Catching in Tough Conditions

By Scott Lenox

Catching in Tough Conditions

Conditions were a little bit different today than they have been the past few days, and I don’t mean different in a good way.  The day started warmer than it would end up and that was thanks to a strong northeast blow that would have ocean boats coming back early and bay fishing boats dealing with some tough drifting conditions.  The party boat fleet was tied fast to the dock because of the conditions and the only boats that I know that headed for the canyons were back to the dock early after calling it quits.  No Quarter with Captain Kyle Peet and Buckshot with Captain Gary Stamm, who are fighting it out to see who wins bragging rights for Most Billfish Caught by Any Boat for the Ocean City Marlin Club, headed to the deep today, but by 11 am they had both thrown in the towel because of the rough conditions.  No Quarter was able to release three white marlin, while Buckshot released two, bringing them one fish closer to the lead.  Currently Buckshot still holds a narrow two fish margin at 149 releases and No Quarter sits at 147.  Neither boat will be fishing tomorrow with the weather so Sunday is shaping up to be one heck of a finish.  Good luck to both crews!

Conditions were tough inshore, but boats were still willing to get out and drop a line because fishing has been really good the past few days.  Captain Jason Mumford of Lucky Break Charters had my buddy Big Bird Cropper out this morning and was able to put Bird and his crew on some really good sheepshead action.  The crew ended up putting 13 fish in the box.  Big Bird’s largest was a nice 22″ fish.

Captain Drew Zerbe of the Tortuga was out on the bay this morning with a charter with the American Banker’s Association and was able to put them on some good action for flounder.  Pictured areEarl Conley Standing in for Ron Laws of Salisbury, MD, Andy Bulgin, Baltimore, MD, Melissa Quirk, Preston, MD, Tracy Schultz, Kent Island, MD and Reed Tingle, Fenwick Island, DE.  Tracy’s flounder was the largest at 18″, 2 lb. 10 oz.  All were caught on shiners and squid in the northern east channel and netted by Serge Gardner.

I was even able to get out for a few drifts with my lovely wife Kristen today and got to experience the tough conditions first hand.  Once the tide has switched to outgoing the drift was super fast north of the route 50 bridge thanks to the northeast wind.  I was only able to cast net three bunker, but I got a good bite on one and put this fat 21″er in the boat.

My buddy Captain Luke Blume spent some time this afternoon fishing with Blume’s Balloon Round Up President Emily Blume and secretary Joshua Blume (just kidding 🙂 and had a bunch of fun releasing some rockfish on cut bait.

David Moore has been having some terrific luck on the red drum in the Assateague surf recently.  First fish is a big 54″er and second is a HUGE 55″ fish with a 30″ girth.  The big drum was estimated at over 70 pounds and if not for the 27″ maximum size could very well have been a new state record.

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