WEEKLY "Gone Fishing" AT THE BEACH
compliments of: Sue Foster, proprietor of
OYSTER BAY TACKLE, Ocean City Maryland,
and Fenwick Tackle, Fenwick Island Delaware.
Sue provides us hopeful fish catchers with a timely
UP TO DATE FISHING REPORT
and other handy fishing advice. ** Also CHECK OUT FISH TALK fishing forum At The Beach **


Ocean City Maryland & Assateague Island - Delaware Beaches - Ocean n Bay Fishing Report
By Sue Foster, Oyster Bay Tackle Shop, Ocean City MD - Fenwick Island DE

April 4th, 2011

Fishing Report by Sue Foster

Water Temperature (WTMP): 43.7 °F°

Wish I could say the fish were biting like crazy, but they still are not.
The weather was cold, wet, and windy most of the week. Anglers are trying
for tautog at the bulkhead and inlets. Anglers are casting bait in the surf
and lures at the Inlets. We heard of the first keeper striper caught at
Indian River Inlet. Flounder were caught in VA. Party boats are catching
tautog and cod. Maryland has officially announced the 2011 flounder regs. We
will have an 18-inch size limit this year, one inch shorter than last year!

(Please read the info about the new MD Saltwater License at the end of this
report. The easiest way to buy your license is call the toll free number.
You can call, write down a confirmation number and fish right away. Year
round licenses and stickers will be mailed to you. We have called and
tested this number. The people are fast and very friendly! 1-800-918-2870)

If you want to buy and print your license online, I have all the links where
you can do this at bottom of this report. Or, I will be happy to print you a
license at Oyster Bay Tackle from the public website if you like. Fenwick
Tackle is busy doing Delaware licenses, so please come to Oyster Bay Tackle.
Please read all the details in the paragraphs at the end of this report.
(And remember, we didn't make the new laws, and we are not making one dime
on printing MD licenses, so please, if you come in to Oyster Bay to get a
license printed, contribute to the "charity jar" or buy something in our
store.) If you have questions call us at Oyster Bay Tackle at 410-524-3433
or e-mail me at sue@oysterbaytackle.com. I'll be glad to help you out.

Fishing Tackle Shop Online ! Brand
new shopping mall! Please let me know if anything is not working to your
liking and e-mail Sue Foster at:
Oyster Bay Tackle.

2011 White Marlin Open T's are here! We still have some 2010 White Marlin
Open T's on sale starting at 9.99! (Sorry no XL left online) Got a few 2011
Shark shirts in!

Tire
Buddy III Tire Deflators!



Surf Packages, complete with sinkers.

Fishing Gear Gift Cards

(Oyster Bay Tackle and Fenwick Tackle will have limited hours during the
week and will be open all day Friday, Sat, and Sun. (Call 410-524-3433 or
302-539-7766). We are there most days during the week, just not all day! If
you have questions email Sue at sue@oysterbaytackle.com.)



In store Fishing Tackle and Accessories Coupons!



Reports from Assateague were "zip" again this week. I did see some
pictures of striped bass online, but we don't know exactly where they were
caught. Up in Northern DEL we presume... I did see on the Old Inlet site
that the first striper was caught from Indian River Inlet. 33-inches! Yea!


Many anglers ask about reading the beach when surf fishing. "Poppy" a very
good angler has posted another very good description with pictures on
Stripers Online. Check it out:
Reading the Beach He draws it out completely! If you're not catching
fish in the surf, you need to study this!


Need
surf
rigs? We have plenty in our shops or buy online! Shop for Fishing Gear and Tackle Online



If you find it hard to hold bottom try using a "
sputnik sinker if you can't hold with a regular surf sinker. I always
carry a selection of sputnik sinkers in my tackle box.

It was really cold and windy all week, and I didn't get any reports from the
bay or surf in Ocean City. People are trying for tautog and two weeks ago,
tautog were reported, so they are there. Just a matter of water temperature
and getting some decent weather. Weather meaning some "sunshine" to heat the
water up a couple degrees!


Larry Jock of the Coastal
Fisherman reports on March 30th: "WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2011: The
"Morning Star" had a heckuva day, returning to the Ocean City Fishing Center
with catches of cod and tautog. The two largest tog were whoppers. Pat
Travolina ventured all the way from Staten Island, NY and was rewarded this
an 18.64 lb. tautog that he caught on a white crab. Believe it or not, it
didn't win "Heaviest Fish" honors for the trip. Scott Allison from
Creamridge, NJ muscled in a 19 lb. 8 oz. tautog after hooking it on a white
crab in 120 feet on an ocean wreck. Quite a trip!"

