Surf Fishing in Ocean City, Maryland
Surf fishing is one of the most enjoyable types of fishing. As I have experienced many times, it is both peaceful and relaxing. Not to mention, you never know what you may reel in next! You can catch just about anything in the surf including: Striped Bass, Snapper Blues, Spot, Spanish Mackerel, Sand Sharks, Sea Bass, Flounder, and Croaker, just to name a few. I find that the best days for surf fishing are when the surf is not more than 2 to 3 feet - anything more, and it is hard to hold bottom. Bring a cooler, towel, 5-gallon bucket, and a knife for cutting bait. Get up early as sunrise produces the best action, followed by fishing at dusk. You can fish until 10 a.m., which is when the lifeguards come out during the summer months.
You'll need a nice 10-12 foot surf rod with a saltwater reel. Use 10-15 pound test - either braid or mono will work, although braid is much more sensitive. You can use a shorter rod, although you'll be limited on how far you can cast. Another essential piece of equipment is a sand spike. You need this to hold your rod when you are baiting your rig or as you are just relaxing waiting for that next bite. Sand is your number one enemy - if you get sand in your reel, it will ruin both your day and your reel. Keep the sand out and never immerse your reel in saltwater. Remember to always wash down your equipment with freshwater after every use - this will keep your gear in good working order.
For rigs and bait, there are tons of different choices for both. Just about any 2-hook hi-lo rig will work. I typically use a kingfish rig with floats, which is universal for many of the fish in the surf, including snapper blue, croaker, and spot. If you want to catch larger blues, you'll need something like a mullet rig. If you want to catch striped bass or sand sharks, get a rig which is specifically designed for that species. As far as bait is concerned, I like to use long strips of squid, real bloodworms, or cut bait. Artificial Fish-bite bloodworms are great, as you can seal up the package and use them again the next time. Finally, you will need weight to hold bottom. Either a pyramid or sputnik style sinker will work. I find that the sputnik sinker works the best - it has metal arms that dig into the sand bottom.
The best streets for surf fishing in OCMD from my experience is anywhere from 50th to 70th Street. Perhaps this is because it is away from the boardwalk and high-rise condos, so there are less people on the beach. You will want to cast the deep pockets. Do not overcast - there is no reason to go out into the surf to cast - the fish are closer than you think. You definitely need to cast beyond the breaking surf - remember to keep your bait moving and keep the slack out of the line. When you do get a bite, be patient, use your drag to keep tension on the line, and use the waves to bring in your catch. Once you get the knack of surf fishing, it becomes quite fun and addictive. I find that following the local fishing reports always seems to yield the best catch.
Enjoy - and don't forget to take only legal fish within the creel limits. Thanks for reading and good luck surf fishing! Also, don't forget to check out our family-owned ecommerce website, and thanks for supporting small business!
You'll need a nice 10-12 foot surf rod with a saltwater reel. Use 10-15 pound test - either braid or mono will work, although braid is much more sensitive. You can use a shorter rod, although you'll be limited on how far you can cast. Another essential piece of equipment is a sand spike. You need this to hold your rod when you are baiting your rig or as you are just relaxing waiting for that next bite. Sand is your number one enemy - if you get sand in your reel, it will ruin both your day and your reel. Keep the sand out and never immerse your reel in saltwater. Remember to always wash down your equipment with freshwater after every use - this will keep your gear in good working order.
For rigs and bait, there are tons of different choices for both. Just about any 2-hook hi-lo rig will work. I typically use a kingfish rig with floats, which is universal for many of the fish in the surf, including snapper blue, croaker, and spot. If you want to catch larger blues, you'll need something like a mullet rig. If you want to catch striped bass or sand sharks, get a rig which is specifically designed for that species. As far as bait is concerned, I like to use long strips of squid, real bloodworms, or cut bait. Artificial Fish-bite bloodworms are great, as you can seal up the package and use them again the next time. Finally, you will need weight to hold bottom. Either a pyramid or sputnik style sinker will work. I find that the sputnik sinker works the best - it has metal arms that dig into the sand bottom.
The best streets for surf fishing in OCMD from my experience is anywhere from 50th to 70th Street. Perhaps this is because it is away from the boardwalk and high-rise condos, so there are less people on the beach. You will want to cast the deep pockets. Do not overcast - there is no reason to go out into the surf to cast - the fish are closer than you think. You definitely need to cast beyond the breaking surf - remember to keep your bait moving and keep the slack out of the line. When you do get a bite, be patient, use your drag to keep tension on the line, and use the waves to bring in your catch. Once you get the knack of surf fishing, it becomes quite fun and addictive. I find that following the local fishing reports always seems to yield the best catch.
Enjoy - and don't forget to take only legal fish within the creel limits. Thanks for reading and good luck surf fishing! Also, don't forget to check out our family-owned ecommerce website, and thanks for supporting small business!
