Ocean City Md Striped Bass Fishing

The striped bass, also known as striper, or rockfish is one of the most popular saltwater fish caught at Ocean City, Md. Unlike most saltwater fish species, striped bass are caught during all four seasons; spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Productive areas for catching stripers around Ocean City include the north jetty, south jetty, Rt 50 bridge, Rt. 90 bridge, Verrazano Bridge, coastal bays, and beaches along Ocean City and Assateague Island.

Casting lures is a popular technique for catching striped bass. Popular lures for catching stripers include bucktail jigs, jigs with soft plastic bodies, metal jigs, crankbaits, topwater plugs, gotcha style plugs, spoons, and others.

Striped bass are also caught using a variety of live and cut baits. Around bridges and jetties, live eels and spot are popular. For surf fishing, anglers employ cut baits including bloodworms, menhaden, mullet, spot, soft crab, sea clams, and other baits.

Although fishing for these heavyweight gamefish can be very specialized, anglers occasionally catch striped bass while flounder fishing.

Striped bass make excellent table fare. Fish kept for the table should be kept cold.

Stripers can be cleaned using either of three techniques;

scale first and fillet, leaving skin on;
remove the skin first by peeling off, then fillet;
or fillet first and then cut skin from fillet.

Commercial Fishing Boat Sinks off Assateague Island

On Wednesday, March 6, 2013 the 67-foot fishing vessel Seafarer capsized, broke apart and sank off Assateague Island, according to reports.

U.S. Coast Guard 5th District reports that Wednesday, March 6, Patrick Small of New Bern, N.C. was rescued from a life raft following the capsizing of the Seafarer. Listed as missing were Steven and Walter Tate of New Bern, N.C.

Coast Guard 5th District watchstanders initially received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert from the 67-foot fishing vessel Seafarer at 10:39 a.m. Wednesday.

source: United States Coast Guard 5th District

Things to Do in Maryland USA

With an abundance of natural resources, diverse geography, historical landmarks, and thriving tourism industry, Maryland is one of the best vacation spots in the USA.

Several Maryland cities are famous for their culture. Baltimore is a historic city and bustling industrial port with an incredible number of weekly events and other things to do.

Annapolis, Maryland's capital, is home to the Naval Academy, numerous historical buildings, and one of the nation's most famous sailing ports. In the western part of the state, cities like Frederick, Hagerstown, and Cumberland have plenty of history and culture.

One of the state's most important attractions is the Chesapeake Bay. While the upper bay is famous for its cities, the middle and lower bay is mainly occupied by small to mid-sized communities. On the western shore in southern Maryland are the fishing communities of Deale and Solomon's Island.

On the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Chestertown, Easton, Saint Michaels, Cambridge, and Crisfield all have rich histories that are closely tied to the bay. In Tangier Sound, three small communities on Smith Island have been occupied by watermen for hundreds of years.

With scores of ports, Maryland is an excellent state for boating. Sailboat enthusiasts find the Chesapeake Bay to be an excellent body of water to explore. Cruisers, water skiers, and powerboaters also enjoy the bay and its many rivers.

In some areas, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and other paddlecraft are popular. These small but useful boats allow enthusiasts to explore areas where larger boats cannot travel. 

For anglers, the list of things to do in Maryland is incredible. The state has outstanding opportunities for fishermen, including freshwater as well as saltwater fishing. Freshwater anglers will find trout streams, rivers, lakes, farm ponds, and other fishing areas.

For those that prefer saltwater fishing, there are fishing piers, beaches for surf fishing, fishing aboard private boats, guided fishing trips, and deep sea fishing charters.

Nature lovers will also find plenty of activities in Maryland. Birdwatchers will find hundreds of species of birds, including songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, birds of prey, and other bird life.

The state also has plenty of mammals such as whitetail deer, sika deer, black bear, coyote, red foxes, gray foxes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, and others. For herp enthusiasts, there are hundreds of species of turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, and other creatures.

For many visitors, Maryland beaches are a major attraction. On the Eastern Shore, Ocean City and Assateague Island attract visitors from across the nation. Just minutes apart, the two destinations offer totally different experiences.

Ocean City is a bustling beach resort that receives millions of visitors annually. This nationally recognized vacation destination features lifeguards, well maintained beaches, a historic boardwalk, amusements, restaurants, museums, and other attractions.

Just to the South, Assateague Island lies in stark contrast to Ocean City. This barrier island is occupied by Assateague Island State Park as well as Assateague Island National Seashore.

Its undeveloped beaches are occupied by wild ponies, deer, sea birds, and other wildlife. Visitors can swim, explore the island, collect shells, enjoy surf fishing, or simply enjoy the view.

Related Information

Things To Do on the Eastern Shore

Things To Do in Ocean City MD

Places To Visit in Baltimore Maryland

Assateague State Park Discount Admission

Admission to Assateague State Park will be reduced from Monday - Friday during the month of June.

Day-use area admission will be discounted to $2 per person for Maryland residents and $3 per person for out-of-state visitors.

For more information about Assateague State Park, visit:

www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/eastern/assateague.asp

Maryland Fall Surf Fishing - Spot, Croaker and Kingfish

As Summer nears its end, Maryland beaches begin to thin and surf fishermen begin their fall fishing season. Spot, croaker and kingfish are among the most common fish in Maryland's surf during the early fall.

Each of these fish are known to school up and feed heavily before moving farther into the ocean for the winter. Surf fishermen in Maryland sometimes experience excellent fall fishing for these 3 species.

As the runs of fish peak, a larger class of spot arrive, known for their bronze or yellow coloring. Spot, croaker and kingfish catches usually remain consistent until hurricanes or Noreasters pass thru. During the fall runs, spot, croaker and kingfish are joined by flounder, bluefish, sea trout, rockfish and others.

Fishing for these species is easy; fishermen need only a basic surf rod and reel in good condition. Tackle is basic, consisting of top and bottom float rigs and baits such as bloodworms, squid strips, pieces of shrimp, one of the processed bait products that do not need to be kept cold.

Anglers fish where ever beach access is available. Much of the fishing occurs on Assateague Island, where beach access is available to the public. For surf fishermen, the fall runs are one of the highlights of Maryland saltwater fishing.