Page 37 - Fish in OC Magazine 2026

Mid-Summer – Peak Offshore

(July to Early September)

If Ocean City had a signature season, this would be it. The town
is buzzing, the docks are alive, and fishing tournament season is
in full swing. Offshore, nearly everything that swims is in play.

The canyons — from Wilmington to Norfolk — are teeming with
life. Yellowfin remain the preferred target species, but the big
story every year is the arrival of white marlin. By mid-July, white

marlin releases are plentiful, and by August, Ocean City can be-
gin living up to its title as the White Marlin Capital of the World.

On the right water, it’s possible to see packs of five or six marlin
behind the spread, slashing at ballyhoo and teasers. Crews rig
naked ballyhoo on light tackle, and circle hooks become stan-
dard as anglers focus on conservation and clean releases.

Meanwhile, the bigeye tuna bite peaks at night. Boats make
overnight trips to chunk butterfish and squid at the Washington
or Norfolk, where bottom machines light up with marks. These

“eyeballs,” often in the 100 to 200-pound range, are the prize
every crew dreams of hauling back to the scales.

For those fishing the mid-shore edges, mahi-mahi fill the weed
lines and lobster pot buoys. A simple spinning setup and a live Late Summer to Fall – Shifting Seasons
peanut bunker or fresh cut bait can turn an idle run home into a (September to October)
cooler full of dolphin.

As the crowds thin and the nights cool down, the offshore
This is also the time of year when wahoo make their presence fishery enters a more refined phase. The frantic summer pace

known. Their razor-sharp teeth and neon stripes provide ex- gives way to strategic runs — smaller fleets, cooler water, and
citement for those trolling deep divers or planer setups along sometimes, the best fishing of the year.
temperature edges.
Early fall brings excellent white marlin action for boats willing
to make longer runs. The Baltimore, Poor Man’s, and Washington
canyons can see days with 10 to 20 marlin releases for the
dedicated few who stay in the game.

Yellowfin tuna fishing can heat back up, and as the season pro-
gresses, longfin albacore (true albacore) begin to show in late
September. These hard-fighting fish often travel in big schools,
providing action-packed days and tasty fillets.