DNR Announces 2011 Summer Flounder Regulations
Annapolis, Md. (March 29, 2011) - The Maryland Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service announces the 2011 recreational summer
flounder regulations to include a three-fish creel limit, an18-inch minimum
size limit (an inch shorter than last year) and a season to run April 16
through November 30.

Yea!

Clark from Old Inlet (302-227-7974) posted on March 31st "News Flash - 33"
Striper caught in the Inlet on Monday night!!"


Bill Sports Center (302-645-7654) reports that fresh water rainbow trout
are biting at Newton Pond. White Perch in Broadkill River and the Milton
Spillway. Plenty tautog offshore. One was 20 pounds. Cod are biting too!



E-mail Sue Foster at: Oyster Bay
Tackle with your pictures and/or reports. Vacation Pictures are
welcome! (Please send me a real picture and not a link to a "Kodak moment"
or a Facebook page.") Phone pics are fine.
E-mail me your name and where you are from so we
can put you in our weekly fish reports and/or Gallery!


Anglers now need a DE Fishing License to fish, crab, and clam in DEL:
Individual Delaware Fishing Licenses are now available
online or
Stop into Fenwick Tackle and get your license. 302-539-7766.

Delaware anglers will also need a F.I.N. number every year, similar to a
hunting H.I.P. number. It is free, very simple to get, but necessary. DNREC
has e-mailed us how to get it! To obtain a F.I.N. number anglers may visit
www.delaware-fin.com, or call 800-432-9228, any time of day or night.


Capt. Monty on the "
Morning Star" is now tautog and cod fishing. Sea Bass will open May 22
in MD. Here's his report from the 31st:
" Fish Report 3/31/11
Some Dandies & The Jinx
A Gift
Restoration Priorities

Opening Sea Bass Reservations From May 22 Through July 10th. Also Have Tog
Trips This Weekend. Am Looking To Announce More 10 to 12 Hour Tog Trips Via
Email In April. See Below Signature For Open Dates

Hi All,
Got the day in; This "calm before the storm" wasn't greasy-slick calm but
certainly not rough either. The tog bite was tepid, off: A not-at-all red
hot bite.
..cod bite was worse.

Cod. There we go thinking again.
My favorite Russian tog-slayer, Alex and I had wisely rigged up special cod
jigging rods.
Plenty of bubblegum pink worms aboard too..
Ready!

Yeah, well, Not so much.
All around the rail - 3 cod.

Halfway into the day a fellow who had driven from Brooklyn, NY puts a 13+
pound tog in the boat. Very Nice. A personal best - Really Good Fish - A
Reward For Perseverance.
Many clients, however, have not had a bite.
Here come a few more fish; a couple taggers, a couple decent keepers, a 12
pounder.
And still some clients have yet to have a bite.
Consensus: "They're only biting the white-leg crabs." (which are really rock
crab)
I do have clients that will spend far more money going to get their own bait
than the ticket costs..

Another Brooklyn native, Pat, nears his limit; 3 very nice fish-- I believe
each was north of 8 pounds.
The client next to him is fishing white-leg crabs, has been on many a trip
this year, has won the pool about 1/3 the time, speaks fluent Russian,
And hasn't had a bite, Not a fish.
Other clients too have not had a bite.

So my friend Alex, eager to appease the tog gods, turns around & cuts the
codfish jig off his other rod and throws it overboard.
Jinx gone, he puts a hermit crab on and catches his first fish on his first
bite. He puts his other hermit-crab on and catches another.
Now he's out of hermits.

Then Pat catches a monster of about 18 1/2 pounds, An awesome personal best.
All 4 fish fish caught on white-leg crabs.
Alex, fishing exactly next to Pat & fishing white-leggers all day, has two
bites on hermit crab and no others..
Another fellow sticks to his guns; goes with blue claw, the eatin' crab;
catches two decent fish.
Some fish are caught on the boat's green crab.
Perhaps a 1/4 of the day's anglers, including me, never have a bite on any
crab or clam; We await another day to feel the beast pull.

Fish Pool: Pat's 18 1/2 pound tog is second to Scott's 19 1/2 pound tog.
What Fish!

