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Top Fishing Charters in Ocean City

Saltwater Adventures, LLC.

24 Reviews
Ocean City • 25 ft • 4 persons
trips from US$ 350

Chasin' Tides Charters

37 Reviews
Ocean City • 28 ft • 6 persons
trips from US$ 225

On The Run Charters

65 Reviews
Ocean City • 32 ft • 6 persons
trips from US$ 250

Bayside Guide Service

16 Reviews
Ocean City • 21 ft • 4 persons
trips from US$ 195

Too Much Sportfishing

15 Reviews
Ocean City • 23 ft • 4 persons
trips from US$ 350

Fish On Sportfishing - Maryland

Ocean City • 48 ft • 6 persons
trips from US$ 2400

Reel Naughty Sportfishing

14 Reviews
Ocean City • 42 ft • 6 persons
trips from US$ 695

Spring Mix II Sport Fishing Charter

3 Reviews
Ocean City • 43 ft • 6 persons
trips from US$ 325

Fishing in Ocean City

Ocean City fishing charters have definitely earned their place on our must-visit fishing list. From skimming the shallows in search of summer Flounder to exploring deep-water canyons for Sharks, billfish, and Tuna, the town really has something for everyone. Throw in one of the most diverse and experienced fleets in the country, and you have the recipe for some seriously good fishing. It’s no wonder Saltwater Sportsman lists it as one of their all-time favorite fishing cities.

Known For

Ocean City has always had an important fishing fleet. Ocean City Inlet is Maryland’s only access point to the open waters of the Atlantic, making it a bottleneck for fish and anglers alike. The local bays are the dream breeding ground for big Flounder, Redfish, Tautog, and pretty much every other major inshore species. Head out past the inlet, and you are spoiled for choice of banks, wrecks, reefs, and canyons, each one deeper and more active than the last.
 
Head to town in any month from spring to fall and the toughest part of your trip will be choosing what to target. Ocean City’s fishing really is a case of “the flame that burns twice as bright”, though. Most of the local charter boats spend the winter fishing commercially or running charters down in Florida, and only operate here from April onward. 

Ocean City Fishing Spots

Isle of Wight Bay
 
Found right on the city’s doorstep, the Isle of Wight Bay is your first point of call for tasty shallow-water species. Summer Flounder are the most important species in these calm, murky waters. Ocean City Flounder fishing is a great family option, with short trip times, beautiful scenery, and a ton of big, tasty fish to take away with you at the end.
 
A half day trip can cost you as little as $400 and will send you packing with plenty of freezer-fillers. Full day inshore trips waters are uncommon, as you will probably hit your limits well before the time is up, but if you really want to fill the boat, you can normally find a ¾ day for a little over the $500 mark.
 
Little & Great Gull Banks
 
Located just outside the inlet, these twin banks draw in a big mix of species as the year rolls on. The most important catches here are Bluefish and Striped Bass (known locally as Rockfish). Both species turn up in large numbers, making for great battles and some seriously good eating.
 
Striped Bass are a big deal around here. They are the state fish of Maryland, and while most of the Striper action happens in the Chesapeake Bay, there are still plenty of charters offering specialist “Rockfish trips” in November and December. These usually cost a bit more than the standard inshore rates due to their tight seasonality but they’re well worth the money when you head home loaded up with tasty fish.
 
Bass Grounds
 
Made up of a jumble of concrete piping and old wrecks, this artificial reef is an easy 12-mile hop from the inlet. From Tautog and Sea Bass to slammer Bluefish easily topping 20 pounds, it attracts a huge range of different species. The area is also home to several species of Shark. Hammerheads, Tigers, Bulls, Duskies, and even a few Blacktips from time to time – these grounds are perfect for sampling Ocean City Shark fishing without spending the whole day at sea. It is also a great spot for battling big fish when the winds kick up and ruin your fun offshore.
 
You may want to charter something a little bigger than you would use to fish the bays, especially if you all want to wrestle with Sharks. Luckily, the Ocean City Fishing Center hosts just about every size and style of boat you can think of, and even the 40-footers offer inshore trips around here. They may cost almost twice the price of the smallest center console, but you can get twice as many rods in the water and will definitely get twice the amount of equipment to play with.
 
Jackspot
 
Often ignored in favor of the deeper waters of the continental shelf, this steep bump has seen reliably good hookups for the best part of the century. Local anglers were battling White Marlin here as far back as the ‘30s. Though Marlin may be rarer here these days, there are plenty of Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and King Mackerel over the summer months, as well as the biggest Bluefish you’re ever likely to find.
 
Jackspot is around 30 miles from shore, so you will need at least six hours on even the fastest boat in town if you want some decent fishing time. While this doesn’t quite count as “offshore” in the eyes of most Ocean City charter guides, you can find specialty wreck and Shark fishing trips starting at around $800.
 
Baltimore Canyon
 
Cutting deep tracks in the edge of the continental shelf, deep-water canyons are the bread and butter of the Ocean City deep sea fishing scene. Baltimore Canyon plummets well over 100 fathoms at its deepest and is flanked by sheer walls which funnel big game pelagics right onto your hooks. Expect Blue and White Marlin, Bluefin, Yellowfin, and Bigeye Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and even Swordfish in the canyon’s deepest folds.
 
