Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
Summer Season Heats Up
In Ocean City, the past week brought hot weather and calmer winds, setting the stage for excellent fishing opportunities both nearshore and in the back bays. Flounder are plentiful around wrecks and inshore structures, while croaker have made an early appearance for this time of year.
Nearshore Structure & Reefs
The wrecks in the area are teeming with big flounder and beefy sea bass. After a slower start to the season, the sea bass have now turned on, with many fish measuring between 15 and 17 inches. These hungry fish have even been known to snatch large 4" Gulp baits intended for flatfish. Anglers like Kevin McNelis have enjoyed successful days on the ocean, catching limits of flounder well above the size limit and providing a delicious dinner. The headboat "Angler” with Capt. Chris Mizurak has reported good catches of sea bass, flounder and many triggerfish. Carlos Neves and his group returned with a limit of fluke and several big sea bass after their trip. At the Old Grounds, Kelly Clark had a rewarding day catching some impressive sea bass for dinner. "Bad Wind Charters" ventured out with Alex and his twin brother on the "Orange Crush" and managed to put together a nice catch, including a 6 lb. doormat flounder caught on a pink shine clacker tipped with white Gulp. Tianna Marie didn't find many sea bass but did land two sheepshead. Personally I'd rather have the sheepies than sea bass anyway. The headboat "Judith M" based at the Bahia Marina had action-packed trips with big fluke, sea bass, and triggerfish being reeled in, making them some of the best trips of the year so far. The "Ocean Princess" also reported good catches of sea bass along with some sizable flatfish. As the head boats fill up quickly, it's advisable to book early to secure a spot. Page Mowday and Kevin Knotts had a successful outing on Tuesday with Capt. Wayne Anderson on "Just A Toy Sportfishing Charter". The crew braved rough seas, but it paid off when they hit the dock with their limits of big fluke and plenty of smiles. Gerry Rosales experienced some rough conditions too, but found good action at the Great Eastern Reef catching plenty of sea bass. Fresh clam and squid were effective baits. Steve Balliet and Taylor Good had an unusually late start to the season, only getting out for the first time early July. At least they found calm seas and cooperative fish, returning with a ton of bass and a few triggerfish. Amanda Kay Meister, on her boat the "Amanda Kay," caught her first two keeper flounder on ocean structures using large Gulp baits. Eight-year-old Emanuel Hawkins, the son of Washington Mystics basketball player Tianna Hawkins, also had a memorable first fishing experience on the ocean.
Back Bay & Surf Fishing
The back bays are bustling with fish, with drop-offs and rises offering abundant opportunities. Back bay boats have been targeting less-fished areas behind Assateague Island, north of the Rt. 50 Bridge, and the Rt. 90 Bridge area, where croaker and flatfish action has been heating up. Long squid strips, mullet, or shiners have proven successful in enticing these heavily pressured fish to bite. Live shiners and mullet can be easily obtained in dock areas of local marinas and can make a significant difference in fishing success. Finn McCabe was out fishing for white perch and was shocked when he pulled in a 23.5 inch 4.76 pound fluke. That's a nice surprise to have. "Miss OC Fishing" had several very successful trips, landing trophy-sized fluke. The headboats "Bay Bee" and "Tortuga" also had productive trips last week, catching fluke and a few croaker. Jeff Weeks pulled in a citation-worthy 6.25-pound sheepshead off the rocks at the south jetty using sand fleas as bait. Craig Cropper and Patricia Cropper enjoyed a great father-daughter day on the water, catching numerous rockfish and flounder, including one keeper. "Get Sum” charters had several successful outings, capturing flatfish and various other species. Cameron and Ryan also had a fun day on the "Get Sum," catching crabs in the back bays of Ocean City.
Surf fishing along the beaches on the south side of Assateague Island has provided the best chances of landing keeper fish. Bluefish and red drum continue to be caught, with fresh crab and sand fleas proving effective bait. Smaller kingfish have been biting on Fishbites and small floating hooks.
Clams & Crabs
Clamming behind the island has been fruitful, with clams found close to the surface and easily raked up. Clams closer to the beach tend to be larger, as smaller ones have already been collected. Deeper waters offer the best chance of finding smaller clams, perfect for clams casino and steamed clams. Carl Littleton reports that crabbing in Assawoman Bay has been excellent, yielding 8-10 keepers per pot. Fresh bunker has proven more effective than chicken for attracting larger crabs.
Until the next report, tight lines and fins up! §
