Post by freedomrules3 on Sept 22, 2006 22:40:07 GMT -5
Skips Charter Service. Call Skip to arrange a trip.
www.oceancityfishing.com/fishingreport.html
I love this time of year. After a long, hot summer the onset of fall gives me so much to look forward to. Shorter days and longer, colder nights are very welcome. Visions of flannel shirts, long underwear, and slicker suits dance in my head. And at night I dream dreams of fat stripers, chubby tog, and rutting whitetails. Sometimes I can almost taste the cold saltwater on my lips or feel the stillness of the cool autumn woods on my face. After spending long hours in a busy tackle shop over the summer, I long for the serenity of the forest and I can’t wait to plant a hook into the maul of a strong, fall-run striped bass. Yes the scent of fall is in the air, folks… and in my book nothing else is more welcome!
As you can probably tell, every year about this I time I am filled with a sense of anticipation. An urgency forms in the back of my mind as I look forward to the beginning of another fall season. My mind is littered with questions… “What will this fall bring? Will things get started early or will it be a late run? Tog are already beginning to show, hopefully the rockfish won’t be too far behind. Will this fall bring a good run of weakfish? We haven’t seen good numbers of them for a long time. Who knows, maybe we could even see some speckled trout.” I could go on and on and on…
As most of you know, there are scores of great fishing spots all around Ocean City. However, every fall, one of the most consistently productive spots is inevitably going to be the Route 50 bridge. The combination of the bridge structure and the current breaks that are created by the structure, makes awesome habitat for many fish species in our local waters. As baitfish balls pile up in the eddies, and lots of disoriented fish are swept though the pilings by the strong moving current, packs of predatory fish wait en mass to ambush these poor little critters. Put this all together, and shore-bound anglers have an excellent venue to explore autumn angling in Ocean City.
One of my favorite things about our location here at the shop (on Talbot Street), is the close proximity we have to the Route 50 bridge. Every day I get to enjoy seeing numerous anglers going and coming from the bridge. And with this being the case, I am often asked question after question about the fishing along Rt. 50. In the remainder of this article I would like to share with you some of the answers I give to the common questions expressed in the shop. As the fall run approaches, hopefully these answers will provide you with a little bit of extra insight and may help you hook up with a few extra “keepers” this fall.
Question #1: “What types of fish are available from the Route 50 bridge?”
The answer is simple. Practically any type of fish that swims in the bay behind Ocean City can be and is caught from the bridge. The majority of the fishermen who hit the bridge however, are seeking one of two types of fish--either flounder or striped bass (and sea trout or bluefish to a lesser extent). Daytime fishermen are typically in search of flounder (although they can and are caught at night) and nighttime fishermen are typically in search of striped bass (which can sometimes be caught during the day).
Question #2: “What type of tackle should I use?”
This is a good question and is the one most commonly expressed at the shop. Any angler who spends much time up on the bridge will soon find out that STRONG tackle is a necessity. With the heavy current volume flowing in and out of the pilings, and the plethora of snags that litter the bottom, successful anglers learn fast that any amount of extra oomph, that they can gather from their equipment is a necessary plus. Striped bass anglers, in particular, need to carry as much strength in their equipment as they can handle. Anglers typically use heavy action rods from 10 to 12 ft. in length and sport reels spooled with at least 150 to 200 yards of 40 lb. monofilament or better yet 50 to 65 lb super braid. I will always regret one night when I was just cutting my teeth on the Rt. 50 bridge. I felt like being sporting and decided to take my 9 ft. plugging stick, spooled with 30 lb. braid after some striped bass. Early on in the tide, I had landed a few smaller stripers and one barely legal-sized fish. Needless to say, I was happy with myself, but that was only until I got a very good hit. As my rod arched downward, I found out in one quick moment that my small rod did not have the power to stop a big fish, and the drag on my small reel was no match for the power of a big lineside heading downstream with the tide. It did not take long (about 30 seconds) for me to see the bottom of my spool, and I felt my heart sink into my stomach as I waived goodbye to my trophy. I will always be haunted by that fish. Since then, I have always made sure to use tackle strong enough to handle a big fish when targeting striped bass from the Rt. 50 Bridge. Now whether my back is strong enough to handle a lunker linesider from the bridge is another story in itself.
Question #3: “What types of baits or lures should I use?”
This is another question that I am asked practically every day throughout the season. Though there are many variables to this equation, the typical rule is that flounder fishermen tend to favor natural baits, and striped bass anglers tend to use artificial lures (and eels). Some of the most common flounder baits include live minnows, frozen shiners, finger mullet, spot, and of coarse squid. Still, flounder anglers shouldn’t discount artificial lures, as I have seen many doormat flatties pulled up on everything from Storm shads to bucktails and even Gotcha Plugs. As I previously mentioned, striped bass anglers tend to favor artificial lures from the bridge. Over the past few years, Storm and Tsunami shads have become favorites among bridge regulars, and have proven themselves especially effective at imitating the young of the year baitfish that are often present in the fall. When these rubber shads aren’t effective, (or when scores of tail-chomping bluefish are around) bucktails always catch fish, tandem tied jigs heads with soft plastics like Finn-S fish and Zoom flukes can be effective, and anglers should not forget the trusty old Gotcha Plug.
