1.30.19 10:28 am

FISHING REPORT

by Larry Jock 

If you are going to the Harrisburg Outdoor Show, you will be able to pick-up a copy of the Coastal Fisherman Winter Issue at the (2) Maryland Fish & Hunt booths, #2521 and #4603.  One booth is in the Fishing section and the other is in the hall with all of the outfitters.

SUNDAY, January 27, 2019

Capt. Monty Hawkins on the headboat, "Morning Star" reported "a nice pick" on tautog today.  Not much current, but a lot of double digit fish were caught before the slack.  Angles released 5 tog that weighed over 10 lbs.  Largest fish was a 30 1/4-incher aht weighed 19 1/4 lbs.

James Kim caught, tagged and released a 29 1/4-inch, 18.5 lb. tautog after hooking it with a white crab on an ocean wreck.

On a side note, today, via the "Morning Star", the Ocean City Reef Foundation dropped reef block #24,000.  The recordsetting block was dropped at Capt. Jack Kaeufer's Memorial Reef.  Congratulations to the Reef Foundation.  To join (very inexpensively!) just go to their website at ocreefs.org.

SATURDAY, January 26, 2019

Capt. Monty on the headboat, "Morning Star" reported better fishing today, but caught a slack current at the end of the day.  Before that, anglers caught some nice fish including the pool winner, Justin Leber who caught a 26-inch, 14.5 lb. tog.

THURSDAY, January 17, 2019

Capt. Monty on the headboat "Morning Star" reported some decent tautog fishing today with a good percentage of fish measuring over 20-inches.  No limits but a lot of nice fish.  Steve Cohen took top fish honors with a 23 3/4-incher.

WEDNESDAY, January 16, 2019

Anglers on the headboat, "Morning Star" are still banging away at tautog on ocean structure.  Capt. Monty said that the winds blew over 20 knots all day but some nice fish were still caught.  Largest was a 20-incher caught by Bill Keefer.

SATURDAY, December 29, 2018

After putting in some long 12-hour sea bassing days, Capt. Monty went back to tog fishing (only 10 hours!) and the day was calmer than expected until around 2:30 when the wind switched to the north.  Tog bite was not great.  Three anglers caught their limit but decided to return the big females back to their comfort zone to build the population.  Todays pool winner, Ben Strahl of Berlin, MD caught a 21 1/4-inch male tog

WEDNESDAY, December 26, 2018

Well, it looks like the dismal 2018 striper season continues.  Boats went north and south today and the only fish I heard caught came on the “Fish Frenzi”.  Chuck Wenzel caught a 33-incher while trolling off Fenwick Island.  Boats that went south saw nothing.  All of the birds looked to be flying north.  The good news is that water temps are still around 43-45 degrees, so there is still time left, PLUS they are still catching them off Jersey.  Maybe we will be able to bail out the season in the next couple of weeks.

Capt. Month on the headboat, “Morning Star” reported a bluebird day offshore with winds never getting over 10 knots.  They had one angler catch their limit of 15 sea bass today with several others reaching double digits.  Largest was a 17.8-incher caught by Caleb McIntyre.  Capt. Monty said that he has openings for tomorrows 10-hour sea bass trip.


THURSDAY, December 20, 2018

4:32 PM - What a difference a day makes.  Flat calm this morning allowed boats to get to their sea bass and tautog grounds.  Capt. Monty on the headboat, "Morning Star" said that tog had lockjaw today and didn't cooperate.  Largest was an 18 1/2-incher.

WEDNESDAY, December 19, 2018

Wow!  Today was the day to jump on a local headboat or charter boat for some sea bass and tog fishing.  Are you sitting down?

On the headboat, "Angler", everybody fishing for sea bass caught their limit in just a couple of hours.  Numerous fish were in the 3 to 5 lb. range but NONE were larger than the 6.8 pounder caught by Justin Eddy of Ellicott City.  That is a huge sea bass!  Biggest one I have ever seen.  A couple of years ago in January, we saw several 6 pounders caught but none that weighed 6.8 lbs.  Fish were caught on clams on an offshore wreck.  Even Super Mate, Rich Fouts caught a pair weighing 3 3/4 lbs. and 5 lbs.

On the charter boat, "Fish Bound" , world record holder for tautog, Ken Westerfeld was at it again.  Today he caught another potential world record when he caught a 17.4 pounder on 16 lb. test.  Incredible!!!  All of the anglers fishing on the "Fish Bound" had a good day.  The anglers caught a boat limit including 6 over 10 lbs.  

