jezebel” in 100 fathoms, south of the Poor Man’s Canyon.
The second and final day of the tournament was dominated by dolphin and the leaderboard changes were fast and furious. The first change occurred when the “Lucky Duck II” weighed a 24.8 poounder they caught in 79-degree water in the Baltimore Canyon. Up next was the “That’s Right” who showed up to the Atlantic Tackle scale with a 36.4 lb. bull that they caught on the troll in the Wilmington Canyon. This fish moved them into 1st place in the Dolphin Division and they never looked back. The next boat to the scale was the “Last Call” with a 36.4 pounder that was caught on the troll in the Poor Man’s Canyon and ended the tournament in 2nd place.
With a $15,000 payout for the first place finish in the Billfish Release Division and an $18,000 payout for the 1st place dolphin, we are sure to see his tournament continue to grow.
Marlin
Last week, anglers chasing billfish saw some fantastic fishing on a batch of water that started in the Lindenkohl Canyon, moved south to the Spencer Canyon and into the Wilmington Canyon towards the end of the week. Several boats ventured to the Wilmington and returned with double-digit releases of white marlin. One of the boats that saw some great fishing was the “Billfisher” who went 20 for 26 earlier in the week while trolling in the Lindenkohl Canyon. They then released 8 white marlin and a blue marlin on Thursday and followed that up with an overnight trip where they went 23 for 31 for white marlin on Friday and 3 for 4 on Saturday. This was the case for most boats in the Wilmington, where they saw incredible numbers during the week and release numbers reduced dramatically over the weekend.
Tuna
Right now, it would safe to say that tuna fishing is pathetic. The chunk bite in Massey’s Canyon is down to practically nothing and with most boats chasing billfish further north, we didn’t see many head elsewhere looking for yellowfins.
On Saturday, Colin McNamara did muscle in a 161.8 lb. bigeye while trolling in the Wilmington Canyon.
Keep an eye on the Lobster Claw this week. It just seems like this area is hit hard during the White Marlin Open and many years one of the top tuna came from this area. In addition, I’m sure some boats will be pounding the Bigeye Hole in the Washington Canyon looking for big eyeballs.
Dolphin
Over the last couple of weeks we have seen some really big dolphin brought to the scales and Jimmy Willey’s 54 pounder was the largest one we have seen so far this year. Jimmy hooked the dolphin last Tuesday in 100 fathoms in the Washington Canyon. In addition to the pair of big ones caught in the Ladies Tournament, Erin McCulloch-Nadolny on the “Last Call” boated a 45 pounder in the Poor Man’s Canyon early last week. We also saw many gaffer dolphin caught from the Wilmington Canyon down to the Washington Canyon throughout the week. It’s been a good dolphin season so far off the coast of Delmarva.
Flounder
As mentioned earlier, flounder fishing continues to be a struggle in the bay, although we are starting to see some improvement. As always this year, flounder pounders struggle with warm water, forcing them to look for deeper holes holding cooler water around the bay. The holes in the East Channel, both north and south of the Rt. 50 Bridge usually hold big flatties during August and we saw some life in the Thorofare as well.
When it comes to bait, minnows have been really producing lately along with Gulp! Swimming Mullets in white or pink.
As predicted in the last issue, after a brief lull for flounder fishing on ocean structure, the bite improved dramatically last week. Boats heading to the Old Grounds continue to bring back good catches and those venturing out to 120 feet of water also see their chances enhanced to land a big flounder while fishing with strips of flounder or mahi belly. Those that can get a hold of sea robins find that flounder eat those strips like candy.
See you at the scales!