Posted on July 20th, 2018
It was an absolutely beautiful day again in and around Ocean City with light winds, sunny skies and warm temperatures and there were lots of folks out getting their fish on…..that’s all about to change. Starting tomorrow the wind is supposed to blow hard and there is a strong chance of rain tomorrow and Sunday so nobody will be heading offshore and not many will be fishing inshore either. Unfortunately the Ocean City Marlin Club’s Kid’s Classic Tournament has been cancelled for this weekend because of the weather as well. We’ve been having some really nice weather so far this season so we’ve got to take the bad with the good.
There have been some nice cobia in the area lately with the warm water conditions and the large concentrations of bait inshore and today my young buddy Lucas Franzetti shot a really big one. Lucas and his dad Juan are big time spearfishermen and today while fishing with the Magassy twins on Little Gull shoal Lucas jumped in and speared this huge cobia with no help. Spearfishing cobia like most fish is perfectly legal as long as the fish meets minimum size and creel limits. Current legal length on cobia is 40″ and this fish is way over that. I’m not sure how much over 40″ because these guys “clean ’em and eat ’em”, but it’s way over! Pretty work Lucas!
Another cobia was caught today on hook and line, but this fish was released because it was not the legal limit of 40″. Rita Kiewra, Long Island, NY caught and released this 30″ cobia while fishing on the Tortuga with Captain Drew Zerbe and mates Serge Gardner and Matt Harris. The fish ate a shiner and squid combo meant for a flounder.
Tuna fishermen have been staying a little closer to the beach lately in spots around the 30 fathom line like Massey’s Canyon and more bluefin are being caught because of it. Today anglers on the Spring Mix II with Captain Chris Watkowski and mate Ayrton “The Kayak Kid” Pryor landed two nice bluefin.
Anglers onboard Rhonda’s Osprey had some luck landing a couple of BLT (barely legal tuna) yellowfins and one nice yellowfin with Captain Joe Drosey.
Ethan McGee was fishing with his dad for his first offshore trip today aboard their All Tide Up and landed a nice mahi at the Hot Dog and some big sea bass.
Captain Chris Mizurak of the Angler reported a decent bite today and nice conditions as anglers pulled several nice keeper flounder over the rail.
Captain Chase Eberle of Chasin’ Tides Charters has been having some great luck lately with two of his specialty trips. Captain Chase is putting anglers on some good inshore trolling for Spansh and king mackerel along with some bluefish and bonita mixed in. At night Captain Chase and Captain Thayer have been putting anglers on good catch and release shark fishing with some BIG sand tiger sharks up to 8′ being caught and released.
I got a chance to get out and do a little bay fishing with the family today and we fished next to the Happy Hooker with Captain Steve at the helm and watched as they pulled some nice keeper flounder and croaker in the boat.
I was in the boat today, but I really don’t remember taking a flounder off the hook for myself. My son Ryan however showed the old man what’s up and put two keepers of 16 1/2″ and 17 1/2″ in the boat. He did let me hold one for the picture.
Evan Achenbach caught this 22″ keeper flounder, his first ever flounder on a minnow and squid bait.
My old college buddy Dan Hackett who is almost as funny as me had a great afternoon fishing on the Bay Bee with his son Kevin and Kevin’s buddy Brady Crumbacker.
Madison Dewees 13, of Spry, Pa and Hunter Frysinger of Wrightsville, Pa had a great day flounder fishing on the Just One More today. Madison hooked up three keepers of 16.5″ (released), 17.5″ and 18″ pictured. Hunter and Madison caught many through backs as well.
It’s not a keeper, but it’s a first fish which is always cool. Savannah Blades age 16 of Murfreesboro, TN caught and released her FIRST fish ever while fishing with her aunt Susan Costanzo today in the thorofare during the middle of the outgoing tide using white gulp.
Last night Captain Marc Spagnola of Dusk to Dawn Bowfishing was out for a nice evening of shooting cow nosed and southern rays where he had good luck under the lights, and today it was bright sunshine that helped him find some more for his happy clients.
