Article by Larry Jock
Mother Nature just won’t cut us a break this season, which is a crying shame because when the winds calm down and boats get out on the water, good catches arrive at docks throughout Ocean City.
OC Shark Tournament
For the 2nd year in a row, a nasty weather forecast suppressed the number of boats registered for the Ocean City Shark Tournament. This year only 14 boats registered. Unfortunately, no qualifying sharks were weighed during the tournament, but quite a few releases were recorded. The top 3 boats in the Release Division had the following results:
1st place - “Intimidator” - 5 makos, 3 hammerheads, 1 tiger and 1 sandbar.
2nd place - “Double Eagle” - 6 duskies and 1 mako.
3rd place - “Still Searching” - 2 tigers, 1 mako, 1 blue and 1 sandbar.
Most of the action was found around the Hambone, the Fingers, Massey’s Canyon and other locations along the 30 fathom line.
The only qualifying fish weighed during the 4-day tournament was a 12.9 lb. bluefish caught by Wayne Gast on the “No Limits”. Wayne caught the chopper while using bluefish for bait at the Hambone. Ironically, “No Limits” also took the top prize in the Bluefish Division of the Mako Mania Shark Tournament held the previous week.
Sharks
Outside of the tournament, the “Game On” had a great overnight trip on Saturday/Sunday when anglers released 15 makos, 2 hammerheads and 2 duskies in the Norfolk Canyon where Capt. Jon Yost found green, 68-degree water.
White Marlin
The first white marlin of the season was released on Saturday when the “No Quarter” ventured out to 1,000 fathoms outside the Poor Man’s Canyon where Capt. Kyle Peet found 70-degree water. Angler Tim Hawn released the white marlin after hooking it on a trolled ballyhoo.
Earlier in the week, anglers on the “No Quarter” missed a white marlin while trolling around the 800/800.
Last year, the first white marlin was caught on May 27th.
Tuna
For the most part, it was a good week for tuna fishing. Throughout the week, many boats returned with 3 to 5 yellowfins in the box after trolling ballyhoo and spreader bars in the Baltimore Canyon, Poor Man’s Canyon and further south near the 800/800.
The charter boat, “Moore Bills” had a exceptional week, starting off with a 15 tuna day on Monday at the west wall of the Baltimore Canyon and ending with 11 tuna in the box on Sunday’s trip after trolling in 110 fathoms in the Baltimore Canyon. In between, they had several days with 3-5 yellowfin caught on the troll.
The largest yellowfin we have seen so far this year came in on the “Seaduction” when they arrived at Sunset Marina on Thursday with a 90 pounder caught in 1,000 fathoms outside the Poor Man’s Canyon.
Striped Bass
Striped bass fishing has been a real bright spot this season for anglers fishing around the North and South Jetties and close to the Rt. 50 Bridge.
The charter boat, “Skip’s Charter & Guide Service” had several days where they battled rough conditions around the jetties and hooked between 30 and 50 linesiders on live spot. The throwback ratio was ungodly high, so be prepared to put your time in.
Anglers casting bucktails tipped with Gulp! Swimming Mullets are catching fish but those drifting live spot are really killing them. You can find live spot for sale at local tackle shops and at the Oceanic Pier.
Speckled Trout
A couple of speckled trout were caught last week. Eric Badorrek landed a 23-incher while fishing with Gulp! artificial baits around the Rt. 90 Bridge and Duane Gray caught a 22-incher by the Hole in the Wall.
Flounder
Dirty, cool water hampered flounder fishing for the vast majority of the week. When the water cleared up over the weekend, we saw some nice catches come in from anglers drifting mainly in the East Channel, around the South Jetty and in the Ocean City Inlet. There wasn’t much to speak about until Saturday when Lisa Billings and Sherri Martinek hooked 10 flatties, keeping 2, while fishing near the duck blinds behind Assateague and also around the OC Airport.
On Saturday morning, the head boat, “Bay Bee” returned with 4 keepers after drifting right outside the Ocean City Fishing Center in the West Channel. Their largest fish measured 20 1/4-inches. The charter boat, “Get Sum” also had 4 keepers from 62-degree water around the South Jetty.
On Sunday, the “Get Sum” found some cleaner, 64-degree water in the East Channel and ended up with 6 keepers in the box. The “Bay Bee” stuck to the Ocean City Inlet and had 4 keepers up to 19 1/2-inches.
We haven’t seen many flatties come in from inshore reefs and wrecks so far this season. Head boats are picking up an occasional flounder, but it certainly isn’t anything to speak about. I know “Flounder George” is chomping at the bit to put some flatties on the deck of the “Morning Star”.
Golden Tilefish
Fishing for golden and blueline tilefish has really grown in popularity over the last few years. Last week we saw several nice catches come in from the deep. Capt. Monty Hawkins on the head boat, “Morning Star” took some customers out for a special, long range trip where “Hurricane” Murray Adams captured a 34 lb. golden tilefish in 800 feet of water on a squid and bluefish combination.
In the middle of the week, the crew on the “Daug Haus” ventured out to the Baltimore Canyon where they caught 7 golden tilefish and a couple of bluelines. On Sunday, the “Lady J” returned from the Washington Canyon with 6 golden tilefish weighing up to 38 lbs. Shelly Magassy also landed a 14 lb. blueline tilefish on the trip. All were hand cranked.
Sea Bass
Sea bass fishing has been sporadic. Some days are loaded with short fish and other days anglers catch more than enough for dinner, like on Saturday when Capt. Monty Hawkins on the head boat, “Morning Star” reported their best sea bassing day of the year.
Also on Saturday, anglers on the “Islander” ventured out to the Twin Wrecks where they boated a pair of knotheads weighing 3 lbs. 15 oz. and 4 lbs.
9 oz. Both were fooled with chunks of clam.
Upcoming Tournament
This weekend we have 2 tournaments on the schedule. The 24th Annual MSSA Tuna-Ment will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Weigh-ins are from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM at 4 locations, including Sunset Marina and Indian River Marina.
Also this weekend is the 34th Annual Ocean City Marlin Club Small Boat Tournament with weigh-ins at Sunset Marina on Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
See you at the scales!