Coastal Fishing Reports

Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, July 4 Update:

It is certain to be a busy weekend along the coast as boats flock to the ocean for one of the most popular boating weekends of the year. There will likely be a lot of boats on the water celebrating the fourth, so make sure you are safe while there are more vessels on the water. Anglers looking to inshore fish should seek out areas with less boat traffic, if possible, but if you are heading offshore, there is plenty of water to fish without being crowded. The fishing at the Route 50 Bridge in Ocean City consisted of mostly bluefish and striped bass. The south jetty at the inlet has also been holding those fish along with some sheepshead and some other species too. Scott Lenox from Fish In OC made it out into the bay this week and reported catching a limit of bluefish, one trout, some rockfish, and a small flounder. Lucky Break Charters put together a good trip for some of their clients this week with some very nice sheepshead and a black drum during an evening trip.

There is some very good offshore fishing right now and a lot of the fleet from Delaware down to Virginia Beach has been getting in on some great tuna action, plus a lot more. The Boss Hog had an impressive haul from the offshore grounds that included around a dozen tuna and one big mahi. Another boat checked in at the Ocean City Marina with a marlin release and some yellowfin tuna. Flounder fishing over ocean structure is still going strong, and we had a report of a boat that boxed a three-man limit in just a few hours work. The flounder have also been in the surf at Assateague, and a reader checked in to let us know he picked up five up to 20” one morning on a double bucktail rig trimmed with white Gulp! mullet. All the coastal bays are offering flounder fishing opportunities right now, and anglers should have the chance to catch them through the rest of summer. Hotspots will include Chincoteague, Wachapreague, Folly Creek, and areas around Fisherman’s Island at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.