Article by Larry Jock
The scales were hopping last week with quite a few nice catches from offshore boats.
Yellowfin Tuna
The yellowfin tuna bite last week was very good with fish caught primarily at the triangle formed by the Hot Dog, Sausages and Hambone. Anglers also picked up a few down in the Washington Canyon and in the Spencer Canyon over the weekend. On most days, the best bite has been right at sunrise, when I know Capt. John Oughton on the charter boat, “That’s Right” always likes to be on the water ready to go. The impressive thing about the yellowfin bite has been the consistency in which we have seen 50 lb. class fish throughout the week. The yellowfins have been cookie cutter size, all coming in between 45 and 52 lbs. The largest yellowfin we have seen so far this season was a 60.6 pounder that came in on Saturday aboard the “Absolut Pleasure”. The big yellowfin was hooked while trolling around the 800/800 and took top honors in last weekends Canyon Kick-Off. Anglers on the “Stalker” boated a 59.6 pounder in the Spencer Canyon on Sunday where they found 71-degree blue/green water.
Bluefin Tuna
The bluefin bite slacked off throughout the week but picked up over the weekend with several nice size ones hitting the dock during the Canyon Kick-Off. A few were between 100 and 122 lbs., but most were in the upper double digits and came in from around the Hot Dog. Anglers on the “Primary Search” boated a 110 pounder on Saturday at the Hambone.
Marlin
Only a few white marlin were caught and released over the weekend by anglers fishing south in the Washington Canyon. We also saw the first blue marlin caught by a Marlin Club member on Sunday while trolling in the Spencer Canyon. They picked up $2,500 from the Club for their catch.
Wahoo
The first wahoo of the season was caught on Sunday by Scott Raleigh while fishing near the Sausages on the charter boat, “That’s Right”. It wasn’t huge, coming in at 26 lbs., but it was the first. Surprisingly, it was exactly 1 month later than the first one caught last year.
Flounder
Flounder fishing in the bay behind Ocean City continues to be rough with anglers having to weed through a lot of throwbacks to get their keepers. Anglers on the charter boat, “Get Sum” were able to pick-up a few keepers in the East Channel, but it was in the West Channel where they had their best luck. Capt. Nick loves to fish with white Gulp! Swimming Mullets, but his anglers have also been finding success with live minnows as well.
The good flounder action, like in previous seasons, is out on the ocean reefs and wrecks. I have always said that the best $50 you could ever spend would be joining the Ocean City Reef Foundation where that amount will get you a book containing all of the numbers for every one of their reef sites. Trust me, you will kick yourself for not joining sooner. The best spot so far this season has been at the Old Grounds where Capt. Kane Bounds on the charter boat, “Fish Bound” has put his customers on some great catches of fish. Capt. Kane’s anglers have returned to Bahia Marina with not only good numbers of flatties but big ones at that! It looks like Capt. Kane and mate Kevin Twilley are loving strips of squid dressed with gold skirts.
Sheepshead
We have seen a number of sheepshead caught around the South Jetty by anglers fishing with sand fleas. The best catch we have seen so far this year came in on the “Rippin’ Lips” where the anglers caught 8 sheepshead last week weighing up to 12 lbs. 12 oz.
Anglers on the new charter boat, “On the Run” also got into some sheepshead, along with some black drum and stripers around the Jetty.
Tautog
In addition to catching sheepshead at the South Jetty, anglers have also caught a number of tautog. I would say 99% of them are under the 16-inch minimum size limit but a few keepers are there to be hooked. Anglers have also caught a few along the rocks off Martha’s Landing.
Bluefish
Although the bite is nothing like we saw last month, anglers are still picking away at chopper bluefish in the Ocean City Inlet. Anglers fishing on the “Lucky Break” caught some nice ones on bucktails and Devin McCauley caught a 12 pounder on a Z-Man artificial around the Rt. 50 Bridge during a trip aboard the “Ocean City Guide Service”.
Small, snapper bluefish can still be found roaming the waters around the Rt. 50 Bridge.
Make sure you log onto our online Fishing Report throughout the day since we update it as the reports come in, especially from Capt. John Oughton on the charter boat, “That’s Right”. Everyone is encouraged to call in updates during their trip so they can be included in the Fishing Report that is read by thousands of anglers.
