Ocean City Fishing Charters
Ocean City fishing charters put anglers in prime position for explosive offshore action, productive inshore trips, and legendary summer tournaments.
Top Rated Charters in Ocean City
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Ocean City, MD Fishing Guide
Ocean City, MD is a charter fishing hotspot famous for its access to both world-class deep sea adventures and consistent inshore opportunities. Charter trips typically depart from well-equipped marinas like Sunset Marina, Bahia Marina, or Fisherman’s Marina, where anglers can easily hop aboard vessels tailored for anything from half-day inshore family trips to full-day offshore trophy hunts.
The fishery in Ocean City offers distinct options. Offshore, the famed canyons like Baltimore, Poor Man’s, and Washington Canyon provide exceptional deep sea action about 50 to 70 miles out, attracting pelagics such as Blue Marlin, Tuna, and Mahi. Charter captains usually run full-day offshore trips lasting 10–12 hours, setting lines for trolling spreads, chunking, or kite fishing depending on conditions and season.
Closer to shore, the structure-rich waters within 10–20 miles offer excellent bottom fishing and inshore trolling for Stripers, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Flounder, and Tautog. Shorter half-day trips in the bay or nearshore reefs cater perfectly to families or less-experienced anglers looking to catch dinner without venturing too far offshore. Common methods here include drifting minnows and squid strips for Flounder, jigging bucktails for Stripers, and bottom fishing over reefs with crab or clams for Tautog and Black Sea Bass.
Ocean City’s fishing seasons shift dramatically, making timing crucial. Spring ignites the Striper and Flounder bite in the bay, transitioning to offshore pelagic species as summer heats up. Autumn sees Stripers moving along the beaches and Bluefin Tuna offshore, while winter brings hardy anglers out for deep-water Tautog.
Convenient ramp access, strong seasonal bites, and a variety of charter types mean that Ocean City consistently ranks as one of Maryland’s premier fishing destinations.
Fishing Seasons in Ocean City
Spring
Spring fishing in Ocean City is defined by warming waters and aggressive inshore feeding. Flounder season kicks off as fish flood the back bays, providing steady action for drifting anglers. The bays and inlets also become prime spots for early-season Stripers, caught trolling or jigging soft plastics and bucktails near structure and channel edges. Offshore anglers gear up for early-season Tuna, specifically Bluefin, making appearances in cooler offshore waters around wrecks and early canyon runs. Bottom fishing enthusiasts find Tautog and Black Sea Bass abundant on nearshore reefs and wrecks.
Summer
Summer is tournament season in Ocean City, and fishing peaks offshore as Tuna, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, and Mahi dominate the deep sea bite. Long-range trips to the canyons are common, often trolling spreads of ballyhoo and squid teasers. Closer to shore, anglers enjoy consistent catches of Flounder in the bays, along with Croaker, Spot, and occasional Red Drum. Shark fishing is also popular, targeting Mako, Thresher, and Hammerheads within 20 miles. Summer nights offer exciting opportunities for inshore Stripers, Blues, and weakfish around bridges and docks.
Fall
Ocean City’s fall fishing is diverse, with Striper migrations grabbing the spotlight as massive schools move along beaches and inlet jetties. Casting plugs, bucktails, or trolling umbrella rigs produces trophy-sized fish. Offshore, autumn provides excellent Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna fishing, with chunking and jigging tactics becoming increasingly effective. Bottom fishing remains strong as Black Sea Bass and Tautog congregate on reefs and wrecks, providing consistent action for anglers targeting cooler-water species.
Winter
Winter fishing around Ocean City means targeting resilient bottom species like Tautog. Deep-water wrecks and reefs become hotspots, with anglers dropping crab baits to rugged structures in depths of 60–100 feet. This fishery requires patience, precision, and knowledge of productive wreck locations. The coastal waters become less crowded, giving dedicated anglers a chance for solitude and steady catches. Inlet fishing remains viable for hardy anglers targeting cold-weather Stripers and occasional Bluefish, though conditions require extra attention to safety and weather forecasts.
Gamefish in Ocean City
- Blue Marlin – 250 to 600+ lbs Peak summer offshore trolling in canyons; targeted with rigged ballyhoo, squid teasers, and large artificial lures.
- White Marlin – 50 to 80 lbs Common in summer and early fall; caught offshore trolling ballyhoo or pitch-baiting near weed lines and temperature breaks.
- Yellowfin Tuna – 30 to 80 lbs Canyons and offshore wrecks; spring to late fall, trolling and chunking methods effective.
- Bigeye Tuna – 100 to 300 lbs Summer and fall offshore canyon runs; aggressive trolling at dawn and dusk, often on deep-running baits.
- Bluefin Tuna – 50 to 400 lbs Cooler months spring and fall, typically offshore trolling, jigging, and chunking near structures or bait schools.
- Mahi Mahi (Dolphin) – 5 to 50 lbs Summer canyon fishing; trolling small to medium ballyhoo, jigs, or surface poppers around floating debris and weed lines.
- Striped Bass – 10 to 50 lbs Spring and fall migrations along beaches, inlets, and bays; jigging bucktails, trolling umbrella rigs, and casting topwaters effective.
- Flounder – 1 to 10 lbs Spring through fall bay fishing; drifting squid strips, minnows, or artificial jigging rigs near channel edges and sandy bottoms.
- Tautog – 2 to 15 lbs Year-round structure fishing, peak winter; bottom rigs baited with crab, shrimp, or clams fished over wrecks and rocky reefs.
Ocean City Fishing FAQs
What’s the best season for deep sea fishing in Ocean City?
Summer is prime for offshore action, targeting Tuna, Marlin, and Mahi in Ocean City’s famed offshore canyons.
Do Ocean City fishing charters provide gear and licenses?
Yes, charter boats include all necessary fishing gear and licenses, making it easy for you to simply step aboard and fish.
What fish can I expect inshore around Ocean City?
Inshore trips commonly target Flounder, Stripers, Bluefish, Tautog, and Black Sea Bass depending on season.
Where do Ocean City charters typically depart from?
Most charters leave from popular marinas like Sunset Marina, Bahia Marina, and Fisherman’s Marina.
Are half-day trips worth it in Ocean City?
Half-day trips offer excellent family-friendly fishing in the bay or nearby reefs, perfect for first-time anglers.
Is night fishing available in Ocean City?
The productive offshore canyons lie about 50–70 miles offshore, making full-day trips necessary for deep sea fishing.
What’s the average run time for offshore trips?
Night fishing is popular during summer months, especially targeting Stripers and Bluefish around the inlet and bridges.
Can we keep our catch after the charter in Ocean City?
Absolutely. Crews will fillet your catch, and local restaurants often cook your fresh-caught fish.