Question #4: “Where should I fish?”
This answer is not quite as simple as the others, but there is a common underlying system is at work here. The eastern end of the bridge provides deeper water with more current, and the western end of the bridge provides shallower water with less current. Flounder, especially small ones, do not prefer water with a lot of current so oftentimes the western end of the bridge is a favorite for anglers who want to catch good numbers of small flatties. Those targeting fewer, but larger flounder however, would do themselves good by concentrating on the deeper water areas. On the contrary, striped bass (regardless of size) are somewhat different in that they tend to prefer areas with deeper water and good current flow the majority of the time. Henceforth, striper fishing is more popular on the eastern end of the bridge where the water is deeper and the current runs faster. Still, I have seen many a nice striper pulled from the west-end shallows on a calm night during the early morning hours.
Question #5: “When I hook a big fish how do I land it?”
This question seems to puzzle many bridge fishing beginners, but the answer to it is very simple--a drop net. Here at the shop (and practically any other shop in OC for that matter) we sell a net that looks like a big hula-hoop, with a rope attached to it. When an angler hooks into a nice-sized fish, he fights it to the surface and brings it close enough to the bridge that he (or hopefully another angler) can drop the net in front of the fish, allow it to float under, and then scoop the fish up. This process is a little tricky and takes a little bit practice to master, especially under windy conditions. Still, with a little bit of time and experience you will be able to do it yourself under pressure.
In conclusion, it is anybody’s guess what will happen in our local fishing scene this fall. I have seen so many variables occur over the years that it makes forming predictions seem somewhat pointless. Still, one thing I will say is that there are certain spots which produce well, year after year, around Ocean City. The Route 50 bridge is certainly one of these spots. Throughout the summer I have been watching the schools of young baitfish (primarily menhaden) swim around my boat slip. Lately I have been impressed with how big and meaty they have gotten. Soon they will be schooling with even more of there brethren and planning there exit from our backwaters. It won’t be long before there are massive bait balls piled up in the eddies around the bridge. If we get lucky and this schooling exodus occurs simultaneously with an influx of predatory fish into our waters, we could be in for some really cool bridge fishing this fall. So practice your knots and get your gear ready, autumn is just around the corner.
www.oceancityfishing.com/fishingreport.html
I love this time of year. After a long, hot summer the onset of fall gives me so much to look forward to. Shorter days and longer, colder nights are very welcome. Visions of flannel shirts, long underwear, and slicker suits dance in my head. And at night I dream dreams of fat stripers, chubby tog, and rutting whitetails. Sometimes I can almost taste the cold saltwater on my lips or feel the stillness of the cool autumn woods on my face. After spending long hours in a busy tackle shop over the summer, I long for the serenity of the forest and I can’t wait to plant a hook into the maul of a strong, fall-run striped bass. Yes the scent of fall is in the air, folks… and in my book nothing else is more welcome!
As you can probably tell, every year about this I time I am filled with a sense of anticipation. An urgency forms in the back of my mind as I look forward to the beginning of another fall season. My mind is littered with questions… “What will this fall bring? Will things get started early or will it be a late run? Tog are already beginning to show, hopefully the rockfish won’t be too far behind. Will this fall bring a good run of weakfish? We haven’t seen good numbers of them for a long time. Who knows, maybe we could even see some speckled trout.” I could go on and on and on…
As most of you know, there are scores of great fishing spots all around Ocean City. However, every fall, one of the most consistently productive spots is inevitably going to be the Route 50 bridge. The combination of the bridge structure and the current breaks that are created by the structure, makes awesome habitat for many fish species in our local waters. As baitfish balls pile up in the eddies, and lots of disoriented fish are swept though the pilings by the strong moving current, packs of predatory fish wait en mass to ambush these poor little critters. Put this all together, and shore-bound anglers have an excellent venue to explore autumn angling in Ocean City.
One of my favorite things about our location here at the shop (on Talbot Street), is the close proximity we have to the Route 50 bridge. Every day I get to enjoy seeing numerous anglers going and coming from the bridge. And with this being the case, I am often asked question after question about the fishing along Rt. 50. In the remainder of this article I would like to share with you some of the answers I give to the common questions expressed in the shop. As the fall run approaches, hopefully these answers will provide you with a little bit of extra insight and may help you hook up with a few extra “keepers” this fall.
Question #1: “What types of fish are available from the Route 50 bridge?”
The answer is simple. Practically any type of fish that swims in the bay behind Ocean City can be and is caught from the bridge. The majority of the fishermen who hit the bridge however, are seeking one of two types of fish--either flounder or striped bass (and sea trout or bluefish to a lesser extent). Daytime fishermen are typically in search of flounder (although they can and are caught at night) and nighttime fishermen are typically in search of striped bass (which can sometimes be caught during the day).