I've only seen one really big tog that was a gift, a fish caught within
sight of land by a lady on her first toggin' trip ever. Would easily still
be a state record but we had to put that fish back because we caught it
during closed season on a scientific collection permit: We had to tag &
release it--That's why I had the permit.

This is easily the toughest wreck/reef fishing I know. As evidenced here it
can be both supremely rewarding and crushing on the same day.

I'm going some more. Looking to announce more long trips -- 11 & 12 hour
trips -- as the weather cooperates. Maybe soon they'll bite the bottom off
the boat..................

............

E-mail Capt Montyfor more info.
To receive Capt. Monty's full newsletter with comments e-mail Capt. Monty.

Capt. Monty Hawkins
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservation Line 410 520 2076
http://www.morningstarfishing.com/

Watch the
weather.

Capt. Victor on the Ocean
Princess e-mailed in his first report of the year! " Capt. Victor on the
Ocean Princess took his first trip of the 2011 season this past weekend. On
Saturday April 2 the fishing started out a little slow but picked up in the
late afternoon. The catch was some tog and cod. On Sunday the fishing was
much better with plenty of tog being caught. Everyone had a great time and
went home happy with fish for everyone. The Ocean Princess is fishing every
Saturday and Sunday and the cost is the same as last year just $65.00 plus
tax. Make sure you call ahead for reservations, 410-289-6226, as we limit
the number of fishermen we take tog fishing. The Ocean Princess leaves the
dock at 7am and returns at 3pm.


Check out the link on our web site to the local chapter of the MSSA. They are keeping us
abreast on all the Fishing Issues. From our Oyster Bay Website, go to "More
Fishing Info" on the left hand side, and click on "MSSA Atlantic Anglers".
Check the weather before driving hours to go offshore or fish the surf. Go
to
Coastal Marine Forecast to get an idea of the weather and height of the
waves.


Stop by to the Oyster Bay Tackle location and buy your 2011 Ocean City
Reef Foundation Charts. The donation fee for these charts are $25. $27 if
you use a credit card. These charts pin-point all the GPS numbers for all
the
Artificial Reef materials that have been scattered near offshore wrecks,
reefs, and
obstructions. The charts give you hundreds of numbers to find fish. All the
money collected goes back into the Artificial Reef Foundation.
Capt. Rick Yakimowicz of the "Thelma Dale V" Reports from Fisherman's Wharf
on March 31st:

"It's been a good week for fishing here at the Wharf this past week and
it's also been a good week for fisherman in general with the exciting news
of a more relaxed Sea Bass Season then we thought might happen for the 2011
season for the state of Delaware!
....

....The Sea Bass Season is basically status quo from last year meaning we
will have a Sea Bass opening on May 22nd with a 25 per man creel and a 12
1/2 inch minimum size. Sharpen up your hooks and Jigs we are gonna catch a
few Sea Bass this spring after all!


Fish bit much better this past weekend than either of my two previous weeks
of fishing with a much more consistent and aggressive bite as far as the
Tautog were concerned. Stripers also came on fairly well up in the northern
reaches of the Delaware Bay providing some of the best Linesider action to
date for those targeting these spring trophies.


I managed to fish three out of my scheduled four trips again last week and
each trip saw it's moments of greatness. While the chilly temperatures and
the moderate breeze gave a new meaning to cold fingers for those at the
rail, there were times where that just didn't seem to matter, the fish were
biting good enough to "bait up" through the cold numbing pain! We saw our
best numbers of Tog this past weekend with both keepers and with the short
fish biting, keeping everyone glued to the rail. While the average fish was
still only around three or four pounds we did manage several fish in the
five to six pound class with the biggest fish in those three days tipping
the scale at just over 8 lbs....

For the time being we have decided to stick with the four day a week
schedule sailing on just Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday this way we can
at least stand the best chance of having enough folks to make the trip. If
it looks like we will get a stretch of good weather through the week we will
likely switch back to the seven day a week routine. I'm going to stick with
fishing for the Blackfish or Tautog and maybe some Cod until the season
closes in May. The outlook is good for some really good action in the weeks
ahead and it is even possible that we may see some Stripers on a few of
these outings where we end up fishing in or around the mouth of the Bay.
Trips will depart the dock at 7:00 a.m. and we will return around 4:00 all
bait is supplied. We will have Crabs and Clams but if you want Shrimp pick
some up at your local grocery store. A pound will usually last you all day.


