Article by Capt. Lance Smith
While my crew and I love nothing more than late summer/fall overnighters, the first canyon bite of the year can produce some of the best pelagic fishing of the year.
Oftentimes, the first tuna to arrive are much like any other species arriving in a new area for the year; they are hungry and easily fooled. As the summer weeks progress, these same fish will become more difficult to catch as they begin to spread out, move north and seek the cooler waters of the thermocline.
For now, surface temperatures are perfect for most tuna species and marlin and mahi-mahi are moving in as well. If you are a dedicated offshore troller, or have been on a few charters, you know that most typical “spreads” of lures only cover the top few feet of water. In depths of up to 6,000 feet, your odds of catching fish when surface temperatures are to their liking are obviously in the spring and in the fall. The thermocline I mentioned earlier, often forms from 20 fathoms down as the summer progresses and the temperatures here are more favorable to most pelagics. What most anglers fail to realize, is that the sea surface temperatures off Ocean City often become too warm for even the most tropical species.
The next few weeks will produce some of the most fantastic tuna fishing that Ocean City will see all season, until fall arrives once again. Perhaps the most beneficial part of booking an early season charter, or getting your own butt out there now, is that most of the incoming fish are relatively naive. In the spring/early summer you can often get away with heavier leaders and more simple rigs. Just like the early season flounder that invade our back bay, early season pelagics are looking for warmer water and a method to stack on some weight.
The key to this early canyon run, as we have all figured out by now, is temperature breaks.
Come mid-July through August, our local water temperatures can be the same from 20 to 1,000 fathoms offshore. Sea surface temperature charts, whether found on the internet for free or paid for by subscription, are an invaluable tool for finding fish throughout the season. In the early and late seasons however, they are of particular importance. With inshore waters still too cool for most pelagics, eddies of warm water that spin off of the Gulf Stream current and come within reach of our port are where most charter and private boats will focus their hunt. I use the word “hunt” because searching for offshore temperature breaks is often just that. Sometimes cloud cover will prevent clear sea surface temperature charts from publishing for days, or currents may cause a break to move miles in one direction overnight.
These temperature breaks effectively act as a barrier to certain baitfish. Every species of fish has it’s own preferred temperature range and in the case of a five degree or more difference, crossing this barrier can mean death. The predatory tuna, mahi and marlin that we seek will prowl the edges of these temperature edges much like they will seek out structure such as humps, canyons and wrecks. Certain species also prefer a particular side of these temperature breaks. Usually, tuna will be found on the cooler side while marlin, mahi-mahi and wahoo can be found on the warmer side. So when running offshore to a known temperature break on your own, it is wise to decide which species you wish to target beforehand. If you are chartering a boat, make sure you are clear with your captain what you wish to catch. This will help both the captain and mate prepare for exactly the trip you are looking for. For instance, if you wish to catch tuna, relaying this information to your charter captain will allow him to stop short of the warmest water and it will allow the mate to have the proper baits rigged. If you are not looking to fill the freezer, and are looking to target marlin, your captain may decide to look more closely at chlorophyll charts to find the cleanest and bluest water possible than concentrating on sheer temperature differences. So, while booking a charter this time of year may present you with the opportunity to catch multiple species (and you may attempt to do so),, deciding on one particular species can certainly increase your odds of an eventful day.
If you happen to own your own offshore capable vessel (a relative term this time of year as the run offshore may be 80 miles or more), fishing for what is biting the best is often your best option. If the yellowfin tuna are stacked up on the 500 fathom line and the weather is reasonable, take a shot and go for it. However, if reports are slim or you don’t feel comfortable making a longer than normal run, targeting mako sharks or the first bluefin tuna on the inshore lumps may be more to your liking.
Personally, I always prefer to make a shorter run offshore (up to about 30 fathoms) for sharks, bluefins or even sea bass to ensure that everything on the boat is functioning properly. While your boat sits on dry dock during the winter, many things can change both mechanically and physically. Packing for rudders, stuffing boxes, etc. may seem fine and dripping at a proper rate on your short run from splashing to your slip, but swelling of the hull and other factors can contribute to serious problems offshore. This is why I also recommend taking every tool and spare part you may possibly need to repair any problems that may occur on your first couple of offshore trips. Actually, it’s a good idea to keep these items on board for every trip!
When it comes to running to the first temperature breaks of the season in your own boat, you have quite a few options on what to actually troll in your spread. If you are specifically looking for yellowfin tuna, then cedar plugs, spreader bars, skirted ballyhoo and bird rigs should fill your wake. Only put out as many rods as your crew can handle this time of year! The earliest tuna can be ravenous and if you troll 14 rods like we sometimes do, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed and undermanned!
Also, be aware of what the average weight of the tuna are that are hitting the docks. Some years all of the yellowfins are barely legal, some springs they are all 50 pounds and some years (usually) you get a mix of both. I prefer to be prepared early in the season when anything from 10 pound yellowfin to 200 pound bluefin can be caught on the same offshore trip. For this reason, I prefer 50 pound tackle to start and will move down to 30 lb. or up to 80 lb. depending on the most likely tuna we may encounter.
If you wish to try your hand at some marlin fishing this early in the year, be prepared for some possibly slow days. For this reason, switching lures/baits depending upon water temperature can be extremely effective. While trolling a mixed spread of ballyhoo and lures in mid-summer can produce multiple species, targeting the most prevalent fish on the side of the temperature break you are fishing in the spring will make for more exciting trolling. If trolling plastics in the greener water of the cooler side of a break does not produce, changing everything out and introducing dredges while moving to the warmer side will out-perform leaving the plastics out.
To summarize, while most anglers believe that mid-summer is when the majority of offshore tropical/pelagic species are available off of Ocean City, nothing could be further from the truth. While you may be surprised by any of these species at any time and in any depth off of our Inlet in late July, specifically targeting one species is never easier than it is now and again in the fall. Trolling specific spreads, in specific temperature change locations, over specific structure can provide you with a day of fishing you may never forget. So, before you start trolling mixed spreads in stale water, or your charter captain suggests more than two options, get out there and get your hands on what you really want.
Lance Smith is an outdoor writer and Captain of his family’s boat, ‘Longfin”.