Question #2: “What type of tackle should I use?”
This is a good question and is the one most commonly expressed at the shop. Any angler who spends much time up on the bridge will soon find out that STRONG tackle is a necessity. With the heavy current volume flowing in and out of the pilings, and the plethora of snags that litter the bottom, successful anglers learn fast that any amount of extra oomph, that they can gather from their equipment is a necessary plus. Striped bass anglers, in particular, need to carry as much strength in their equipment as they can handle. Anglers typically use heavy action rods from 10 to 12 ft. in length and sport reels spooled with at least 150 to 200 yards of 40 lb. monofilament or better yet 50 to 65 lb super braid. I will always regret one night when I was just cutting my teeth on the Rt. 50 bridge. I felt like being sporting and decided to take my 9 ft. plugging stick, spooled with 30 lb. braid after some striped bass. Early on in the tide, I had landed a few smaller stripers and one barely legal-sized fish. Needless to say, I was happy with myself, but that was only until I got a very good hit. As my rod arched downward, I found out in one quick moment that my small rod did not have the power to stop a big fish, and the drag on my small reel was no match for the power of a big lineside heading downstream with the tide. It did not take long (about 30 seconds) for me to see the bottom of my spool, and I felt my heart sink into my stomach as I waived goodbye to my trophy. I will always be haunted by that fish. Since then, I have always made sure to use tackle strong enough to handle a big fish when targeting striped bass from the Rt. 50 Bridge. Now whether my back is strong enough to handle a lunker linesider from the bridge is another story in itself.
Question #3: “What types of baits or lures should I use?”
This is another question that I am asked practically every day throughout the season. Though there are many variables to this equation, the typical rule is that flounder fishermen tend to favor natural baits, and striped bass anglers tend to use artificial lures (and eels). Some of the most common flounder baits include live minnows, frozen shiners, finger mullet, spot, and of coarse squid. Still, flounder anglers shouldn’t discount artificial lures, as I have seen many doormat flatties pulled up on everything from Storm shads to bucktails and even Gotcha Plugs. As I previously mentioned, striped bass anglers tend to favor artificial lures from the bridge. Over the past few years, Storm and Tsunami shads have become favorites among bridge regulars, and have proven themselves especially effective at imitating the young of the year baitfish that are often present in the fall. When these rubber shads aren’t effective, (or when scores of tail-chomping bluefish are around) bucktails always catch fish, tandem tied jigs heads with soft plastics like Finn-S fish and Zoom flukes can be effective, and anglers should not forget the trusty old Gotcha Plug.
Question #4: “Where should I fish?”
This answer is not quite as simple as the others, but there is a common underlying system is at work here. The eastern end of the bridge provides deeper water with more current, and the western end of the bridge provides shallower water with less current. Flounder, especially small ones, do not prefer water with a lot of current so oftentimes the western end of the bridge is a favorite for anglers who want to catch good numbers of small flatties. Those targeting fewer, but larger flounder however, would do themselves good by concentrating on the deeper water areas. On the contrary, striped bass (regardless of size) are somewhat different in that they tend to prefer areas with deeper water and good current flow the majority of the time. Henceforth, striper fishing is more popular on the eastern end of the bridge where the water is deeper and the current runs faster. Still, I have seen many a nice striper pulled from the west-end shallows on a calm night during the early morning hours.
Question #5: “When I hook a big fish how do I land it?”
This question seems to puzzle many bridge fishing beginners, but the answer to it is very simple--a drop net. Here at the shop (and practically any other shop in OC for that matter) we sell a net that looks like a big hula-hoop, with a rope attached to it. When an angler hooks into a nice-sized fish, he fights it to the surface and brings it close enough to the bridge that he (or hopefully another angler) can drop the net in front of the fish, allow it to float under, and then scoop the fish up. This process is a little tricky and takes a little bit practice to master, especially under windy conditions. Still, with a little bit of time and experience you will be able to do it yourself under pressure.
In conclusion, it is anybody’s guess what will happen in our local fishing scene this fall. I have seen so many variables occur over the years that it makes forming predictions seem somewhat pointless. Still, one thing I will say is that there are certain spots which produce well, year after year, around Ocean City. The Route 50 bridge is certainly one of these spots. Throughout the summer I have been watching the schools of young baitfish (primarily menhaden) swim around my boat slip. Lately I have been impressed with how big and meaty they have gotten. Soon they will be schooling with even more of there brethren and planning there exit from our backwaters. It won’t be long before there are massive bait balls piled up in the eddies around the bridge. If we get lucky and this schooling exodus occurs simultaneously with an influx of predatory fish into our waters, we could be in for some really cool bridge fishing this fall. So practice your knots and get your gear ready, autumn is just around the corner.
