Ocean City Sport Fishing

Ocean City Charter Fishing How about an Ocean City fishing trip for big tuna?

Ocean City is a small town on the barrier spit in the state of Maryland. Although it has a population of less than 8,000, during the height of tourist season, that number can swell to more than 300,000 - especially on summer weekends. Visitors come for the sun, the beaches, the seafood, and the fantastic saltwater fishing.

Ocean City fishing is famous for its offshore angling in the Atlantic Ocean. The sea floor is littered with wrecks and artificial reefs that provide habitats for small fish, and as a result, large predatory fish prowl these areas in search of food. There are also underwater canyons that serve as haunts for big gamefish. The famous Gulf Stream is relatively near Ocean City, and it serves as sort of a superhighway for migrating species. Offshore fishing for marlin, dorado, tuna, wahoo, and shark is excellent.

Ocean City has earned the moniker "White Marlin Capital of the World," due to the large number of these billfish caught, along with the fact that it's home to the White Marlin Open - the largest billfish tournament in the entire world. The state record fish weighed in at 135 pounds and was landed in Poor Mans Canyon. In the recent White Marlin Open, 550 white marlin were caught, and just a few days later, another 558 were caught during the Mid-Atlantic White Marlin Tournament. This is why so many Ocean City fishing charters participate in the tournament.

Ocean City Is The White Marlin Fishing Capital Of The World

In September of 2010, a single local boat landed a staggering 57 white marlin in one day. Best of all, almost every one of this fish was released to fight again another day. Another crew on a different Ocean City sport fishing charter will have a chance to catch these fish when they are even larger. Local fishing experts attribute the abundance of fish partly to the closing of long lining in certain areas, along with the widespread use of circle hooks. Non-offset circle hooks provide for a much smaller percentage of "foul hooking," so the mortality rate of released fish has sharply decreased. If you want in on some of the thrilling action, there are numerous Ocean City charters that can take you to the marlin waters where all the best sportfishing action is.

Ocean City sport fishing also includes the giant blue marlin. The Maryland state record blue tipped the scales at 1,062 pounds. This monster was pulled from Baltimore Canyon in August of 2009, during the annual White Marlin Open, breaking the former record held by a 942-pound fish that was caught in 1989. This bodes well for the future billfish angling in the area. The blue marlin is the ultimate gamefish. Among the largest fishes in the sea, the blue marlin performs a series of leaps, runs, and tail-walking once hooked. If you're up for the battle, book an Ocean City fishing charter. They're familiar with the local waters and know the places the big fish frequent.

Ocean City Charter Fishing Ocean City sport fishing can mean fast action like all these tuna provided for a happy crew of anglers.

One of the tastiest and most beautiful of the Ocean City offshore fish is the dorado, also called "dolphinfish" or "mahi mahi." The Maryland state record fish weighed in at 67 pounds, 8 ounces and was hooked 53 miles off the coast of Ocean City. The best time to fish for dorado in Maryland is in July, August, and September.

Tuna are another favorite catch, and in Maryland waters, both bluefin and yellowfin tuna are available. The state record bluefin tuna weighed a whopping 625 pounds and was landed just 45 miles east of Ocean City. The largest yellowfin tuna recorded 236.5 pounds and was found in Washington Canyon. Fishing for tuna is best in May through October.

While Ocean City sport fishing, you'll also have the opportunity to hook into one of the fastest fish in the sea - the wahoo. These streamlined beauties can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, and they have white, delicate flesh that's prized by chefs. Ocean City fishing charters can help you land a wahoo, and the best time to catch the fish in Maryland waters is during the months of August and September.

If shark fishing is your thing, Maryland will not disappoint. Chief among all sharks with the sport fishermen is the mako. When hooked, the mako usually behaves more like a billfish than it does a shark. Due to its shape and its unique muscle mass, these sharks can leap more than thirty feet high, and many scientists believe the fish can attain speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. The Maryland state record mako weighed 867 pounds and was landed in Poor Mans Canyon. The prime time to catch a mako in Maryland waters is in May, and Ocean City fishing charters will be ready to take you on a shark hunt.

Inshore and nearshore fishing at Ocean City includes angling in bays and inlets, in tidal rivers, around islands, and in the shallows. Regular catches include rockfish, bluefish, king mackerel, sea trout, flounder, sheepshead, ling cod, and tautog. A variety of angling methods are used to catch these species, including jigging, sight casting, trolling, fly fishing, and bottom fishing. Ocean City fishing charters know how and where to land these fish, and by using their services, you'll have a fun, safe, productive fishing trip.