Article by Larry Budd
This Week Last Year
• The “Blood Money” took 1st Place in the Release Division of the OC Marlin Club Labor Day White Marlin Tournament releasing a total of 5 white marlin and a blue from 1,000 fathoms outside of the Washington and Poor Man’s Canyons. Top tuna came from the “Sea Wolf” with a 75 lb. yellowfin they weighed just 15 minutes before the scales closed.
• The “Long Shot” boated a 93” mako shark from the Poor Man’s Canyon in 84° water.
• Tuna anglers were returning to the docks with 5 to 10 yellowfin tuna and getting multiple hook ups. The Poor Man’s Canyon and the Rockpile were the hot spots.
• The “Quick Draw” caught a 101 lb. wahoo at the Rockpile in 350’ of water.
It was beautiful and sunny with delightful temperatures throughout Delmarva last week, especially for the Labor Day weekend. It seems even the billfish were excited as they showed up in numbers we have not seen all summer, with many boats returning to the docks with multiple flags flying. The other big catch over the week was mahi, and lots of it! Several boats reported boating over 40 dolphin on a single trip. Sizes are still modest with most under 10 lbs. and only a few gaffers in the mix. Still great eating for these crews. Tuna fishing has remained consistent, but still challenging with most boats catching only a few per trip and many with one. They are still mainly yellowfins, however several reports of longfin tuna made their way to us. It is that time of year for these tasty tunas to make their arrival. Captains also continue to see solid fishing for tilefish and as we reported last week, there are two pending state records for both Delaware and Maryland! It is also getting to that time of year when crews begin to target swordfish, and several nice catches were reported this week.
Also this weekend, the last of the summer tournaments was held by the Ocean City Marlin Club with their 64th Annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament. So overall a great week offshore with lots to target, so let’s get into some details!
Right off the bat we need to highlight a super rare catch on Saturday. A local group of spear fishermen gave us a call Saturday afternoon from the Ocean City Fishing Center to come take a look at a cubera snapper they caught! Kai Cropper was diving in about 30’ of water on a shallow wreck just off of Ocean City when he saw the orange and brown fish come into site. While I have been told that this fish has been caught off Delmarva before, I could not find anyone who had a recent memory of one! Wikipedia states these snappers can be found as far north as Nova Scotia, but they are mainly a southern fish, and the adults are solitary fish who can live up to 55 years. They are also the largest of the snapper family and are a predatory fish with a wicked set of teeth! Congrats to Kai and crew who also speared a 63 lb. cobia.
As we mentioned, the Marlin Club held the 64th edition of the Labor Day White Marlin Tournament. This year 11 boats entered the fray competing for prizes and bragging rights toward the end of the season. The “Buckshot” jumped into 1st Place on the last day of the event reporting 5 white marlin releases from northeast of the Poor Man’s Canyon in 1000 fathoms. This combined with 2 released the day before from a little further north on the 1000 fathom line gave them the lead with 7 white marlin releases. Just behind them was the “Southern C’s” in 2nd Place releasing 3 white marlin each of their 2 days fishing for a total of 6. Picking up third was “D.A. Sea” releasing a total of 5 whites. All of this action was in deep water over 80 miles out and mostly in 1000 fathoms from the Wilmington Canyon down to the 120/130 line.
Only 4 yellowfin tunas made it to the scales, with top honors going to the “Grandé Pez” for the 77 pounder they raised from between the Wilmington and Baltimore Canyons, also in 1000 fathoms. The other three caught were all from the “Billfisher” who took both 2nd and 3rd Places with a pair of 69.5 lb. and 68 lb. yellowfins respectively. These also came from deep water well east of the Baltimore Canyon. I don’t think the “Billfisher” has fished within 90 miles of Ocean City all summer!
Billfish
While were waited at the scales at Sunset Marina we saw boat after boat returning to their slips flying marlin release flags. The “Reel Chaos” had a great week releasing 6 whites on Thursday, 3 on Saturday and another 4 on Sunday, also from deep water. One exception to the deep water trend was from the “C-Boys”. They went 4 for 6 on whites last Thursday trolling in only 500 fathoms in the Baltimore, and they also boated 2 yellowfins up to 75 lbs. Two boats had notable trips last week. The “Par Five” returned Sunday from an overnight trip to the deep reporting 5 white marlin releases and one blue marlin, and the “Reel Joy” slipped into the dock last Thursday with 7 white marlin release flags flying. Overall, some excellent September fishing! The hot spot remains the 1000 fathom line east of the canyons from the southern Wilmington through the Baltimore to north of the Poor Man’s Canyon.
A couple of swordfish catches came in last week as well. On Sunday the “Cabana” found 3 in the Wilmington and the “Just One More” hand cranked a 109 lb. sword from the “Poor Man’s”
Mahi & Wahoo
The other bright spot as I mentioned was the dolphin bite. Peanut sized to mid teen mahi were swarming inshore with most big catch reports coming from the Jack Spot followed by the southern lumps. The “Spring Mix II” had back-to-back trips over the weekend with over 40 fish each, and the “Restless Lady II” boated over 50 when they found a trash crate floating in the Poor Man’s Canyon. The Jack Spot was also a hot spot for wahoo caught on a fast troll.
We hope the fishing stays strong; however it looks like tropical storm Earl could have an impact over the next few days. Let us know what you are catching by texting or emailing us at [email protected].
Until next week I will see you at the docks! §
Upcoming Tournaments
• The 21st Annual Memorial Spot Tournament will be held on September 10th. This family event focuses on fishing from the docks at the Ocean City Fishing Center with categories for spot and other fish. No skill is needed and the entry fee is only $5. Awards at 5PM. For more info call 410-213-1121.
• The Bahia Marina Flounder Pounder is next Sunday, September 11th and is hosted at Fish Tales in Ocean City. This fun tournament is great for families, kids and serious bay anglers. More info at BahiaMarina.com under tournaments.
• Old Inlet Bait & Tackle host the Delaware Seashore Fall Surf Fishing Classic on September 24th & 25th. This event offers over $15,000 in cash and prizes and the very coveted bronze trophies! More at OldInlet.com.
