Learn how to catch more fish in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ocean City, Virginia, North Carolina, Outer Banks, South Carolina, Georgia, & Florida!

Ocean City Inshore Fishing

Marina-Boats

When the water warms up so does the fishing in Ocean City area!

If you normally fish offshore, Assateague, on a jetty or from the surf, it is time for you to try inshore fishing.

Ocean City locations available for your inshore fishing adventure:

Oceanic Pier
This is a pay pier located at the South end of Philadelphia Ave. near the inlet.

BluefishFlounder and troutwill bite squid, live minnows or shiners. Spot and other small fish prefer bloodworms or nightcrawlers. Try using lures at night. Crabs will eat pieces of chicken or fish on strings or you can use a crab trap if you have one. (either way you will need a net and a deep bucket so they can's escape. Be aware that they are quick to use those pinchers and if you are unfortunate enough to experience their pinch and it breaks the skin, wash the scratch thoroughly and apply an antibiotic ointment or cream to prevent a possible infection.

Rt. 50 Bridge

You will need a rod that is 8-9 ft long or you could have problems if your catch goes under the bridge which will cause the angle of the rod to place the line directly against the concrete. The line should be anywhere from 30-50 lb. test. Most anglers choose a 40 lb. magna-thin because it allows more line on your reel. Fish with your drag locked tight.

It is ideal to not let the fish go under the bridge or you won’t just be fighting the fish, but you will have to fight the strong fast current. This makes it extra difficult to bring the fish back to a position that will allow you to bring them onto the bridge.

The Rt. 50 bridge is a great place to fish for flounder using live minnows and bucktails with squid strips. Bloodworms are used for spot and other small fish. Blues hit lures or squid. Night fishing is generally good by working lures beneath the lights.

Again, your local bait shop will be happy to help you choose bait that is appropriate for the fish you are trying to catch, whether it is fresh or artificial. Inquire about the correct tackle for bridge fishing, especially when you are fishing the bottom where you can easily get snagged trying to catch the bottom lurkers.

Be aware of where anglers are getting snagged and try to cast where there is less likelihood to loose your rig. By watching other more experienced anglers and with a little practice you will be happy, satisfied and anxious to return. Bring your net or you will be unable to bring your fish onto the bridge.

This is a good crabbing location using traps filled with chicken parts or fish. Always be considerate of other anglers. Be safe and aware of bridge traffic at all times.

2nd thru 4th Street Bulkhead
Try this public area located on the bayside. Try using shiners and squid for flounder,

bluefish and sea bass

, bloodworms for Norfolk spot

and sand fleas

or sectioned hard crab for tautog

.
9th Street Pier
This is a public pier located on 9th Street and the bay. Use shiners or live minnows for flounder - squid strips for seabass and bluefish and worms for Norfolk spot.

Convention Hall
This is a free public bulkhead and pier behind Convention Hall at 40th Street with good crabbing and fair fishing on the high tide. Use live minnows for flounder - bloodworms

for spot and croaker

.
Isle of Wight
Turn left at 62nd Street onto Rt. 90 Bridge headed West. Turn left at the flashing light in the center of the bridge (across from the Old Medical Center).This is a public area with good crabbing and light fishing. Try using worms for spot and sand perch.

125th Street Pier
This public fishing and crabbing pier is located just north of the Recreational Center at 125th Street. There is good crabbing and light fishing (best on high tide). Use

bloodworms for spot and sand-perch

Inshore Fishing

Helpful Hints for bridge or pier fishing

The best way to learn fishing is to “watch and learn” from other anglers. You will find most of them are helpful and enjoy sharing their experiences.

Check with your local bait and tackle shop for advice on the proper tackle and gear for the fish you want to catch.

Choose the right bait for the right fish. Again, your tackle shop will be happy to help you.

Remember to use circle hooks for easy release of the fish that are over your limit or under the regulation size.

Be aware of your surroundings and mindful of other anglers.

Be aware of the weather and tides. It is usually a good idea to begin fishing a couple of hours right before and after high tide.

When carrying your tackle, bait, gear and rods it is a good idea to figure out a contraption with wheels and a couple of bungee cords, it will sure make things easier.

Most important, relax, have fun and enjoy your experience.

It is time for spring cleaning Fishing Reel

Today's reels are practically indestructible, yet, salt and sand still sneak into places they don't belong and it's time for a good cleaning. Let's get the necessary tools handy beginning with a Phillips screwdriver, a flathead screwdriver, a 10-12mm open-end wrench, a soft toothbrush, some lint-free rags and some light oil.