On the headboat, "Morning Star", the entire crew and anglers caught their limit of sea bass. They took a long run off the beach, but it was worth it.  Poor winner caught a 21-incher.

On the striped bass front, inside of the lovely 3-mile line was dead.  There was some bird action down towards the Sliver, but more birds were seen diving 4 miles off the beach at 28th Street.  The man as out there making sure nobody was fishing for stripers under the birds.  Water temperature on the 3-mile line this morning was a little over 43-degrees, which is worrisome.  It was a couple of degrees warmer a little further south.   
There could be a chance to get some fishing in early tomorrow, but starting tomorrow night through 6pm on Saturday there is a small craft warning.  Winds early on Friday will be between 17 and 24 mph.  


TUESDAY, December 18, 2018

It looks like some stripers have moved inside the 3-mile line.  Pete Renzi on the "Fish Frenzi" caught a pair while trolling at Little Gull Shoal.  Fish were in the mid-30 inch range.

If the fish are at Little Gull, then there is a good chance they are north along the line.  Banana Lump and off Sea Colony would be good bets.


FRIDAY, December 14, 2018

The striper bite along the coast is hit-or-miss.  The fish are pretty scattered.  Sounds like the best action was up towards the mouth of the Indian River Inlet although a few fish were caught inside 3-miles off the condos in North Ocean City.


THURSDAY, December 13, 2918

There hasn't been much to report lately.  Anglers fishing inside 3-miles have been frustrated with the lack of stripers.  Water temp has dropped down into the mid-40's, so that is concerning.  Boats heading in from offshore sea bass and tautog fishing have run across big schools of stripers 10 miles off the beach.

Yesterday, a lot of stripers were caught off the Wildwood, NJ coast.


SUNDAY, December 9, 2018

Well, it looks like we may have a striper season afterall.  A few stripers were caught late in the week and into Saturday.  Sunday was a little sporty, keeping most at the dock.  Most of the fish were caught up off of Sea Colony and down to the Pyramid.  The class of fish looked like in the 32-inch range but a few big girls were hooked also.  Water temperature dropped a couple of degrees but is still in the upper-40's.  Still plenty of room.  "Here at 50... Gone at 40".

** I HAVEN'T YET DECIDED ON THE COVER SHOT FOR THE WINTER ISSUE!  We go to press in 2 weeks, so if you get a BIG fish send in the picture right away!!!   THE COVER SHOT COULD BE YOU!

Some nice size stripers were also caught by anglers fishing out of Lewes who made the run to the Jersey coast off Wildwood.  Joe Huk caught a a 46-incher that weighed 38 lbs.  Most reports coming in from those who ventured up to Jersey said that the majority of fish were in the 32-inch range.

Stripers were also caught at The 8's in the Delaware Bay.

Deb Grierson caught a 32.5-inch striper off the point at Cape Henlopen.  Fish weighed 11.5 lbs.

Ocean structure is giving up some good size tautog.  White leggers were the bait of choice.  Have seen quite a few in the 8-9 lb. class.


SATURDAY, December 8, 2018

Capt. Monty Hawkins on the headboat, "Morning Star" took a long trip out of Ocean City in search of sea bass that are really moving offshore now.  Smaller sea bass are lagging behind.  A few anglers had double digit catches of knotheads and 1 angler limited out.  The largest was a fat 16.6-incher.

FRIDAY, December 7, 2018

On the headboat, "Morning Star", Capt. Monty took his anglers out for the first dedicated tautog trip since spring.  The bite wasn't bad.  Anglers hooked a lot of small fish.  Most anglers had a couple of keeprs but were kept very busy with a lot of throwbacks.  John Sadowski won the pool with a 22-incher.


THURSDAY, December 6, 2018

Still no stripers to report.  Water temp is down under 46-degrees.  Starting to get worried!

Capt. Monty on the headboat, "Morning Star" didn't have fond thoughts about the weatherman when they reported winds to be 10-15 mph and they were more like 15 to 25 mph!  But the fish were snapping!!!  Had tog mixed in with sea bass.  Gerald Meadows as high hook with 13 nice sea bass and a 21-inch tog.  Terry Burgess took the sea bass pool with a 19-inch knothead that outweighed Mike Ransig's 19-incher.

Capt. Monty will be running special 10-hour trips on Saturday and next Wednesday (12/12).  Even though you have plenty of room to fish on the "Morning Star", Capt. Monty cuts 5 spots off the rail on these special trips to give anglers even more room.  He is also doing some inshore tog trips on Friday (12/7) and Sunday (12/9).  Rail is limited to the first 12 anglers who register.


