Ocean City Jetty Fishing

"Be Careful, those rocks can get slippery!" Korkers Fishing Sandles Korker Sandal

If you normally surf fish, offshore fish or inshore fish it may be time for you to try jetty fishing. The jetty is exposed to the open sea with light or moderate to extreme wave action which limits the algal population on the jetty. The erect-growing species that are able to withstand the wave-action are ecophenes that are typically low and dense. Be especially cautious when climbing on the rocks to retrieve your "prize catch" or your rig tangled in the rocks... They are slippery and dangerous with more than one person, instead of the fish, having to be dipped out. Some anglers are fortunate enough to have a pair of Korkers, spiked attachments for their shoes to give them extra traction.

Ocean City Jetty
Fishing the Jetty

When the water warms up so does the fishing!

Striped Bass:(AKA: Striper & Rock Bass), Tackle: Light to medium ocean outfits are best choices for fishing in deep rips and currents that Stripers favor, and there, wire or lead core lines may be needed. Spoons, squids, feathers and large surface or swimming plugs all have their uses in Striper fishing. Bait: A huge array of productive natural baits include various small fish both live and dead, plus eels and marine worms. Dead baits and cut baits will take Stripers, particularly at night, but live baits are always to be preferred.          (April through January)

Tautog: (AKA: Blackfish & Rockfish) is a very strong, if not spectacular fighter. Tackle: Light ocean tackle, bait casting outfits and spinning gear are all useful, but rods should always be stout in order to set the hook in a Tautog's tough mouth and to maneuver the fish away from obstructions. Bait: include crabs, shrimp, clams and sea worms. (May through November)

Bluefish(AKA Blue, Chopper & Tailor) pound for pound are outstanding gamesters. They jump nimbly, if not too frequently, also will make long runs. Tackle: Light casting and spinning tackle is adequate in most instances for Blues of average size around shorelines and in protected waters. Heavy leaders are usually necessary to prevent clip offs by the Blue's sharp teeth. Stout monofilament leaders usually suffice, but wire can be used too. Bait: Bluefish are ravenous and will take virtually ay popular bait - live and cut fish, cut squid, and live shrimp. As for artificial lures, fast retrieves work best.(April through June and October & November)

Sheepshead (AKA: Sheepshead, Convict Fish & Bait stealer) is a very challenging fish on light tackle. It pulls hard, drives hard and uses its flattened shape to great advantage. Tackle: Spinning, bait casting and light saltwater boat rods deliver the best sport, but rod tips should not be too soft, as the fish's tough and toothy mouth makes it hard to set a hook. Bait: Sheepshead will readily hit slow-moving jigs tipped with clams, crabs, shrimp and occasionally will take the bare jig. (June through August)

Summer Flounder: (AKA: Fluke, Flattie, Doormat and Northern Fluke) are strong and very active game fish. Tackle: spinning, bait casting and light saltwater outfits are all appropriate depending on personal choice.    Bait: Finger Mullet, small bait fish, shrimp, crabs and worms. Jigs and swimming plugs, retrieved slowly are the most productive artificials. (April through October)

Atlantic Croaker: (AKA hardhead) are strong for their size. Tackle: Light spinning or bait casting gear will provide sport. Bait: prefer any kind of dead bait - shrimp, squid, cut fish, pieces of crab or mollusk. (May through September)

Southern Kingfish:

(AKA Whiting, Southern Whiting) Tackle: These fish will run well against fairly light spinning, bait casting and even fly tackle. Bait: small crabs, marine worms, cut shrimp, squid and fish. Seldom fished with artificial lures but will readily take small jigs. (June through September)

Spot:

(AKA: Spotted Croaker, Norfolk Spot & Mizzouki Croaker) are spunky, but too small to resist vigorously. Tackle: Anything from a child's pole to all sorts of rods and reels. Obviously, light tackle and small hooks will do the best job in fishing for Spot. Bait: It is just as hard to go wrong in choosing bait. Marine worms, cut fish, shrimp and squid are popular choices, but meat scraps from the table work about as well. (June through September)

Jetties are long dams or groynes that extend into the sea to make the harbor entrance navigable for large ships. The current of the outgoing tide will carve a trough into the sandy bottom with the outgoing tide and rip currents, sucking the sand down into deep water.

Ocean City's north jetty extends 70 meters long and 2m above mean high water. The south jetty originates from the north end of Assateague Island. The water temperature ranges from 2-3 C during the winter and a maximum of 22-23 C in the summer.

Ocean City, once attached to Assateague Island until the storm of 1933, had changed forever. What men had mulled over for decades, regarding the creation of an ocean inlet, was settled by an act of God that took less than an hour and saved taxpayers millions of dollars.

The brackish, non-tidal bay changed immediately with its newfound access to the Atlantic Ocean. Boats could now leave the bay to reach the ocean through the inlet and a new and different fishing industry began while the pound fishing (where men had to launch boats through the surf) ended.

In 1934, the first white marlin was caught off the coast and Ocean City claimed the title of "White Marlin Capital of the World." Bay anglers could now take their boats into the ocean for recreational fishing or for their livelihood. The charter fishing began and resorts economy began its speedy growth.

Ocean City Jetty Aerial