Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
The winds and sea calm finally calmed down early last week providing a nice window for fishing before the next hurricane comes up our coast this weekend. Good fishing was reported on the nearshore wrecks and reefs as the week started with conditions getting tougher as we came to the weekend.
Flounder are still on many wrecks and reefs with limits for those that put in the effort. Gulp baits are the bait catching most of the fluke as well as many of the bigger sea bass which are beginning to move back into the area as the fall cool down approaches.
Mahi are still on many of the inshore pots, although at the end of last week we found them moving back offshore as the storm approached.
Redfish are being caught along the coast with a few big ones also coming off of the nearshore wrecks and reefs. Many of these redfish are in the 40 pound class and must be returned as they are over the slot limit.
Nearshore Wrecks & Reefs
The nearshore wrecks continue to produce big flounder and some sea bass as anglers got out after the two hurricanes the week prior.
The “Angler” headboat reported several beautiful days on the water this past week with anglers catching some big fluke and sea bass at natural reefs & wrecks. Capt. Chris also reported a few days where the mahi decided to cooperate and they made their clients day by bringing home a few of these sought after pelagic fish.
Chris Fontana was out at the Great Eastern Reef and caught a few nice sea bass along with a couple of peanut mahi which decided to swim up to the boat while they were bottom fishing.
John Stanch thought he hooked a Bass Pot ball when his line came tight while trolling the inshore waters, however the tight line turned into a big bull mahi. After a tough fight the fish was brought to the boat and then home for fish tacos.
“Fish Bound Charters” had a few excellent days out on the reefs and humps bringing home limits of fluke, as well as some big sea bass. Capt. Kane reports the flounder fishing continues to be some of the best they have seen in years.
The “Judith M” saw lots of action this past week with many double header sea bass to delight anglers. There are a few triggerfish and big flounder also being seen on the trips. The boat, like most in Ocean City, are moving to their fall schedule of 8 and 10 hour trips. The boats are a lot less crowded, making it much easier to fish. As the water cools, the sea bass will be more willing to bite and the fishing should get even better than it already is.
“Bottom Line Sportfishing” went pot hopping and returned to the docks with a cooler full of the bright green and blue mahi. Several of the fish were over ten pounds.
Kevin McNelis had a fun trip early in the week finding the spade fish ready to bite. He said at times the wreck seemed covered in the spadefish, keeping them from reaching the bottom for the flounder. They did manage a cooler full of spades as well as some big fluke.
David Ditch hit the pots at the Jack Spot 28 miles out of OC. He reported that the ride out was a little rough but the seas flattened out and they got a few bigger mahi than had been seen inshore earlier in the week. The crew reported they had a good ratio of throwback to keeper sea bass when they drifted the area and wrecks.
The Jack Spot and Great Eastern Reef have been producing the best catches of sea bass with clam and squid about even in the bait category
Back Bays & Inlet Fishing
First off we have to wish Craig Cropper, AKA Big Bird a happy 60th birthday. And of course Big Bird was out at the Rt. 50 Bridge catching more fish on his birthday week. He and Shaun fished the outgoing tide and managed to bring in several big bluefish along with two slot size rockfish on the Roy Rig. That's a great way to spend a milestone birthday.
Rick Fiore was at the Rt. 90 Bridge and managed to hook a few small bluefish on poppers and chunk baits. The bridge usually sees an influx of fish caught as the fall season approaches.
Sandy Borns from Ocean Pines MD out fished the boys on her boat the “Shark Tooth” by catching the only keeper fluke of the day in the south bay by Castaways.
Danny Cox caught a once in a lifetime 27 inch, 9 pound 6 ounce flounder at the Rt. 50 Bridge Just a few inches away from the 10 pound mark but still a bigger fish then most avid anglers will catch in a lifetime and the heaviest reported to us this year!
Jeff Weeks caught a citation sheepshead measuring 21 3/4 inches and weighing 6.88 pounds on a custom rig tipped with sand fleas off the south jetty wall of the OC inlet. He also caught a sheepshead while fishing with Jeff along with a few small tog.
Danny Mattio and Bob Weaver fished the East Channel Thursday afternoon and caught two nice keepers measuring 19” and 21 inches. The fish were caught on small live spot during the outgoing tide.
Jason Fisher caught two keeper fluke on Mackerel strips and white Gulp baits while fishing their boat, “Something Fishy”.
Evran and Atlas Bilal caught some huge cobb mullet in their cast net from the Assawoman Bay. The largest ones measured 19” and 25”!
Nicholas Zafiropulos of McLean,Va. Got a 11.9 pound sheepshead off the rocks at the inlet using sand fleas. That is one big sheepshead for such a young man to not only hook but land. Great job!
12 year old Mikey DeFrancesco landed his first rockfish off the Rt. 50 Bridge. The father and son duo landed 3 rockfish total as well as a few bluefish.
The “Bay Bee” and “Miss Ocean City Fishing” head boats had good trips this past week with some nice keepers coming over the rails and on to the deck.
With kids back in school the boats are less crowded and are still offering at least two trips a day if enough anglers are available.
Until next week,
Tight Lines and Fins Up §
