Article by Larry Jock
It was a hot week in Ocean City, both weather-wise and for those chasing yellowfin tuna and flounder. We also saw increased billfish activity and a few sharks hitting the scales as well.
Yellowfin Tuna
Once again, yellowfin tuna stole the show this past week with several boats returning with double-digit catches.
Early in the week, yellowfins were caught in the Baltimore Canyon by several boats before the bite moved to the Wilmington Canyon and north on Thursday.
The “Marli” hit the jackpot on Saturday when they boated 23 yellowfins in the Wilmington Canyon. If that wasn’t enough, they also released another 7 during the trip.
“That’s Right” had a couple of good days, ending up with 13 yellowfins on Thursday and another 12 on Sunday. Thursday’s catch was in the South Heyes Canyon and Sunday’s was a little closer in the Wilmington.
Also in the Wilmington Canyon on Sunday, the “White Lightning” ended up with 11 yellowfins in the box and anglers captured 13 on the “Marli”.
The fish are being caught in very warm water, reaching over 78-degrees in the Wilmington Canyon over the weekend.
Bluefin Tuna
With everyone going after yellowfins, bluefin tuna action has really slowed down. However, those not wanting to burn the fuel heading to the canyons are able to find bluefins around the Hambone, Hot Dog and Chicken Bone.
On Wednesday, the “Restless Lady” ventured out to the Hambone where they boated a bluefin and released 11 others.
Blue Marlin
On Saturday, Stevie Ramsey on the “Lady Luck V” released the first blue marlin out of Ocean City. The fish was hooked in the Baltimore Canyon at 10:30 am. An hour later, Merrill Dougherty on the “My Turn” released a blue marlin in 100 fathoms in the Baltimore Canyon. Surprisingly, the fish hit a green machine spreader bar.
On Sunday, the crew on the “Out-Rea-Geous” boated a 450 lb. blue marlin that died during the fight. This fish was caught in 70 fathoms in the Wilmington Canyon. The crew donated the meat to the local shelter. Also on Sunday, the “Martin Gale” recorded a blue marlin release in the South Heyes Canyon. The big blue was estimated to weigh 400 lbs. and was caught in 100 fathoms.
A couple of other boats broke off blue marlin earlier in the week.
White Marlin
On Tuesday, the “Marli” released a white marlin while tuna fishing in the Wilmington Canyon and over the long weekend several others were released as well.
On Friday, a private boat released 3 whites in the Baltimore Canyon. The “Nontypical” also released a white marlin deep in the Baltimore Canyon. The “Blue Water Obsession” took a trip to the Wilmington Canyon where they released a white marlin in 50 fathoms.
On Sunday, white marlin were released in the Wilmington Canyon by the “White Lightning”, “Shadowfax” and the “Zipper”, who actually released a couple of whites during their trip.
The fish were mainly hooked on trolled ballyhoo, both naked and skirted.
Dolphin
The largest dolphin of the week was a 26 pounder landed on the “Marli” during that incredible catch on Saturday. Angler Jason Hahn hooked the dolphin in 78-degree water in the Wilmington Canyon. The “Marli” ended up with 5 mahi-mahi that day.
Other dolphin were caught throughout the week in the Baltimore Canyon and even inshore as far as the Fingers.
Sharks
With warm water temperatures, shark fishing hasn’t lived up to expectations so far this year, especially when it comes to thresher sharks. We did see a big 418 pounder caught by anglers on the “Tighten Up” on Wednesday. The fish was caught between “DB” and “DA” Buoys, a known hotspot for thresher shark fishing.
Earlier in the week, small mako sharks were caught around the Hambone and in the Baltimore Canyon. On Saturday, young Jimmy Murray boated a 155 pounder after hooking it on a mackerel bait at the Fingers.
In the Surf
Sue Foster at Oyster Bay Tackle reports, “Surf fishing has gone from big stripers to catches of kingfish. The only thing big in the surf now is sharks. The kings are biting FishBite Bloodworms, real bloodworms, cut bunker and little pieces of surf clam. Combination baits are great such as FishBites and a little strip of fresh bunker, frozen mullet or box squid. One man came into our Fenwick Tackle store to say he caught six kings one morning on FishBites.”
Flounder
After a slow early week, anglers fishing in the bays behind Ocean City were rewarded with some of the best fishing of the year on Saturday and Sunday. The bite centered on the waters behind Assategue Island, from the opening near the Inlet down to Snug Harbor.
On Saturday, the “Bay Bee” returned with 11 keepers and over 100 throwbacks. They followed that up on Sunday with a 12 keeper day and over 80 throwbacks. The charterboat, “Get Sum” had a 7 flounder day on Sunday, all caught on white and pink Gulp! Swimming Mullets.
The largest flounder we saw this week came in on Saturday when Steve Meadowcroft stopped by the office to get a picture taken. The fish, caught on live spot in the Inlet, measured 25.5-inches and tipped the scales at 7 lbs. 15 oz. Steve was fishing with Tom Hughes and the duo ended up with 6 keepers ranging in size from 18.5 to 25.5-inches.
The flounder catch that surprised me this week was Moe Cropper’s 20-incher that he caught while tossing a topwater lure in the Inlet. It just shows you how aggressive these fish can be.
Anglers using live spot, minnows and Gulp! Swimming Mullet artificial baits are doing well. The Swimming Mullet is Gulp’s version of the curly tail and has definitely proven itself to be a top producer.
Sea Bass
After waiting for the sea bass season to open in May, it hasn’t exactly been a stellar performance so far. Headboats are returning with sporadic catches. Some days the tubs are full, other days not so much.
Most of the sea bass we have seen this year have been caught by anglers using clams for bait.
Cod
Headboats venturing a little further offshore continue to arrive back at the dock with cod in the box. On Sunday, the “Angler” had a 6 lb. 4 oz. cod along with a 5 pounder in the box. Earlier in the week, Michael Chrzanowski on the “Morning Star” caught himself a 26-incher.
Striped Bass
There is still a good bite going on around the South Jetty for anglers drifting live spot across the point or tossing bucktails into the rocks. From what I’ve been told, the fish have some beat-up tails, telling you that they are in tight to the rocks.
Anglers are also able to pull a few fish from around the pilings of the Rt. 50 Bridge.
There are still a lot of smaller fish around, so you need to be patient when looking for your keeper.
This weekend is the 31st Annual Ocean City Shark Tournament held at the Ocean City Fishing Center. Weigh-ins are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm. This is a great tournament, not only for adults but especially for kids. Tournament organizer Mark Sampson allows children to sit up front, close to the weigh-in where they will not only get a good view of the action, but will also get educated by Mark on various facts about sharks.
See you at the scales!
