12.6.18 4:42 pm

**  WE ARE STARTING TO PROCESS PHOTOS FOR THE BIG WINTER ISSUE so if you would like to email us your photo, you can send it to coastalfisherman@comcast.net.  Please send the picture at Actual Size and include in the email the boat name, anglers names, towns, fish caught, bait or lure used, location of catch, length and/or weight of fish caught (or at least the heaviest).   Please do not send any pictures through Facebook Messenger. 
__________________________

**   JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!   2019 SHORT AND LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLINE!!!!!   We are doing something new this year.  Our newly designed, 2019 are ready for purchase and are known to sell-out.  Just click on the link at the bottom of the homepage and you will be directed to our online store. Here are the colors we have for 2019:

 

FISHING REPORT

by Larry Jock 

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 a pair in the afternoon.

On the charter boat, "Fish Bound", anglers caught 16 black sea bass and 3 keeper flounder while fishing on ocean structure.

Good numbers of black sea bass were caught a the Bass Grounds today.

Anglers on the charter boat, "Foolish Pleasures" ventured offshore and caught their limit of dolphin.

Anglers on the charter boat, "On the Run" caught 4 sheepshead and 4 flounder while fishing around the South Jetty (sheepshead) and in the East Channel (flounder).  Sheepshead were between 10 and 13.5 lbs.  Flounder weighed up to 5 lbs.

WEDNESDAY, October 10, 2018

Gary Savage caught and released a 48-inch red drum while surf fishing off Assateague.  Fish ate a chunk of cut mullet.

On the headboat, "Morning Star", Capt. Monty Hawkins reported a lot of anglers in the double digits.  Largest sea bass was a 19-incher.  All caught on an ocean wreck.

TUESDAY, October 9, 2018

Around 7:30 this morning, Nick Ager was surfcasting off Assateague when he hooked into this 48-inch red drum.  Nick estimated it at around 45 lbs.  It was caught on live spot.

Sheepshead are biting around the South Jetty.  

Flounder are snapping in the East Channel and in the Fishbowl.  You can also find nice fish by fishing under the Rt. 50 Bridge.  Be prepared for a lot of throwbacks.

On the headboat, "Morning Star", anglers found a slow sea bass bite early in the morning but when it turned on it turned on with a vengence.  They ended up with a boat limit of knotheads, a mahi, some triggerfish, some flounder and a huge scup.  jack Pearson led the way with a 20-inch sea bass.  The fish were caught on a wreck using clams, jigs, Gulp, squid and cut bait.

MONDAY, October 8, 2018

Anglers on the charter boat, "Get Sum" caught 8 keeper flounder while fishing in the East Channel and in the Fishbowl.

Those fishing on the headboat, "Angler" found good sea bass fishing while soaking squid on an ocean wreck.  Most anglers caught their limit of knotheads and one angler also caught and released a 46-inch red drum.

I wonder if anglers are still finding red drum at Fenwick and Isle of Wight Shoals?  If so, drop me a line.

Anglers fishing on the headboat, "Morning Star" also found good sea bass fishing on wrecks and artificial reefs.  Around 1/2 of the anglers caught their limit of knotheads and those who didn't were only 1-3 fish shy.

Capt. Dave Caffrey on the charter boat, "On the Run" continues to put his anglers onto good catches of sheepshead around the South Jetty.  Wayne Fawley caught 6 sheepshead weighing up to 10 lbs.

Anglers fishing on the charter boat "Get Sum" during a 2-hour afternoon trip put 4 keeper flounder in the box after drifting white Gulp Swimming Mullets in the East Channel and in the Fishbowl.

On the charter boat, "Fish Bound", anglers caught their limit of sea bass along with a mix of flounder and triggerfish.

Red drum are being caught by surfcasters off Assateague. 

Yesterday, Bob Althauser caught a 94 lb wahoo in 200-feet of water inside the Poor Man's Canyon.

On the charer boat, "Helbent", Josh Morgan caught a 17 3/4-inch flounder and the entire crew had 16 throwbacks and 6 sea bass while fishing the beginning of the outgoing tide next to the Rt. 50 Bridge.  Keeper was hooked on a live minnow.

SUNDAY, October 7, 2018

Today is the final day of the Ocean City Marlin Club "season" and the "No Quarter" and the "Buskshot" are battling it out for top honors for Most Billfish Releases.  The "Buckshot" leads the "No Quarter" by only 2 releases.

Mahi and white marlin are being hooked at the south end of the Washington Canyon and between the Washington and Norfolk Canyons.

Flounder fishing in the bay is still good, although anglers are having to deal with a large number of throwbacks.  The East Channel, Fishbowl and under the Rt. 50 Bridge have been the go-to spots.

Yesterday, Dave Beach caught his limit of flatties while fishing off the 2nd Street Bulkhead.  Fish measured from 17 to 19-inches. Dave and his son had 7 throwbacks with 2 coming in right at 16 1/2-inches.  All caught on peanut bunker.

Rich Daiker and Kenny Schoen caught 6 keeper flounder under the Rt. 50 Bridge.  Fish ranged from 16 3/4 to 21-inches.  Call caught on live bunker.

Kern Decote caught his limit of 4 flounder rangling in size from 18 to 20-inches.  The fish were caught in the East Channel and at the Rt. 50 Bridge.

Yesterday, on the headboat, "Morning Star", most anglers caught double-digits of black sea bass.  The largest was a 22-incher caught by Tom Hoy.   Jake Hurlock caught a 30-inch mahi and Jim Spencer caught a 17 1/2-inch triggerfish.  Anglers even caugh some keeper flounder during the trip.

This morning there were good numbers of boats fishing in the East Channel, so I am expecting to hear some good flounder fishing reports.

Sheepshead are still being caught in good numbers around the South Jetty for anglers soaking sand fleas.

Yesterday on the charter boat, "Get Sum" anglers caught 5 keeper flounder.  Their largest measured 19-inches.  All caught on Gulp in the East Channel and the Fishbowl.

5:14 PM - Well, the great battle of 2018 between the "No Quarter" and the "Buckshot" ended this afternoon with the "Buckshot" taking top honors for billfish release this season, 152 vs. 149.  Congratulations to the crews of both boats!

On the charter boat, "On the Run", David King, Jr. caught a 12 lb. sheepshead and Paul Gibbs caught an 11 pounder.  The anglers, plus David King, Sr. caught 10 fish and released several smaller ones in addition to some small striped bass.  All of the action was at the South Jetty where the sheepshead bite has been red hot.

On the headboat, "Morning Star", angler Tim Calimer caught a 26-inch flounder that tipped the scale at 8 lbs. 8 oz.  Fish ate cut bait with a white bucktail teaser.  Capt. Monty Hawkins said that was a gorgeous day offshore.  Sea bass bit hard in the morning and then eased up a bit.  A few sea bass limits were caught around the rail.  Largest knothead was a 19-incher caught by Tom Hoy.  

The Herbert clan fished the East Channel and ended up with 3 keeper flounder measuring between 16 1/2-inches and 18-inches.  All caught on peanut bunker.

Kevin Coats from Ocean Pines caught a good size sheepshead at the South Jetty this morning while fishing with sand fleas.

During the morning trip on the charter boat, "Get Sum", anglers caught 6 flounder.  Fish measured up to 19-inches.  

During their afternoon trip on the charter boat, "Get Sum", anglers caught 6 keeper flounder in the East Channel and the Fishbowl.  Largest measured 19-inches.

SATURDAY, October 6, 2018

Sheepshead are really snapping around the South Jetty for anglers fishing with sand fleas.

Flounder ar