TUESDAY, December 4, 2018

1:19 PM - The Ocean City Marlin Club Rockfish Tournament has been cancelled!

2:15 PM - Capt. Nick Clemente on the charter boat, "Get Sum" reported good number of birds diving off the OC coast.  He was able to get under the birds and marked good size schools of bait but didn't have any pulls.


MONDAY, December 3, 2018

First off, the headboat, "Judith M" is looking for part-time captains for its evening cruise and for daily fishing trips.  A 50-ton Master License is required.  If interested, call 410-430-8420.

The 7th Annual Ocean City Marlin Club Rockfish Tournament begins this Saturday and runs for 9-days, ending on December 15th.  Registration is this Friday (12/06) at 6:00 PM at the Club.

The striper bite is slow developing.  I heard they were caught late last week off Cape May, but over the dreaded and unnecessary 3-mile line.  Anglers are starting to find balls of bunker and sand eels inside the 3-mile line off our coast.  Bluefish are out on the 1st and 2nd Lumps.

4:05 PM - No striper bite today in the ocean.  Water was very dirty.  Reports came in that chartreuse mojos were disappearing only 5-feet underwater.

Anglers on the headboat, "Morning Star" had sea bass thick, 30-feet under the boat, but the bite was weak.  Very poor on jigs... better on bait.  today, Tim Calmer caught an 18-inch sea bass, the largest of the trip.  Capt. Monty has 10-hour trips planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

SUNDAY, December 2, 2018

It was pretty "saucy" in the ocean today but that didn't keep anglers fishing on the headboat, "Morning Star" from returning with some limits of black sea bass.  The largest measured 18 1/2-inches and was caught by Brett Selby.

John Wooldridge and his son Grayson hit the Rt. 90 Bridge for some striper fishing and today was a good day.  Little Grayson caught and released 5 stripers that were hooked while trollong umbrella rigs.  Water was a little dirty and a brisk 46-degrees.  John reported that some of the stripers had sea lice on them.

SATURDAY, December 1, 2018

Anglers on the headboat, "Morning Star" took one of their popular 12-hour trips today, giving  Capt. Monty the ability to venture out further than normal.  Anglers caught a variety of fish, including scup, triggerfish, cunner, pollock, tautog, bluefish and spiny dogs.  A few guys limited out on sea bass.  Gary Giordano's 22-incher was the largest sea bass of the trip.

SUNDAY, November 25, 2018
Capt. Monty on the headboat, "Morning Star" said the seas were sporty early today.  When he anchored it was 26 knots out of the northwest.  By the end of the day it was down to 12 knots.  It was really nice when they got 15 miles off the beach.  It was all worth it with a lot of anglers catching their limit of sea bass and some blue fish limits as well.  Spiny dogfish were not as thick as they were further inshore.  Largest sea bass measured 18 1/2-inches.

Sounds like you need to head further east than normal to get in on a sea bass bite due to very thick schools of dogfish sharks.

There were some stripers caught at the 8's inside the Delaware Bay.  The ones that you could keep were big, up to 48-inches, but many were in the slot.  More and more are showing up everyday.  Still, the bulk are off North Jersey and between Atlantic City and Cape May.  I did hear that some wreckfishing boats ran across schools at the 1st and 2nd Lumps.


SATURDAY, November 24, 2018

With ocean temps hovering around 52-degrees only 10 miles off the coast, we are starting to get close to the arrival of stripers.  I always say... here at 50 and gone at 40.  Should be some bluefish around right now.  I would check the 10-mile line.  Also, Fenwick and Isle of Wight Shoals are familiar haunts.  

FRIDAY, November 23, 2018

On the headboat, "Morning Star" there were several limits of sea bass around therail.  Had to fight through the spiny dogfish to get it done.  Pool winter was Mike Marcus with a 19 1/2 inch sea bass.  

WEDNESDAY, November 21, 2018
Capt. Monty on the headboat, "Morning Star" reported an "awesome bite" today.  His anglers had a "super-limit" with limits for everyone around the rail.  Largest sea bass was a 21 1/2-incher.  There was also a 27-inch bluefish caught by George Bell.  All of this action was early before they had to head home due to increasing winds.

After fishing on Monday and Wednesday, anglers on the charter boat, "Reel Chaos" went 12 for 21 on swordfish in addition to catching a 66-inch bigeye tuna estimted at 200 lbs.  Their largest swordfish was 82-inches and was estimated to weigh between 300 and 325 lbs.  All of the fish were caught in 1,000 to 1,600 feet of water in the Baltimore Canyon.

