Article by Larry Jock
It was an exciting ending to a week that looked like a wipe out due to heavy winds and high seas.
The white marlin and wahoo bites were definitely the highlight of the weekend.
Marlin
Starting with Challenge Cup, a tournament that pits the Cape May Marlin & Tuna Club against our Ocean City Marlin Club. Unfortunately, for the 2nd year in a row, our guys lost to the Jersey boys, 118 billfish releases to 89 billfish releases. After the first day of the 2-day tournament, both clubs were tied with 52 releases, but on Saturday the Cape May club really turned it on, releasing 66 billfish to our 37. The majority of the action centered in the Norfolk Canyon. Overall, 207 billfish were released by the 37 boats entered in the tournament, which is the same number of releases as in 2008.
Outside of the tournament, white marlin were caught on Friday at the Rockpile by anglers on the “Mak-Atak” and in the Baltimore Canyon by the “Fish Bonz”. On Sunday, the “D.A. Sea” went back to the Norfolk Canyon and recorded 8 white marlin releases along with a blue marlin release. The “Playmate” also had 5 white marlin releases in the Norfolk Canyon on Sunday.
Wahoo
The landing of big wahoo certainly created a lot of excitement at the scales this past weekend, led by the 101 pounder caught on Sunday aboard the “Rhonda’s Osprey”. Young Mason McMullen and his uncle Jerry McMullen teamed up to muscle in the big speedster, easily the largest wahoo we have seen in years. The fish was caught in 50 fathoms in the Baltimore Canyon. Also on Sunday, the “Recon” weighed a 71 lb. wahoo, caught in 50 fathoms between the Poor Man’s Canyon and the Hot Dog. “Carol’s Teakettle”, the “Marli” , “Bug Money” and the “Clear Shot” all returned with good size wahoo caught in 35 to 45 fathoms between the Hot Dog and the Baltimore Canyon.
On Saturday, the “Sea Wolf”, with Capt. Josh Farr at the helm, weighed a 57 pounder caught in 30 fathoms outside the Tea Cup.
On Friday, the “Fish Bonz” and the “Espadon” each had 2 wahoo from the Baltimore Canyon.
Yellowfin Tuna
After all this wind, there was a lot of concern about finding the yellowfin tuna. All concerns subsided on Friday when the “Playmate” returned with 15 yellowfins and some dolphin from the Elephant Trunk, the same location where yellowfin were biting prior to the stretch of bad weather.
On Saturday, the “Sea Wolf” boated 5 yellowfin at the Tea Cup.
On Sunday, more yellowfin hit the docks with most being hooked in 30-45 fathoms near the Hot Dog and the Tea Cup.
Dolphin
Anglers who caught yellowfin tuna and wahoo also brought back nice catches of dolphin. Nothing gigantic, but nice sized mahi-mahi. On Friday, the “Fish Bonz” had 16 dolphin from the Baltimore Canyon and the “Mak-Atak” brought back 14 from around the Rockpile.
Tautog & Sheepshead
With flounder season closed in Maryland, anglers have switched over to fishing for tautog and sheepshead, primarily around the South Jetty.
Capt. Nick Clemente on the “Get Sum” landed himself a nice 8 lb. 9 oz. sheepshead on Sunday while fishing with sand fleas.
Several tautog were caught around the South Jetty over the weekend. None were big by any stretch, but definitely worth keeping.
Speaking of the South Jetty, I understand a local captain is back to shuttling groups of anglers to the South Jetty to tog fish. I hope the Maryland DNR Police are monitoring this situation since the last time this happened, reports flew in about the anglers filleting and eating fish right on the jetty. I also received several reports from boaters who had lead sinkers thrown at them if they ventured too close to the jetty. If the Marine Police doesn’t get this situation under control, it could get very ugly.
Sea Bass
Since the flounder season is closed, ocean reef and wreck anglers are having good luck landing sea bass. Clams and squid are the baits of choice. Capt. Chester Sadowski on the “Jezebel” has reported good action at the Great Eastern Reef.
Bluefish
There was a good bluefish bite from the surf this past week. Anglers using finger mullet did very well. Those fishing around the Rt. 50 Bridge at night were also able to hook into an occasional chopper.
In the Surf
Sue Foster at Oyster Bay Tackle reports, “We had Northeast winds again this week, so some days weren't so hot. Tuesday was an especially good day in the surf for bluefish. Everyone was coming in and buying finger mullet and catching bluefish in the surf in Ocean City. Anglers fishing on Assateague are anxiously awaiting the red drum run. A couple were caught earlier in the week.
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Since this is the last issue of the 2009 season, I want to take this opportunity to thank a few people.
First, thank you to our readers who are some of the most loyal readers I have ever come across in my 24 years in the newspaper business. We appreciate all the nice comments we receive during the year and look forward to providing you with an even better Coastal Fisherman next year. If you have any suggestions or requests, please feel free to email them to me at [email protected].
I would also like to thank our advertisers, who support the Coastal Fisherman each week. Without them, there would not be a Coastal Fisherman, so please do everything you can to support as many as you can, and let them know you saw their ad in the Coastal Fisherman and appreciate their support.
I also am very grateful to the team of correspondents who work hard each and every week to bring you informative, well written articles. Kudos to Dale Timmons, Sue Foster, Rick Willman, Pat Schrawder, Julie Ball, Mark Sampson and Mama Jock for a job well done.
Finally, a big “thank you” to my fellow team members at the Coastal Fisherman. Daina Kazmaier did a fantastic job creating the advertisements each week in addition to editing all the videos you can now find on our website. The new website was a big undertaking, and Daina really stepped up to the plate. My mom, Maureen, not only handled our popular “The Galley” column each week, but did a great job handling all of the responsibilities that come with being the Office Manager. My dad, Larry Sr. likes to view himself as the “Public Relations” guy for the Coastal Fisherman, but he does much more. From delivering a good portion of our papers each Wednesday to restocking the stores that run out each week, my dad is an “ace”, and I am fortunate to have him on the team.
Finally, my wife Mary and son Larry III, who not only help distribute the papers each week, but put up with my crazy hours and many missed dinners.
I am a very fortunate person, and realize such. Loyal readers, wonderful advertisers, great correspondents and fantastic, hardworking employees. What more can I ask for? Life is good!
Have a great fall and don’t forget to look for our Winter Issue that will hit the streets during the first week in January. If you have a picture that you would like for us to take, just call 410-213-2200. Or, if you take the picture yourself, you can email it to us at [email protected].
Hopefully, this “Paperboy” will see you on the water. Bring on the stripers!
