Article by Capt. Lance Smith
Hopping onboard one of Ocean City’s headboats, such as the “Morning Star” or “Angler”, can be a great way to get in on some good fishing this time of year. Sea bass are the main staple of this fishery and can provide some non-stop action when the fishing is good. It’s also starting to look like we may see another good season of flounder fishing on the wrecks and reefs off of our coast. These headboats are large and stable, and a great way to test and see if you (or your partner or children) get seasick. The captains that run these boats have been taking people offshore for decades, so they all know where to go in order to get everyone’s rod bent over.
Over the years, the Ocean City Reef Foundation has strategically placed material, from concrete rubble to military tanks and old ships, from 3 to 20 miles offshore in order to increase the amount of fish habitat available. These “reef complexes” are huge and attract everything from baitfish to tuna. With the exception of a few old ships and some natural limestone reefs, the bottom off of our coast is generally flat and featureless. With a mostly sand and shell bottom, it isn’t hard to see how a purposefully sunken 80-foot boat can attract and hold a variety of species. These artificial reefs provide a substrate for mussels and corals to attach to and eventually become their own living ecosystems. The baitfish and crabs that seek shelter in the nooks and crannies of the reef attract wreck species such as sea bass, tautog and triggerfish, which in turn find safety there from larger predators like sharks. Odds are, if you are fishing on a headboat, you are probably fishing over one of these man-made reefs. The Reef Foundation runs off of donations, so if you have a good day of fishing please keep them in mind.
Each headboat is different, so it pays to do a little research before you just pick one. The most important factor that you need to consider is how long you wish to be out there. Some captains choose two half-day trips while others prefer to run a full eight hours or more.
If you have small children, or you’re not sure whether your new boyfriend or girlfriend gets seasick, you may first want to try a half-day trip. However, if the fishing reports have been good and you are really looking to fill a cooler with fillets, a full day trip is obviously a better decision.
If you aren’t sure whether you or someone else gets seasick, there are plenty of over-the-counter remedies available. Some work better for certain people than others and some can make you very drowsy. The pill called Dramamine is probably the most effective that I have seen, but don’t expect to take one when you step on the boat and have it work. If you take one the day before you go, and then one in the morning, they tend to work better. Having some food in your stomach throughout the day definitely helps too, but try not to eat a giant, greasy breakfast! Speaking of food, some headboats sell food and drinks onboard while others don’t.
There are a few items that you will definitely want to take with you when venturing offshore. A small-medium cooler with ice for your fish and your lunch is a necessity. Most captains ask that you don’t bring too large of a cooler because it makes it hard for the mates and other customers to move around the boat. Bringing along a light jacket or sweatshirt is another must. Even though it may be 90-degrees on the beach when you leave, the water temperature is still relatively cold this time of year and a good breeze can have you shivering. A towel is also a good thing to have for wiping off your hands or mopping up a wet seat. As for fishing equipment, all headboats have rods available for you to use. They also have all of the hooks, sinkers and bait that you will need for the day. These “boat rods” are perfect for their intended use and make lugging all of your own stuff around unnecessary. Still, some people prefer to bring all of their own gear and that’s fine too.
When it comes to actually fishing on a headboat, it isn’t that hard. It’s a great way to introduce kids and beginners to fishing because all you really have to do is drop your bait straight down and wait for a bite! Casting will only lead to tangles and getting your sinker or hooks snagged on the bottom. Terminal gear for sea bass fishing consists of a simple two hook, top-and-bottom rig (baited with squid or clam) with a sinker on the bottom. The weight of your sinker may vary throughout the day as the current, wind and your location changes. One thing is for sure, you want your baits to be on the bottom. Don’t get discouraged though if you get snagged a few times and lose your tackle. If you don’t know how to retie everything, the mates will be happy to do it for you. This is wreck fishing after all and you are bound to get hung up once in a while. If the boat is not too crowded you can feel free to walk around and try fishing from different spots. I have never found one spot on the rail to be better than another, so don’t spend all of your time moving around the boat. Also, if someone catches a nice fish near you, it is generally frowned upon for you to butt right up against them. Just be patient and your turn will come.
As mentioned earlier, while sea bass are the mainstay of headboat fishing, flounder can also bite extremely well on some trips. While many flounder are caught on rigs/baits intended for sea bass, there are a few ways to increase your odds of catching one once they start coming over the rail. To begin with, flounder don’t like their bait all bunched up on the hook. Use long tapered strips of squid hooked only once through the wider end. You may even want to pick up a pack of frozen shiners at the tackle shop before you go and add them (hooked once through the eyes) to your offering.
If you REALLY have your heart set on a mess of flounder fillets you can get a bit more technical. Most flounder sharpies choose to bring their own rod/reel setup so that they can use braided line and get to the bottom using less weight. Bucktails, which are basically lead-headed hooks with hair on them, are the preferred lure and they can be picked up at any local tackle shop. Make sure to ask what size they recommend because you don’t want to be stuck with bucktails that aren’t heavy enough to reach the seafloor. Bucktails can be fished one at a time or tandem rigged with one about 16-inches above the other. Always dress your bucktail with some kind of natural bait such as a long strip of squid or one of the many Berkley GULP! products like the Swimming Mullet.
While flounder like to lay on the bottom covered in sand for camouflage, they will come up several feet to hit an enticing looking bait. Instead of just letting the bucktail drag along the bottom, you should jig it and bounce it up in a constant motion. Flounder like a moving target and nothing gets them going like a bucktail jumping up out of the sand. Jumbo sea bass will also hit bucktails with bait trailers, so don’t be surprised when you pull up a big old knothead.
So, whether you are taking the kids on a half-day trip and using boat rods, or spending all day jigging for flounder, headboat fishing is a great way to get out there without emptying your wallet. Oh, and speaking of your wallet, please don’t forget to tip the mates. They work extremely hard and have to put up with a lot of stuff (not to mention all the seasickness they have to clean up). The fish are out there, so choose your boat and good luck!
Lance Smith is an outdoor writer and Captain of his family’s boat, ‘Longfin”.