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Bountiful Ocean, Coastal Bays Lure Fishermen
Ocean City enjoys a reputation as a prime spot for catching blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, mako, dolphin. Closer to shore, surf fishing yields flounder, bluefish, sea trout and kingfish, while the coastal bays teem with tautog, ling cod, trout, croakers and, of course, Maryland’s famous blue crabs.
Marinas offer charter fleets for inshore, offshore, and deep-sea fishing. Most boats carry a maximum of six passengers for half-day, full-day, or overnight trips. U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains operate all vessels. With about 90 boats at five different marinas in the Ocean City area, you’re sure to find the right trip for you. Many marinas also will help put together trips by combining individuals or parties interested in an outing. Call as soon as you know when you'd like to go out.
Bahia Marina (2107 Herring Way, 410-289-7438) offers thirteen vessels in its fleet, ranging from 25 to 50 feet. Trips cost $900 to $1,650 and cater to your interests. Captains specialize in bluefish, sharks, tuna, dolphin and marlin as well as bottom fishing. Whether you wish to go trolling, chunking, chumming, or drifting, Bahia Marina has a trip for you.
Fisherman’s Marina (12806 Sunset Avenue, West Ocean City, 410-213-2478) specializes in trolling, chunking and chumming. The charter fleet offers offshore, inshore and overnight trips on 12 boats ranging from a 28-foot Bertram to a 57-foot Blackwell. Trips run from April to November. Captain's specialties include tuna, marlin, bluefish, shark, wahoo, dolphin, bass and tog.
Ocean City Fishing Center (13003 Shantytown Lane, West Ocean City, 410-213-1121, 800-322-3065) boasts the largest charter fleet in the area, with almost 40 boats ranging from a 26-foot Strike to a 57-foot Blackwell. Prices range from $475 for a half-day inshore trip to $3,000 for an overnight. Marlin/tuna offshore, shark offshore and full-day inshore trips are also offered. Half-day flounder fishing trips are available for $20 a person.
Sunset Marina (12911 Sunset Avenue, West Ocean City, 877-514-3474) operating from May to November, offers 20 boats for a variety of trips. You can take a day to fish marlin, tuna, dolphin and wahoo aboard boats ranging from a 33-footer to a 61-foot Custom. Sunset also offers deep-set fishing trips.
Talbot Street Pier (311 Talbot Street, 410-289-3500 for schedules, 800-659-7703 for reservations) offers deep sea and sport-fishing trips from May to October aboard the four boats in its charter fleet. The motel and restaurant on the site make Talbot Street Pier a convenient base for fishing trips. Boats range from a 31-foot Bertram to a 46-foot Sportsfisherman. Prices vary from $400 dollars for a half-day bluefishing trip to $1,100 for a marlin/tuna excursion. Shark and bottom fishing trips also are offered..
Don’t forget to bring a box lunch with you on your trip. Many marinas offer a restaurant or snack bar on premises. Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sun-block. Remember, you’re going to be out on a boat in the ocean for a day and will be especially vulnerable to the sun. Wear shoes with rubber soles like deck shoes or sneakers, and bring a light jacket if rain’s in the forecast. Tip your mate for a job well done. The going rate is 15 percent.
Surf fishing is allowed on the beach in Ocean City, but, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., you must stay at least 50 yards away from swimmers or people on the beach. Surf-fishing is permitted on Assateague Island except on guarded beaches and in surfing zones.
For a small fee, you can fish from the Oceanic Pier (Southern end of Philadelphia Avenue near the inlet), a good place to catch founder, bluefish, trout and crabs.
Good free public fishing spots include the Ocean City Inlet, the Route 50 Bridge, the bay bulkhead between Second and Fourth streets, the Ninth Street Pier, the public bay bulkhead behind the Ocean City Convention Center on 40th Street, the Isle of Wight (first left after crossing Route 90 Bridge westbound). In Delaware, try the Indian River Inlet and, for surf fishing, the beaches at Delaware State Park (Route 1, 15 miles north of Ocean City) and the be
Small boats can be rented at Bahia Marina (on the bay between 21st and 22nd Streets, 410-289-7438), Bayside Marina (Route 50 and Shantytown Road, 410-213-2277), Bayside Boat Rentals (54th Street and the bay, 410-524-1948) and Shark’s Cove Watersports (Route 54 behind Seaport Antiques, Fenwick Island, 302-436-8500). Bayside Marina also rents power boats.
Public boat launches are at (Sunset Avenue, West Ocean City), Gum Point Road (off Route 589, West Ocean City), Ocean City Commercial Harbor (87th Street and the Bay), and Assateague Island Park (Route 611). Boat Trailer Parking is available at the 100th Street Municipal Parking Lot for a fee.
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Comments from users:
| Connie Epps | Baltimore County, MD | | charmeengc AT aol DOT com | |
This is great information! My brothers and I have been wanting to fish in O.C. for a long time/Public areas. If you would be so kind as to add a map or more specific info. on how to get to the public area spots. Thanx so much. |
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