Article by Larry Jock
Well, we are in the heart of the summer when bites turn on and off, new species arrive in our local waters and White Marlin Open week has everyone loaded with anticipation that the “big one” will hit the scales and make some lucky anglers a lot richer.
At the time this report was written on Monday evening, there are 298 boats entered into the White Marlin Open which is more than a lot of folks had predicted based on the state of our economy. This is only down 2 boats from 2008 and the total payout is expected to be over $2,000,000.
On the first day of the tournament, 175 boats hit the ocean. Dan Deer on the “True Grit” weighed the only qualifying white marlin, coming in at 67.5 lbs. Two bigeye tuna top the leaderboard in the Tuna Division. In 1st place is a 239 pounder caught by Doug Salter on the “Shadowfax”. In 2nd place is a 207.5 pounder caught by Ed Gross on the “Foolish Pleasures”. Leading the Dolphin Division is Rod Wittstadt’s 37 lb. mahi caught on the “Two Days” with P.J. Aldridge at the helm.
Overall, it was a pretty good first day of what could be another exciting White Marlin Open. Scales open at 4 pm, so get there early for a good seat near the weigh station.
BILLFISH
The billfish bite has been sporadic to say the least. The week started off with a bang when, on Tuesday, the “Billfisher” went 6 for 9 on white marlin in the Washington Canyon. Capt. Bruce McGuigan on the “Stag Hound” also recorded 3 white marlin releases in 19 fathoms, southwest of the Hot Dog.
On Wednesday, some whites were caught around the Rockpile and a few were caught near the Hambone.
We didn’t see any more whites released until the first day of the Ocean City Marlin Club’s Ladies Tournament held on Friday and Saturday. Only a few boats fished on Friday due to 10-foot seas, but a few whites were released. The “Fortune Cookie” released 2 while the “Last Call”, the “Playmate” and the “Big Oh” each released 1.
The winning catch came on Saturday when anglers on the “Big Oh” went 5 for 5 on whites in the Washington Canyon. The “Legasea” recorded 3 white marlin releases at the south end of the Poor Man’s Canyon while the “Reel Chaos” released a couple in the Washington Canyon.
On Sunday, most boats laid low, spending the day getting ready for the White Marlin Open. “That’s Right” did venture down to the Washington Canyon where they had 1 white marlin release and lost a blue marlin.
COBIA
In last weeks issue, you saw the new state record cobia caught on the “Fish Finder” out of the Ocean City Fishing Center. The “official” weight of the fish has changed. When the fish was initially weighed, the fish tipped the scales at 72 lbs. By the time the DNR representative arrived at the scales and asked for the fish to be weighed again, it was down to 71 lbs. which, at the time, was deemed to be the “official” weight. I called Keith Lockwood at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and explained the situation to him, and told him that if the DNR was only at the scales to verify the species, and not the weight, then the fish should be recognized at 72 lbs.
At the time, the paper was going to press last week, Keith said that the fish would be considered 71 lbs. until he could investigate further. I am happy to report that the weight of the fish has been changed to 72 lbs. and is now considered a state record in Maryland. All in all, it’s not a big deal until a 71.5 pound cobia is caught.
Earlier in the week, anglers on the “Fish Finder” again caught cobia, this time two that tipped the scales at 31 and 37 lbs. Like the state record fish, these cobia were caught near Great Gull Shoal.
BLUEFIN TUNA
The bluefin tuna bite that had been the bread and butter of the ocean fleet so far this year has almost vanished around the Hambone. The only bluefin I saw this week came in on Friday when the “Marli” returned with a 65.5-incher from the Hambone. Word has it that the bite has moved up to the Lobster Claw, which is exactly what it did at this time last year when anglers in the White Marlin Open were steaming that far north, looking to catch a big one and win the Tuna Division.
YELLOWFIN TUNA
The yellowfin tuna bite is scattered up and down the line. On Wednesday, the “Miss Caroline” returned with 7 yellowfins caught at the Hambone. After that, boats that had yellowfins usually only had a couple, although we did see a better class of fish over the weekend. The “Reel Chaos” weighed a 57.8 pounder and the “Puddy Patrol” threw a 52.2 pounder on the scale at the Ladies Tournament.
On Sunday, I received reports of yellowfin up north. deep around the 540 line and in 20 fathoms inshore of Massey’s Canyon and around the Chicken Bone.
WAHOO
We saw a couple of wahoo hit the scales over the weekend and I heard a report of wahoo mixed in with yellowfin in 20 fathoms, inshore of Massey’s Canyon.
On Wednesday, “That’s?Right” boated a couple of wahoo near the Chicken Bone. On Friday, the “Jade II” caught a 41 pounder inside the Poor Man’s Canyon and on Saturday, the “Last Call” weighed a 35 pounder. The largest ‘hoo of the week came in on Sunday when Greg Garman and John Conrad hit the scales at Sunset Marina with a 69 pounder caught on a skirted ballyhoo at the Hambone.
FLOUNDER
Flounder fishermen continue to bend rods in the bay, although they aren’t returning with many in the cooler. Throwbacks are still far outnumbering keepers. Capt. Nick Clemente on the “Get Sum” reported most of the action is still centering around Harbour Island and in the East Channel. Anglers finding the deeper holes and using live spot for bait are having the best results.
The larger flounder we see each week are still being caught by anglers hitting the ocean wrecks and reefs. The “Morning Star” returned with several large flatties over 5 lbs. last week with most hitting on chunks of clam.
Don’t forget, in Maryland flounder fishing shuts down on September 13th, so get your fix now.
CROAKER
If you enjoy croaker fishing, now is the time to hit the bay and inshore waters around Ocean City. Anglers are filling coolers after drifting around the mouth of the Commercial Harbor, in the bay behind Assateague and in the West Channel off Gudelsky Park. Some of the headboats had good luck putting their anglers on schools of croaker in the ocean off 17th Street.
You don’t need to get too fancy with this species of fish. Squid, Gulp! and Fishbites artificial baits are all you need.
DOLPHIN
By far, the most fish we saw hitting the scales last week was the fast growing, hungry dolphin. Catches were made from the Washington Canyon up to the Chicken Bone and inshore from 20 fathoms out to the deep. Most of the dolphin we have seen have been females in the 12 to 15 lb. range caught on trolled ballyhoo. We did see three larger ones at the Ladies Tournament highlighted by the 19 pounder caught on the “D.A. Sea” in the Washington Canyon.
STRIPED BASS
The bite around the South Jetty has mellowed. Some stripers are still being caught around the Rt. 50 Bridge at night. Anglers are having better luck with live spot (which are all over the bay) and bucktails. The full moon is this week, so the bite should be even better at night.
Well, I’m off to the scales of the White Marlin Open. It is sure to be a long, tiring and exciting week. If you get a chance, stop on by and say hello. If you work at Wockenfuss Candy, I love the chocolate covered strawberries.
See you at the scales!