If you would like any more information about trips sailing out of the Wharf
or you would like to reserve space for a special trip or to book a private
charter please give us a call at (302) 645-TUNA."


His full report and boat info is
here.

Capt. Rick Yakimowicz
Thelma Dale V
catchfish@verizon.net"




Capt.Dan Stauffer (866-623-4746) of the Fin Chaser does wreck,
inlet and trolling trips. He says: "Fin Chaser's 2011 season will begin on
April 22nd. We will be fishing for Tog & Cod until May 22nd at which time
Sea Bass will open and they will be added to our target. Shark Trips begin
in early June and Offshore Tuna Trips around the 20th of June. Reservations
have been very heavy, if you're considering a trip, you should reserve your
day ASAP."

If you would like more info on these trips please check out our website or
give us a call.
Capt. Dan -phone: 866-623-4746 -www.finchasersportfishing.com



VA
charters.
(Wilson Cropp Charters and Guide Service. Cape Charles, VA- 1-434-531-6376)
Stripers...Tog... Drum...
Eco tours as well.





CHECK OUT the Fish Talk Forum - At
The Beach - Fishing Ocean City MD Assateague Island - Delaware Fishing
Beaches


(Just a note to say to my readers that many of my fishing reports are from
other anglers and party boats that come over my e-mail. When I "copy/paste"
their reports I try to leave them intact. It keeps the fishing reports
lively and interesting. But any comments/politics within the quotes are
their comments and views, and not necessarily mine.)

Need info on where, how, when to fish, crab, and clam? Go
to
Drifting Easy Archives and READ UP! It's all in there and it's
FREE!!!!!!



James A. Donofrio, executive director of the Recreational Fishing
Alliance
has been actively working on the sea bass crisis. The RFA believes the
future of our fisheries is dependent on fixing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act which has laid down strict time-frames that
do not take into account livelihoods and that a fishery is rebounding
steadily.


Need to tie a knot? Click
Here. This is really cool! You can also click Here!


Maryland Fishing License

Anglers fishing in Ocean City will need to purchase a saltwater fishing
license. This license will cover both the Chesapeake Bay and the coastal
waters and surf of Ocean City and Assateague Island. Yes, this includes surf
fishing. If you already have a Chesapeake Bay Saltwater license you are good
to go! Anglers will be able to purchase the license online. The
license you want to choose is "Bay and Coastal Sport" You can either choose
a year-round or 7-day. The online site will add on a small convenience fee,
but so will the tackle stores
until the state sets us up. Unfortunately, this may not happen until
sometime this summer.
Oyster Bay Tackle will be glad to do your
fishing license for you, but we have to go to the same web site you would,
and use your credit card
to purchase a license for you until the state sets us up. SO, if you know
you are coming to Ocean City, it
would be to your advantage to get it done ahead of time. Right now, you can
also call a toll free number (1-800-918-2870)
or print and mail in an application (the
least expensive way to go!) If you know you are going to buy a boat license,
this would be a really good way to go. $50 and everyone on your boat can go
fishing without a license. They will send you your sticker for your boat in
the mail.

Mail the application to their main office:

Maryland Dept. of Natural resources
Annapolis Service Center
P.O. Box 1869
1804 West Street, Suite 300
Annapolis, MD 21401


If you are going to be fishing on a private boat with someone who has a Boat
License, you don't have to buy a license, but you do have to register online. This
is free but cannot be done over the phone. (The state says it has no money
for a phone line.) So do it now. Do it anytime. But don't wait till you get
to Ocean City without a computer. Print out your number and keep an id with
you when you go fishing. It only takes a couple minutes. If you get in a
bind, we
can also do this for you at Oyster Bay Tackle.

Another interesting note about the license is that if you buy a VA license,
it is good in MD, and vice versa. If you are fishing in MD with a VA licence
you do need to register with MD online. Again, this is free. This is so each
state can "try" to figure out "how many" fish are being caught in their own
individual states. (VA Free
Registry)

If you want to go fishing in Ocean City without a license, your choices will
be the "Oceanic Pier" or to go fishing on a party or charter boat. You can
also go crabbing and clamming in Ocean City without a license. Or you can
fish off your own private dock.

