About 53 to 75 nautical miles off Ocean City, the continental shelf drops into a string of submarine canyons: Wilmington, Baltimore, Poorman's, Washington and Norfolk. Their steep walls and mixing currents draw yellowfin, bigeye, bluefin and albacore tuna, white and blue marlin, dolphin (mahi) and swordfish. Ocean City calls itself the "White Marlin Capital of the World," and the state records for blue marlin and swordfish were both caught out here. It's a long run offshore, and charter boats run out of Ocean City for anglers without a suitable boat.
When to fish
- Late May and June: the first dolphin and yellowfin arrive, with bluefin passing through and deep dropping for golden and blueline tilefish.
- July and August: yellowfin, bigeye and bluefin tuna, white and blue marlin releases, and small dolphin around lobster-pot buoys.
- September: often one of the best months for white marlin releases.
- October and November: yellowfin, albacore and bigeye tuna move south; later, the fishery turns to deep dropping for tilefish and swordfish.
- Late fall and early winter: in some years, migrating bluefin tuna feed within 10 to 20 miles of the inlet.
Where to fish
- Poorman's Canyon, the closest to the Ocean City Inlet at about 53 nautical miles; Norfolk Canyon is the farthest at about 75.
- The canyon walls, the "bight" where the drop-off turns along the shelf, and the head (tip) of each canyon, where currents mix and hold bait.
- Lobster-pot and other fixed buoys for small dolphin.
How to fish it
- Tuna and marlin: troll rigged ballyhoo or squid, spreader bars and skirted lures along the canyon edges; watch for pilot whales and dolphins, which often mean squid and tuna are near. Some anglers chunk butterfish, mostly at night. Most marlin are released.
- Tilefish and swordfish: deep drop over the canyon bottom.
- Bluefin close to shore: troll ballyhoo behind planers or chunk.
Getting there
Boats run out of the Ocean City Inlet. To fish for tunas, billfish, swordfish or sharks in federal waters, your boat needs a federal Atlantic HMS permit, and Maryland permit holders must report bluefin and billfish landings. Blueline and golden tilefish require a federal private recreational tilefish permit and reporting. Striped bass can't be fished for in federal waters. You need a Maryland Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License unless you're aboard a licensed charter boat.
From the water
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Field guide
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