TUESDAY, November 20, 2018
9:37 AM - Updated yesterdays report.

On Sunday aboard the "Magic Moment", Jim Bugg, Richard Hutchison, Mark hutchison, Tim Talbot and Brendon Barbey headed out to the 800/800 and caught 3 yellowfins, weighing up to 40 lbs., while trolling ballyhoo.  They then deep dropped an eel in 1,500 feet of water and caught a 103 lb. bigeye on the first drop and a small swordfish on the second drop that they ended up releasing.  Water temp was 64-degrees.

MONDAY, November 19, 2018

Looks like a couple of boats got in on a good tuna bite yesterday.  Justin Spies and Lawson Newcombt are all smiles after boating a doubleheader of bigeyes at the 800/800 in 400 fathoms.  They were fishing on the "milliRem" with Capt. Mike Halsey and J.R. Spies.  The guys reported life everywhere with yellowfins airing out on bait, but they could get any to bite.  The bigeyes weighed 120 and 140 lbs.  
Yesterday, anglers on the headboat, "Morning Star" had a GREAT day of sea bass fishing during their 10-hour trip.  Shailyn Strahl caught her limit in an hour and EVERY angler, including the crew, ended up with their limit of knotheads.  This keeps the streak alive for Capt. Monty who has recorded a boat limit of sea bass on every one of his 10 and 12 hour trips this fall.  The largest sea bass measured 18-inches.

UPDATE: On the charter boat, "Fish Bound", angler Chan Park caught and released a 14 lb. tog.  Fish ate a sand flea in 35-feet of water on an inshore wreck.

SUNDAY, November, 18, 2018
Who would have ever thought we would be reporting tuna catches in mid-November.  Today, Brian Arni and his crew on the "Get Reel" fished behind the Poor Man's Canyon and ended up with 6 yellowfins, 2 bigeyes and a mako release. 

 

Yesterday, anglers fishing in the surf off Lewes, DE caught some stripers, but today it was nothing but dog sharks.

Big Bird Cropper did catch a 31-inch striper in the OC Inlet today.

If you are looking to do some Chesapeake Bay striper fishing, Capt. Nick Clemente on the "Ivy Sea" is fishing out of Deal Island.  You can give him a call at 410-430-5709.

SATURDAY, November 17, 2018

Anglers on the headboat, "Morning Star" dealt with 20-25 mph winds until around 1 in the afternoon, when it got pretty according to Capt. Monty Hawkins.  A few anglers caught their limit of sea bass and quite a few caught double-digits.  Also had a triggerfish and some fat bluefish in the mix.  Largest sea bass was a 17 3/4-incher caught by Butch Walter.

MONDAY, November 12, 2018

Capt. Chris on the headboat, "Angler" reported decent fishing with a mix of sea bass, flounder and bluefish.  The largest flonder weighed 4 lbs. 12 oz. and was caught by Carmelo Montoya.  Fish were caught on bucktails on an ocean wreck.

Shannon Pickens caught a 28-inch, 6 lb. 14 oz. flounder at the Great Eastern Reef in 65-feet of water.  Fish was hooked on a bucktail tipped with a dead mullet.  Shannon and his buddies also caught sea bass, bluefish and mackerel.  Weighed at Alltackle Ocean City.

Frank Perna and Jimmy Bunting caught a 141 lb. big eye tuna today while fishing at the 985 line, south of the Poor Man's Canyon.  The duo started the day off swordfishing in the Baltimore Canyon and lost one at the boat.  They arrived at the 985 line around noon and caught 3 yellowfins and a bigeye by 1:30 PM.  Three came on a green stick and one on a tracker bar.  Congrat's guys!

WEDNESDAY, November 7, 2018

Capt. Chris Mizurak on the headboat, "Angler" reported good fishing with most anglers catching their limit of sea bass and flounder.  Sea bass weighed up to 3 lbs. and flatties weighed up to 5 lbs.  Fish ate squid and clams on natural bottom.

TUESDAY, November 6, 2018

Been quiet for a while.  It looks like the migrating stripers are off the coast of Asbury Park, NJ.  My foreign correspondents in Monmouth Beach, Alan Miller and Ed Moro, said that the guys are catching BIG fish up there right now. Pictured below is Ed's grandson, Garrett Moro, with a 45 pounder caught while rolling bunker spoons off the coast.

