Off Ocean City, the ocean floor is dotted with shipwrecks, artificial reefs built by DNR and its partners, and natural lumps and shoals such as Fenwick and Little Gull shoals. Together they hold tautog from late fall through spring, black sea bass from May through December, big flounder all summer and fall, and triggerfish and porgies on the reefs. Over them, trolling boats find bluefish, Spanish mackerel and false albacore close to shore in summer. You need a boat; many anglers go out on charter or head boats from Ocean City.
When to fish
- January to April: tautog on the inshore and offshore wrecks and reefs; flounder start showing on the inshore reefs, lumps and shoals in April.
- May and June: black sea bass open May 1, with limit catches common; tautog are catch and release only from mid-May through June.
- July and August: large flounder, sea bass and triggerfish on the inshore lumps and reefs; bluefish and Spanish mackerel trolled close to the beach.
- September and October: big flounder on the shoals and wrecks as they migrate offshore; Spanish mackerel, bluefish and false albacore nearshore; small dolphin around the offshore wrecks.
- November and December: sea bass with porgies and flounder, and the best tautog of the year, when double-digit fish are caught.
Where to fish
- Inshore wrecks and artificial reefs: tautog, flounder, sea bass and triggerfish.
- Offshore wrecks and reefs: sea bass, big flounder, tautog in winter, and hake.
- Lumps and shoals, including Fenwick and Little Gull shoals: flounder.
- The Jackspot, 20 to 30 nautical miles out near the 20-fathom line: a well-known trolling area where the state record false albacore was caught.
How to fish it
- Sea bass and tautog: traditional bottom baits or jigs over the structure.
- Flounder: drift or jig the lumps, shoals and wrecks.
- Spanish mackerel, bluefish and false albacore: troll small chrome trolling spoons, larger trolling spoons and surgical tube lures behind inline weights or planers, with long fluorocarbon leaders for mackerel.
Getting there
Boats leave through the Ocean City Inlet; public ramps are in West Ocean City and on the bay side of Ocean City. DNR's reef page lists reef coordinates. Striped bass can't be fished for or kept in federal waters beyond 3 miles, and tilefish require a federal permit. You need a Maryland Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License, or to fish aboard a licensed charter boat.
From the water
Latest reports
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No fishing reports have been published for Ocean City Reefs, Wrecks and Shoals yet.
Field guide
What you can catch
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