Article by Larry Jock
If you were around Sunset Marina on Saturday and Sunday, you saw a lot of smiling faces on both junior anglers and adults. The 9th Annual Ocean City Marlin Club Kid’s Classic was held last weekend, attracting 345 anglers and more camera phones than you could ever imagine. Since the ocean was rough on both days, fishing effort centered on the bay waters behind O.C. and Assateague Island. We could have filled a bathtub with the number of croaker and spot that were brought to the scale. We also saw some big fish weighed, like the 119.4 lb. bluefin muscled in at the Hot Dog by Makayla Zajdel on “The Zipper”. Ben Hild on the “Espadon” also weighed a nice one, with a 69.8 lb. bluefin that was also caught at the Hot Dog.
Unfortunately for the anglers fishing on the “Reel Chaos”, they had a long ride home from the Washington Canyon on Sunday and just missed the 6:00 PM deadline for weigh-ins. Chandler Anderson caught a 235 lb. bigeye and Leah Anderson, Makaela Mitchell and James Doerzbach teamed up to put a 177 pounder in the box. They also had 3 yellowfins, 3 mahi and a white marlin release, all hooked in 200 to 300 fathoms.
Major props go out to the Ocean City Marlin Club. The Kid’s Classic takes a lot of work from staff and volunteers. Based upon the number of smiling faces we saw at the scales and at the party afterwards, the tournament was another great success!
Tuna
Ever since the 1st day of the Ocean City Tuna Tournament when bigeye tuna showed up in record numbers, anglers have been chomping at the bit to head towards the canyons in search of eyeballs. The water that held the bigeyes during the OCTT moved south into the Norfolk Canyon early in the week. Several boats made the 78-mile trek on Wednesday and some bigeyes were found, like the 198 pounder caught on the “Foolish Pleasures”. The following day, the “Obsession” returned from an overnight trip to the Norfolk Canyon with 3 bigeyes in the box (see picture above). All 8 of their bites came between 5 PM and 8 PM on Tuesday night. The “Dawg Haus” returned to Sunset Marina with a pair of bigeyes and 6 yellowfins on Wednesday.
Friday was exceptionally good for tuna fishing. Several boats came back with yellowfins from the Hot Dog, but the better bite was in the Washington Canyon where the “Pumpin’ Hard 58” had 13 yellowfins and a 185 lb. bigeye. Further south in the Norfolk Canyon, the “Billfisher” ended their day with 2 bigeyes and 2 yellowfins. The “Espadon” also decked a bigeye in the Norfolk.
On Saturday, conditions were rough but the bite was hot at the Hot Dog, where boats got covered up with bluefins early in the morning, coming home with both their “over” and “under” fish in addition to numerous releases.
Not wanting to deal with rough sea conditions on Sunday, most boats elected to either remain at the dock or headed out to the Hot Dog where bluefins, yellowfins and dolphin were caught. Bluefins were also captured by boats further north in Massey’s Canyon.
Marlin
A couple of marlin were released last week. On Saturday, the “Billfisher” released a white marlin and a blue marlin in the Norfolk Canyon, the same place where the “Reel Chaos” recorded a white marlin release on Sunday.
Wahoo
A few speedsters were caught on Saturday. “Rhonda’s Osprey” landed one at the Hot Dog and the “Tighten Up” returned with one in the box from the Hambone.
On Sunday, the “Four Play” boxed a wahoo at the Chicken Bone.
Dolphin
For the second year in a row, we aren’t seeing many large dolphin being caught in the canyons and I’m not sure why. Most of the mahi are in the 7 to 10 lb. range. Last week, catches were scattered up and down the line from the Hot Dog to the Norfolk Canyon.
Flounder
Last week was a good one for flounder fishing. Head boats and charter boats all had some really good days. The head boat, “Bay Bee” had their best day of the year on Tuesday when they returned from their afternoon trip with 13 keeper flounder. Capt. Mike said the bite was good during the entire drift in the bay behind Assateague from north of the Airport down to the duck blinds. Everyone got in on the action. The charter boat, “Get Sum” returned with 8 flounder and a weakfish, while the “Lucky Break” had 7 flounder caught on Gulp! and minnows.
As the week progressed, the bite continued in the south bay, and anglers looking for some new action found it in the Inlet at the mouth of the Commercial Harbor, along Martha’s Landing (big houses) and in both the East and West Channels.
On Thursday, the largest fish of the year was caught under the Rt. 50 Bridge by Mike Sturba on “Skip’s Charter & Guide Service”. Mike’s 26-inch flounder tipped the scale at 7 lbs. 5 oz. Also on Thursday, the charter boat, “Lucky Break” had 4 keeper flounder and 35 throwbacks during the incoming tide when water started to cool off.
Speaking of water temperatures, right now with all the warm weather we have been having, water temperatures in the bay are fluctuating between 65-degrees and 80-degrees which really plays a part in where you fish. If you are fishing during the end of the outgoing tide, when water temperatures are at their highest, you may want to find the deeper holes where the water is cooler on the bottom.
If you have the means to flounder fish in the ocean, you may want to get the coordinates for the Old Grounds which are roughly 20 miles from the Ocean City Inlet. This area is a frequent stop for flounder pounders fishing out of Lewes, Delaware and they are known for bringing back some big flat ties.
Croaker
If you are looking for a great fishery for kids, then now is the time you want to get them out on the water. Croakers are everywhere, but the area around the Rt. 90 Bridge seems to be a hot spot for croaker fishing right now. All you need is some Fishbites or cut bait and you will have all the action you want.
Sea Bass
Sea bass fishing right now is sporadic, but head boats are keeping anglers happy with a mix of sea bass and flounder fishing on ocean structure. Anglers need to weed through a lot of short fish to find their keeper, so be patient.
Striped Bass
The striper bite around the South Jetty is still worth the trip if you simply want to bend a rod. Throwbacks are numerous, but fish ranging between 30 and 36-inches are there to be caught. Live spot is the ticket.
Upcoming Tournament
The Branch Kreppel Memorial Blue Marlin Tournament is this weekend with weigh-ins from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Could we see the 1st blue marlin weighed at the scales? It should be interesting this year with a $5,000 bonus paid to the first qualifying blue marlin weighed.
See you at the scales!
