Ocean City Fishing Charters
Ocean City, NJ fishing charters work Great Egg Harbor Bay, Corson’s Inlet, and nearshore Atlantic reefs like Great Egg Reef for striped bass, summer flounder, bluefish, and tautog.
Top Rated Charters in Ocean City
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Ocean City, NJ Fishing Guide
Ocean City, New Jersey sits between Great Egg Harbor Bay and Corson’s Inlet, giving anglers quick access to both protected back-bay fishing and productive nearshore waters. The local fishery is built around tidal flats, sod banks, deep channels, bridge pilings, rock jetties, and artificial reefs like Great Egg Reef and Ocean City Reef. Charter trips range from short 4–5 hour back-bay outings to 8-hour full-day runs offshore. Many boats operate from Bay Avenue marinas such as the Ocean City Fishing Center, All Seasons Marina, and the 9th Street Bridge docks, offering quick runs to Ship Channel, Rainbow Channel, and the ICW.
Spring kicks off with striped bass staging in the bay and along the Ocean City–Longport Bridge. Schoolie bass arrive in April, with keeper-size fish moving through by mid-May. Flounder season opens in late April, and early drifts in Crook Horn Creek, Peck Bay, and Ship Channel produce quality fish. May also brings bluefish blitzes in Great Egg Inlet and along the jetties near Longport and Somers Point.
Summer trips focus on flounder, with reliable action from Rainbow Channel to Tennessee Avenue Flats. Light-tackle anglers drift bucktails tipped with Gulp! or minnows along channel edges on incoming tide. Weakfish, kingfish, and snapper blues add variety in the bays, while full-day runs to Great Egg Reef, Ocean City Reef, and the Atlantic City Reef produce sea bass, triggerfish, and spadefish. Calm mornings are best for making the 12–15 mile run to the Wildwood Reef or Parker Wreck for larger sea bass.
Fall brings the heaviest striped bass of the year. From late October to early December, bunker schools hug the beaches from 34th Street to Corson’s Inlet State Park, with bass feeding hard in Great Egg Inlet and off Peck Beach. Captains troll bunker spoons, fish live bunker, or work plugs along jetty edges. Tautog fishing also peaks now, with Parker Wreck, Great Egg Reef, and the 28-Mile Wreck producing quality blackfish.
Winter fishing is focused on tautog, with charters targeting nearshore and mid-range wrecks 5–20 miles out when the weather allows. The best days see double-digit catches, especially on the deeper wrecks off the Ocean City Reef line. Striped bass sometimes linger into early January in the inlet and at the Route 52 Causeway Bridge during mild winters, but togging is the primary draw.
Fishing Seasons in Ocean City
Spring (March–May)
In spring, Great Egg Harbor Bay and Corson’s Inlet are prime for striped bass and flounder. The Ocean City–Longport Bridge, Rainbow Channel, and sod banks along the ICW hold schoolie bass in April, with larger fish arriving in May. Live eels, bunker chunks, and swimming plugs work well at night. Flounder season opens late April—early bites come from Crook Horn Creek, Ship Channel, and the Tennessee Avenue area. Bluefish push into Great Egg Inlet in May, blitzing on bunker schools. Many charters combine striped bass and flounder in a single half-day trip, adjusting based on tide.
Summer (June–August)
Summer is all about flounder in the bays, especially in Ship Channel, Peck Bay, and Rainbow Channel. Light-tackle drifting with bucktails and Gulp! is a go-to, while kingfish bite along the beachfront near 14th Street Pier. Nearshore runs to Great Egg Reef, Ocean City Reef, and AC Reef yield sea bass, triggerfish, and spadefish. Calm days in July and August may see mahi-mahi holding around lobster pot buoys. Early morning and evening trips avoid boat traffic, with some captains offering sunset fishing-crabbing combos for families.
Fall (September–November)
Fall is peak striped bass season. Beaches from 34th Street to Corson’s Inlet State Park, the Great Egg Inlet jetties, and the Route 52 Causeway hold fish as they migrate south. Trolling Mojos, bunker spoons, or live-lining bunker is common. Tautog fishing takes off in October, with Great Egg Reef, Parker Wreck, and 28-Mile Wreck producing consistent action. Flounder hang on into September, while bluefish remain in the inlets early in the season. Cooler water and cleaner visibility make for prime conditions.
Winter (December–February)
Winter belongs to the tautog specialists. Charters run to Ocean City Reef, Wildwood Reef, and deep wrecks like the Parker and Resor wrecks. Green crabs are the bait of choice, fished tight to structure. Striped bass may still be caught at the inlet or Route 52 Bridge during warm spells, but most trips target tog. Weather windows are short, so captains often make the call last-minute. On the right day, double-digit catches are possible before heading back to the dock.
Gamefish in Ocean City
- Striped Bass – 20–45 lbs. Spring in Great Egg Harbor Bay and fall along beaches, inlets, and reefs; live eels, bunker, and trolling rigs produce.
- Summer Flounder – 2–8 lbs. Ship Channel, Peck Bay, Rainbow Channel, and Tennessee Avenue Flats from late spring to early fall; minnows, squid, and bucktails.
- Bluefish – 2–12 lbs. Inlets, bridges, and beaches in spring and early summer; jigs, spoons, and plugs.
- Tautog – 3–10 lbs. Great Egg Reef, Parker Wreck, and 28-Mile Wreck in fall and winter; green crabs on bottom rigs.
- Black Sea Bass – 1–4 lbs. Summer and fall on Great Egg Reef, Ocean City Reef, and AC Reef; squid or clams on dropper rigs.
- Weakfish – 1–5 lbs. Spring and early summer in bays and ICW channels; soft plastics and small bucktails.
- Triggerfish – 1–3 lbs. Summer on nearshore reefs; small hooks with squid.
Ocean City Fishing FAQs
Where do Ocean City fishing charters usually depart from?
June through August is considered peak season, with ideal weather and the widest variety of species available.
How long are typical Ocean City charter trips?
Half-day trips (4–5 hours) target flounder, weakfish, and bluefish in the bays. Full-day trips (6–8 hours) head to Great Egg Reef, Ocean City Reef, or farther wrecks for sea bass and tautog.
What fishing gear is included?
All rods, reels, tackle, and bait are provided, plus ice for your catch. Most captains also clean and bag your fish dockside.
Do I need a fishing license?
No—passengers on New Jersey licensed charter boats are covered under the vessel’s permit.
When is the best time to fish Ocean City?
May–June for spring striped bass and flounder, July–August for summer flounder and sea bass, and October–December for fall striped bass and tautog.
What are common back-bay techniques?
Light-tackle drifting with bucktails or bait rigs for flounder, jigging soft plastics for weakfish, and casting plugs for stripers around bridges
What species are common in summer?
Flounder, bluefish, sea bass, triggerfish, and occasional mahi-mahi offshore.
How many people can join?
Most private boats carry 4–6 passengers, while local headboats can take more.
Are specialty trips offered?
Yes—night striped bass trips in fall, dedicated tautog trips in late fall/winter, and reef runs for sea bass in summer are popular.