Maryland anglers Face Rough Conditions, Still finding Fish
Ocean City, MD – Despite a persistent weather front bringing strong winds and rough seas, Maryland anglers are finding success targeting striped bass, kingfish, black sea bass, and more.The conditions, expected to last through the weekend, are challenging but haven’t stopped determined fishermen from landing catches.
The front that moved through earlier this week continues to impact the region, creating difficult offshore conditions. However,westerly winds are keeping surf conditions manageable. Surfcasters are reporting catches of kingfish and striped bass.
At the Ocean City Inlet, striped bass are being caught along jetties, bulkheads, and docks using soft plastic jigs. Action is also reported near the Route 90 Bridge piers and marsh sedge banks, wiht anglers favoring soft plastic jigs and paddletails. tautog are being caught inside the inlet, though many are undersized; successful anglers are taking home one or two legal fish using green crab or sand fleas.
Offshore fishing has been rough, but recent trips to wreck and reef sites yielded good catches of black sea bass and large flounder. The canyon fishery is focused on deep-drop fishing for blueline tilefish and swordfish.
“The chief difference between big-game fishing and weightlifting is that weightlifters never clutter up their library walls with stuffed barbells,” noted Ed Zern in 1947.
This report is compiled by Keith Lockwood, a fisheries biologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the forecast summary is provided by Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Director Tom Parham. Anglers are encouraged to participate in DNR’s Volunteer Angler Surveys to contribute valuable data for fisheries management.
