Article by Larry Jock
What an incredible weekend of fishing out of Ocean City. Finally, after weeks of bad weather anglers were able to get out and chase their favorite species and many returned successful.
White Marlin
We heard numerous false rumors over the long weekend about the first white marlin being released and it finally came true on Sunday when 14-year-old Grant Clubb on the “Chain Reaction II” recorded his release at 11:44 AM. Grant hooked the white in 65 fathoms exactly between the Baltimore and Poor Man’s Canyons. It ate a ballyhoo behind a blue and silver Eye Catcher lure. For the 1st white marlin of the season, Grant wins $5,000 from the Town of Ocean City, but since neither he or the boat are members of the Ocean City Marlin Club, the club’s $5,000 award is still unclaimed.
Tuna and Dolphin
Especially over the weekend, many boats returned to the dock with excellent catches of yellowfin tuna with a few dolphin mixed in as well.
The bite centered on the area in 50 to 75 fathoms between the Baltimore and Poor Man’s Canyons with water temperatures between 72 and 79 degrees.
“Reel Chaos” had an incredible weekend, returning with 14 yellowfins on Saturday and another 24 fish on Sunday when they went 10 for 10 on one pass. That had to be some amazing teamwork!
On Thursday, a few boats got into yellowfins in the Baltimore Canyon, but on Friday you could see that things were starting to get good. The “Absolute Pleasure” had 18 yellowfins and 3 dolphin, all caught on ballyhoo and spreader bars.
On Saturday, the bite really turned on with the “Reelentless” leading the way with 16 yellowfins and 4 dolphin near the 240 line. Anglers on the “Foolish Pleasures” threw 13 yellowfins and 2 dolphin on the dock and several other boats recorded single digit catches.
On Sunday, outside of the “Reel Chaos” mauling, a couple of other boats had 2-7 tuna and some dolphin, all from inside the Baltimore Canyon.
Sharks
Shark fishing was good inshore in 20-25 fathoms for blue sharks and threshers and further offshore for makos.
The first thresher shark of the season was landed by Baron Daiker on Saturday while fishing at the Fingers.
Todd Martinek caught the heaviest thresher we have seen so far this year, a 258 pounder hooked in 16 fathoms, south of the Fingers.
On Sunday, the “Muff Diver” arrived at the Ocean City Fishing Center with a 256 lb. mako shark that was caught towards the south end of the Baltimore Canyon in 100 fathoms.
Several other mako sharks in the 105 to 120 lb. range were caught throughout the week.
Wahoo
The first wahoo of the season was caught on Sunday by anglers on the “Karen Leigh”, while trolling a black and purple Big Heavy in 75-degree water in the Baltimore Canyon. The fish measured 64-inches and weighed 61 lbs.
Tilefish
With more and more anglers getting the GPS?numbers for good tilefish grounds, we see these fish showing up at the scales in increasing numbers.
On Friday, the “Reel Desire” came back with 16 golden tilefish while deep dropping in the Washington Canyon. Their heaviest fish weighed 48 lbs.
Flounder
Flounder fishing was pretty horrible last week, mainly due to dirty water and warmer than normal water temperatures. Right now, more flounder are being caught just off the beach and at inshore wrecks than in our bays. However, a few anglers did have good catches. On Friday, “The King” boxed 1 of the 15 flounder he hooked north of the Thorofare even though 6 were large enough to keep. On Thursday, John Judy landed a big 7 pounder on a chartreuse Gulp! in the Thorofare. Also on Thursday, Gary and Shirley German celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary with a little flounder fishing and ended up with a 5 lb. 7 oz. flattie.
Sea Bass
Sea bass fishing was steady all week and the keeper ratio is improving. Both the “Morning Star” and the “Angler had several good trips during the week. The heaviest sea bass was a 4 lb. 8 oz. knothead caught on Saturday aboard the “Morning Star”.
The Bass Grounds, Great Eastern Reef, African Queen and the subways cars at the Jackspot were all productive spots for anglers fishing with clams and squid.
Bluefish & Shad
Anglers fishing in the Ocean City Inlet and around the Rt. 50 Bridge had some great late afternoon and early evenings catching small bluefish and shad. The area south of the Rt. 50 Bridge was very productive.
Sheepshead
The first sheepshead of the season was caught by a trio of anglers spearfishing while free-diving at the African Queen on Saturday (pictured on right). Their trip also produced the heaviest sheepshead caught this year, weighing in at 11 lbs. 13 oz.
On Sunday, Michael Skowronski landed a 5 lb. 15 oz. sheepshead while fishing with sand fleas off the North Jetty.
Black Drum
Surfcasters off Assateague and the beaches of Ocean City have experienced some good black drum fishing this spring. On Thursday, junior angler Landan Wagner brought a 36-incher by for a picture and his dad told me that the guy fishing next to them on Assateague caught 15 boomers that day including a couple of doubleheaders.
Striped Bass
The striped bass bite has slowed, but there was some good action on Sunday and Monday at the South Jetty.
Upcoming Tournament
The 16th Annual Mako Mania Shark Tournament starts on Thursday at Bahia Marina. Weigh-ins are from 3:30 to 7:30 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Get there early.
See you at the scales!