Locally, a few stripers are being caught off the Rt. 50 Bridge and Chris Clasing emailed me to say that he and his father fished the Fenwick Ditch and caught and released 41 stripers between 22 and 26-inches.  All on spot.  Their lone keeper measured 28 1/4-inches.  All of the fish were caught in 4 hours during the outgoing tide.  Chris said that quite a few of the fish were spitting up small crabs.

WEDNESDAY, October 24, 2018

It looks like the striper migration is still far to our north.  My foreign correspondent, Mr. Miller, in Monmouth Beach, NJ said they haven't arrived off their coast yet.  My foreign correspondent in Ocean City, NJ has been catching keepers in the rivers off the bay, but they have to be resident fish.  

Stripers are still being caught around the Rt. 50 Bridge.

Flounder fishing is still rolling along in the East Channel.

Mary Mergott caught a pair of good size flounder measuring 20 and 22-inches while drifting live mullet in the East Channel.

Prior to the most recent windy weather, headboats were seeing some good days for both flounder and sea bass.  A couple of days ago, Capt. Chris on the "Angler" reported a good day with several limits of sea bass and flounder around the rail.  Charles Kricher caught a doubleheader with the largest fish weighing 4.5lbs

SATURDAY, October 20, 2018

Kern Ducote and Mike Quade caught their limit of flounder in the East Channel on Spro ducktails tipped with Gulp shrimp or Swimming Mullet.  Fish measured between 16.5 and 22-inches.

FRIDAY, October 19, 2018

On the headboat, "Angler", Capt. Chris Mizurak reported good fishing today with limits of sea bass and some limits of flounder.  Largest flounder weighed 3.7 lbs.

Capt. Monty Hawkins on the headboat, "Morning Star" said it was the best ocean flounder bite he has ever seen in October.  Numerous anglers limited out.  Some sea bass were also caught with the largest measuring 19-inches.

On a side note, Capt. Monty said they dropped reef block #23,000 today.  They now have 1,192 blocks at the Capt. Bob Gowar Memorial Reef.

A.J. Kolb cuaght this dolphin in the Poor Man's Canyon during a trip aboard the "Outlaw X"

THURSDAY, October 18, 2018

Flounder are still snapping in the East Channel and around the Rt. 50 Bridge.  This time of year you also have a good shot at catching one around the South Jetty.

Sheepshead can still be found along the rocks of both the North and South Jetty.

Legal size stripers are also being caught around the Rt. 50 Bridge so you could probably find a straggler  in the surf.  I did receive a report from Pat Samborski who caught a 47-incher while surf fishing off Assateague with fresh bunker.

MONDAY, October 15, 2018

Looks like legal size stripers have shown up around the Rt. 50 Bridge and probably out at the South Jetty.

Danny Cox and Mike Austill caught stripers up to 29 inches and an 18-inch flounder.  Caught on bunker and spot.

Yesterday, anglers on the "Fabricator" hit the Washington Canyon and caught a load of dolphin weighing up to 10 lbs.

Tom Rolando caught a 21-inch Spanish mackerel while trolling a green Clark spoon Mackerel Duster across Fenwick Shoal

SUNDAY, October 14, 2018

Flounder are still snapping in the East Channel and keeper size striped bass are being caught around the Rt. 50 Bridge.

My foreign correspondent in South Jersey said that legal stripers are being caught in the rivers.

Anglers on the charter boat, "Get Sum" ended up with 7 keeper flounder after drifting white Gulp in the East Channel.  Largest measured 18-inches.

Kern Ducote and Mike Quade caught their limit of flounder in the East Channel this morning.  Fish measured between 17 and 19-inches.  Caught on Gulp Swimming Mullets.

On the headboat, "Morning Star", a good number of anglers caught their limit of black sea bass in flat calm seas.  Largest measured 19 1/4-inches.  Fish were caught on Gulp, cut bait, clams and squid on natural coral bottom.

Alison and John Cacchio and Donny Holdren caught 6 keeper, measuring between 16 1/2 and 19-inches, while drifting Gulp in the East Channel.

Yesterday on the headboat, "Judith M", anglers ventured 16 miles offshore and almost everyone caught their limit of black sea bass (over 100).  They also caught some triggerfish and a few small bluefish.  All were caught over natural bottom on squid and cut bait.

Yesterday, Dave Beach fished a couple of hours off the 2nd Street Bulkhead and caught a pair of flounder measuring 19 and 21 1/2-inches.  All on live bunker.

On the headboat, "Tortuga", anglers had 5 keeper flounder during the morning trip and