Contact Info
If you have any questions regarding Maryland's sport fishing license
requirements, you may contact Fisheries Service via e mail:
customerservice@dnr.state.md.us or by calling (410-656-9526).


Following is the fee schedule for 2011:

Senior License (year round) - $5.00
Resident License (year round) - $15.00
Resident License (7-day) - $6.00
Non-resident (year round) - $22.50
Non- resident (7-day) - $12.00
Pleasure Boat Decal (covers everyone on boat - year round) - $50.00
Commercial Fishing Pier License (year round) - $290.00

No license is required for:
Boat decal passengers
Those fishing in "free fishing" areas
Those fishing from their waterfront properties
Anglers under 16 years old
Anglers fishing on a licensed charter, party or guide boat
Anglers fishing commercially under a valid license

For more information, log onto www.dnr.state.md.us

Good fishing...

Need a gift card? Give us a call at 410-524-3433 You can also buy
them
online.

2011 White Marlin Shirts are here! Short sleeve and
long sleeve! Shark Tournament Shirts and popular Calcutta T's both short and
long sleeve! Order ONLINE.

Preview our selection of
hooks, sinkers, and swivels along with the ever popular sputnik sinkers.


CLOSE-OUT STAR BOAT SPIN RODS FOR ONLY 19.99 Regular retail was
49.99.


We have Calcutta hats, visors, t's, long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, tanks
and new
T-shirts on our online mall. We have the
Bloodworm scented
Fish Bites in stock. Also the very popular Gulp and Fin-Atics Fish Oil
in Shedder Crab and other flavors. You can buy these items
online.



Tire Buddy III deflators are great! Call Oyster Bay Tackle at 410-524-3433
or order on
line.


We also now carry the Oasis
Trailhead Tire Deflators. 59.99 for set of 4 in store.

To buy a dozen assorted flounder rigs for $21.99.
Order Online.

To buy a selection of a dozen of the most popular Got-cha Plugs in our area
for 49.99
Shop Online.

We have a great value on a stuffed surf box

Big surf box for 49.99- a $56 value- available on line, at both our
stores, or call 410-524-3433.

We offer a great value in our stores or on our web site of
a package of 12 assorted surf rigs. (Value $28.28) for $23.99.
Surf rigs buy online.

To buy a big stuffed
Flounder box
for 49.99 stop in our stores, Shop Online, or call 410-524-3433.-

We have
6-packs of bucktails and we
have
fishing
books.


Visit our online mall year
round. Check it out and
e-mail me with any comments or suggestions.
-->
We have a
Australian Gold
Suntan Lotion web page that shows all the Australian Gold Suntan
Products available in both our retail stores. Oyster Bay Tackle~410-524-3433
and Fenwick Tackle~302-539-7766. E-mail
Sue for pricing and availability or call 410-524-3433.

Visit our Website.

Visit our
Drifting Easy Archives to learn where and how to crab, clam and fish in
our area.

Sale!

We have lots of rods and reels out for this season by
Daiwa, Tica, Sea Striker and Okuma.

If you have any fish reports please e-mail
Sue Foster at: Oyster Bay
Tackle. E-mail me your name and where you are from so we can put
you in our weekly fish reports!



Tire Deflators, Calcutta t-shirts, 2011 White Marlin Open Shirts,
Gift Cards, Got-cha Plugs, Ugly Sticks,
Tica rods, Okuma surf rods, Daiwa reels, Windcheaters, Mann's, Stretch
25 lures, Mullet Rigs,
Aqua-Clear Tangle free Rigs, Tsunami Shads, Tandem Rigs, Spec Rigs,
Beach Runner surf rods, Penn Reels, Okuma reels,
Collapsible Bridge and Pier Nets, Rat-L-Traps, Calcutta Hats, Stuffed Tackle
Boxes and more. Stop in to our shops or Order Online. -->

E-mail Sue Foster at: Oyster Bay
Tackle
if you have any questions about our inventory or if you want to place
an order for an item we do not have on-line.

Shop Online




Holiday Shopping

Coupons

2011
tide tables now available in online. You'll find our tide chart and MD
regs under "More Fishing Info" on our website.

Tides: These are ocean tides, add 2 hours for the bay, approximately 1 hour
for Indian River:

High Tides: (Add approx 6 hours for low tide)

Oyster bay tackle
11615 Coastal Highway
Ocean City, Md
410-391-0222
http://www.oysterbaytackle.com/