Next, remove the handle and sideplate from the reel, using a screwdriver that has a magnetic tip to avoid loosing the tiny screws. Make sure you don't go further removing parts than you feel you can accurately replace. Clean the area with the soft toothbrush and soft clean cloth to remove all of the grit.

Now, remove any excess oil and grease with a clean cloth and then using the soft toothbrush sweep over the gears. It is important that you never use a cleaner-degreaser, such as WD-40, inside the reel. It could cause damage to any felt drag washers and create a real mess.

Lubricate the moving parts, using a light oil, and make sure you apply oil to the clutch plate, anti-reverse and bearings. If the bearings are "crunchy" after being lubricated, replace them. It is now time to reassemble your reel and feel good about a job well done.

Tips for Catching and Releasing Fish

By carefully following these simple instructions, you can release your fish unharmed

Time is of the essence. Play and release the fish as quickly and carefully as possible. An exhausted fish may be too weak to recover. It is so important to act as quickly as possible or the fish will become too fatigued to survive. Imagine how you would struggle if held underwater, well the fish is out of its environment and struggling is natural. To calm the fish hold it in an upside down position. The fish is covered with a slime that protects it from infection, thus it is important to handle the fish as gently, but firmly, as not to drop it .Remember some fish have spines that are covered with the same slime we discussed earlier and if your skin is punctured you could end up with a nasty infection.

Keep the fish in the water as much as you can. A fish out of water is suffocating, and may injure itself on rocks, etc. Try to keep the fish out of water no more than 15 seconds.

Be gentle. Wet your hands before handling any live fish. Keep your fingers away from the gills. Don't squeeze the fish. Small fish may be held gently around the middle; let them swim away once they've recovered. Larger fish may be held securely by the tail and bottom jaw. If a net is used, make sure it is fine-meshed to avoid injuries to the gills or eyes.

Remove the hook with small needle-nose pliers or a similar type tool such as a

J-Hook Remover.

If the hook is deeply embedded or in a sensitive area such as the gills or stomach, cut the leader close to the snout. . .

Circle Hooks will prevent gut hooking and removing the hook will be considerably easier.

Make an effort to use regular steel (bronzed) hooks to promote early disintegration. Do not use stainless or gold-plated hooks. If the hook is too difficult to remove, simply cut the leader as close to the fish as possible. Most often the hook will come out by itself or simply disintegrate.

To revive a fish Some fish will have expanded air bladders after being pulled up rapidly from deep water. If the belly appears expanded, release the fish from the hook first, then gently press your thumb along the stomach near the paired belly fins and move it forward a few times to remove air from the bladder.

You aren’t finished… when possible, hold the fish in a swimming position with one hand under it’s bottom jaw and the other hand grasping the fish in front of the tail. Gently move the fish back and forth through the water until it is revived enough to swim away.
One good way to aid you in releasing your fish quickly is to use barbless hooks in the first place - or bend the barbs over - or simply file them off!

Tips on How to Release a Tangled Line

Whether surf fishing, bay and pier fishing, jetty fishing, or offshore fishing, you will eventually have your line look like a birds nest.

Stop as soon as you discover you have a problem.
Check out the tangle, it may be as simple as releasing a single loop.
Release any loops that are entangled in the reel first.
Pull the trapped loops free from tightened sections.
Take your time making sure you keep the loose coils out of your way.
Now that your tangle is free check for reel damage to see if that is the source of your tangle.

Special Tip: If this birds nest has the best of you after three minutes, cut the line.

I did read in Readers Digest: To loosen a tangled fishing line, spray it with WD-40 and use a pin to undo any small knots. Also use WD-40 to extend the life of curled (but not too old) fishing lines. Just take out the first 10 to 20 feet of line and spray it with WD-40 the night before each trip.

Hint: It is important that you never use a cleaner-degreaser, such as WD-40, inside the reel. It could cause damage to any felt drag washers and create a real mess.

Remember...Take a kid fishing

References: Ocean City.com
Maryland DNR
Beach-Net

Ocean City Inshore Fishing

Tips for Catching and Releasing Fish By carefully following these simple instructions, you can release your fish unharmed

Tips for Catching and Releasing Fish

By carefully following these simple instructions, you can release your fish unharmed