Page 94 - Fish in OC Magazine 2026
P. 94
BEYOND THE BAY Fishing Ocean Structure For BIG Summer Flounder
good visibility — two or more feet — is ideal. Full moon Back at the dock, coolers filled with thick, white fillets tell
tides can sometimes make drifts too fast, while a gentle the story of the season’s shift — proof that while beach-
incoming or outgoing ocean tide is perfect. goers head home and marinas quiet down, the fishing in
Water temperature is another key. Once the surface dips Ocean City is far from over.
below 58 degrees, the flounder start to move deeper, “Fall offshore flounder fishing is as good as it gets,” says
eventually settling on the 20 to 30 mile wrecks before Mumford. “It’s work — you’re out there on some cold,
disappearing to the offshore canyon spawning grounds. bumpy days — but when you pull up that first 8-pounder,
Anglers who hit it right can put together quick limits, and you forget all about the wind.”
some double-digit fish are not uncommon. Fall flounder
fishing over ocean structures can produce banner days, Quick Tips for Offshore Flounder Success
during which every drift results in two or three fish, most • Best Range: 8–20 miles offshore
of which are keepers. • Depth: 60–100 feet
• Bait: Strip baits (bluefish, sea robin, squid, flounder belly)
The Offshore Reward with Gulp trailers
While inshore fishing gets the spotlight during summer, • Best Drifts: 0.8–1.2 knots
offshore flounder trips reward persistence. The cooler air, • Hot Spots: African Queen, Great Eastern Reef, Russell’s
lighter crowds, and the chance at a true doormat make it Reef, OC Reef Foundation locations
a favorite among serious Mid-Atlantic flounder anglers. • Prime Season: Late September through November