The canyons are all over 60 miles from town, so blue water trips are usually a minimum of 10 hours long, while overnight trips are very common. An entry-level 10-hour charter will cost you at least $1600, and overnight trips can cost double on some of the larger cruisers in town. We're talking 50-something feet of pure sportfishing pedigree, with the best crews, the latest equipment, and almost as importantly, the comfiest beds on the sea. 

Fishing Techniques

With such an established charter fleet and so many great species to target, it should come as no surprise that Ocean City has developed its own take on how to catch the area’s important species. 
 
Nowhere is this more the case than out at the canyons. Ocean City Tuna fishing focuses on chunking, throwing out pound after pound of Butterfish alongside similar baits on big 8/0 circle hooks and heavy fluorocarbon leaders. If you want to battle the big White Marlin Ocean City is famous for, you will probably be using a surface teaser of dressed ballyhoo and blue-and-white Ilanders. You can also get lots of action by throwing a daisy-chain of pink squids into the mix.
 
Bluefish are another species which local anglers have put a lot of time and effort into catching. Heavy-action spinning gear rigged with 15-pound line and a couple of feet of fluorocarbon will let you pull in even the heaviest slammer Bluefish. Dangle a nice, oily lump of Bunker or Spot on the end while simultaneously chumming the water and the fishing gets almost too easy. You just need to drift lazily towards the fish and they take care of all the hard work of hooking themselves.

What to Bring

You will need a saltwater fishing license for anyone aged 16 or over. Ocean City charter boats usually provide these, especially on larger vessels. This is not always the case, though, so you should definitely check when you book.
 
The great thing about having such a diverse and established fleet is that you can find specialist fly fishing charters which stock all the fly gear you will need. If you prefer to bring your own – and, really, who doesn't? – you will be more than welcome to do so aboard most local charter boats.
Ocean City
4.42
Based on 8624 reviews by FishingBooker anglers

Ocean City Fishing Seasons

Most of the fishing fleet leaves town over the winter months, taking the best of the fishing with it. This can be a beautiful time to explore Ocean City without a million tourists getting in your way, though.

Walk Ocean City's historic boardwalk in peace, explore the long beaches and take in the wild seascapes. Too cold? Head to the Seaside Boat Show, where over 350 boats are gathered and showcased indoors.

The first of the Flounder hit the shallows around Ocean City in March, bringing the inshore fishing fleet back with them. Jump aboard and bring the family along for an awesome day in the shallows.

Ocean City's fishing scene really gets going in April, with Bluefish, Flounder, and Tautog providing great catches. The summer crowds are still a distant dream and the waters are full of fish, so get out there!

The White Marlin Festival and Crab Soup Cook-Off promises plenty of fun for the kids and some of the tastiest soup around. Sign up, taste, and vote for the winner of the inspiring title of "best crab soup".

Tournament season starts in June with the Mako Mania Shark Tournament, an event which brings anglers from all over to battle the ocean's ultimate predators.

The Ocean City Tuna Tournament takes place every July, with over 100 boats competing to land the biggest Tuna. Even if you're not the competitive type. loads of huge Tuna can never be a bad thing.

The Ocean City White Marlin Open is, quite simply, the biggest fishing tournament in the world. Over 300 boats gather to battle monster billfish, with millions of dollars in prize money at stake.

Tournament season winds down in September. The fishing is still great both inshore and offshore, so stick around and make the most of the (comparatively) empty waters!

October is peak season for big Sea Bass in the waters around Ocean City. These guys are great food fare and are pretty fun to catch, so jump aboard and go score some dinner!

The Ocean City Winterfest of Lights makes Thanksgiving even more special. The waters are full of tasty Bass, Flounder, Tautog, and more, so ditch the turkey and enjoy a freshly-caught feast!

December is Rockfish mania in Ocean City. Striped Bass (known locally as Rockfish) is Maryland's state fish, and December is the peak time to catch them. Fish on!

Ocean City Fishing Calendar

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What People Are Saying About Ocean City

"12hr Deep Sea"

Robert Dart fished with Spring Mix II Sport Fishing Charter on October 6, 2018

October is my new favorite time to visit OC!

"Flounder Trip in the bay"

Tom Evangelisti fished with Bayside Guide Service on September 20, 2018

It’s a good time of the year to go out not a lot of boat traffic. Weather is great.

"Full Day Deep Sea Trip"

Chris Mickowski fished with Reel Naughty Sportfishing on September 3, 2018

If you want to catch Tuna, according to Captain June-July is the best time. If you want to do more bait casting and less trolling, a different charter is better.

"Half-day trip with Thayer"

Yusuke Sagawa fished with Chasin' Tides Charters on September 3, 2018

Enjoy the fishing more for the experience of being out on the ocean!

Top Fishing Techniques in Ocean City

  1. Deep Sea Fishing

Top Targeted Species in Ocean City

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)

Marlin (Blue)

Marlin (White)

Tuna (Yellowfin)

Nearby Fishing Destinations

Rehoboth Beach

Lewes

Chincoteague Island