Article by Larry Jock
It was a very strange week for weather in Ocean City. When it wasn’t foggy it was windy. When it wasn’t windy, it was rainy. However, during a few windows of opportunity, anglers were able to get into some nice fish.
STRIPED BASS
As stripers hug our coastline during their annual northern migration, it is primetime for surfcasters from the VA line all the way up into Delaware to land trophy fish that are feeding on big schools of bunker and cobb mullet.
Surf fisherman off Assateague Island experienced some excellent days of fishing last week. Casting out fresh bunker or peeler crabs over the first sandbar during the incoming tide produced the best catches.
The striper bite along the beaches north of the inlet has been very good. Probably the best we have seen in a few years. Rich Bell has been hitting them pretty hard while fishing around 138th Street. On Saturday, Rich ended his day with a pair of linesiders that measured 37 and 43-inches.
Anglers fishing around the South Jetty also experienced some excellent striper fishing last week. Although it was sporadic, on a few days it was as best as it can be. Early in the week, one angler caught 16 fish, all between 38 and 43-inches. His bite came on trolled bucktails tipped with curltails. On Saturday, the bite picked-up again in the morning. Hugh Thomas Cropper took his dad to school when he landed himself a beautiful 42-5 incher on a bucktail. The dynamic duo of Big Bird Cropper and Dave Leizear caught their limit while tossing Roy rigs. Their largest measured 43-inches.
I didn’t really hear of any stripers being caught in the familiar haunts such as the Thorofare, around the Rt. 50 Bridge and down by the Verrazano Bridge.
FLOUNDER
Flounder fisherman continue to be frustrated by the incredible amount of slur in the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island. This has been going on since opening day and coupled with the windy weather we had last week, really made things tough.
A few flounder were caught by surf fisherman last week but the best spots for this time of year are usually in the Thorofare, behind Frontier Town, in the Sinepuxent Bay and in the East Channel.
Gulp! Swimming Mullets in white, chartreuse and pink have worked well in addition to bull minnows and squid. Pink, for some reason, seems to work best only in the spring.
TAUTOG
This is the time of year when tog fanatics hit the ocean in search of once-in-a lifetime fish.
Fishing has been hit-or-miss but some big fish are definitely coming over the rail. On Saturday, Trisha Onuschak caught and released a 15.7 lb. blackfish. According to Capt. Monty on the “Morning Star”, Trisha caught more tautog on that trip than the rest of the boat combined. Quite a day!
On Friday, Sherry Stewart on the “Ocean City Girl” landed a 19 lb. 3 oz. tautog on an ocean wreck.
I haven’t heard of many tautog being caught around the South Jetty but that could only be because most anglers in that area are chasing striped bass.
SEA BASS
Sea bass season is “officially” closed until May 22nd, but I know state and federal representatives are looking into opening it on May 19th. Stay tuned!
Although the season is closed, anglers are still catching and releasing some good sized knotheads on ocean wrecks and reefs while using squid and clams for bait. On the “Morning Star” trip mentioned early, Trisha also caught and released a sea bass estimated at just under 5 lbs.
BLUEFIN TUNA
Right after the Coastal Fisherman went to press last week, the “Always Late Too” returned from a marathon trolling trip with a 47 lb. bluefin from 100 fathoms in the Baltimore Canyon.
On Thursday of last week, the “Magic Moment” took a trip to between the Rockpile and the 461 Lump and trolled up 8 bluefin tuna. The one bluefin they kept weighed an even 50 lbs.
DOLPHIN
The “Always Late Too” started their trip last week 113 miles from the inlet in the Washington Canyon and trolled up the Gulf Stream, 48 miles to outside the Baltimore Canyon. Captain Brandon Speilman reported flying fish and weeds in 75 to 77-degree water where they hooked 2 gaffer dolphin.
SHARKS
On Saturday, the “Out-Rea-Geous” returned from outside the Marine Electric with a 197 lb. mako shark that was caught while using mackerel for bait.
The 3rd Annual Ocean City Marlin Club Bluefish Tournament is right around the corner, running on May 26th and 27th. You do not need to be a member of the Marlin Club to participate in this tournament. For more information, check out their ad on page 48.
Till next week... see you at the scales!
