Ocean City, MD Fishing Report 08-10-2006: Capt. Greg Ignash

Tuna fishing remains a hit or miss adventure with the most consistent tuna bite remaining the bluefin catches that continue to produce what are seemingly larger and larger fish as the season progresses. These catches continue to occur in the area ranging from the tip of the 20 fathom finger thumb up to Massey’s Canyon and out to the Chicken Bone Hambone lumps. A reminder to all anglers that most of the boats fishing in these areas continue to troll horse ballyhoo on 1/3 to ½ spooled 80 wide reels. This technique is known to the charter boat community as way back or WWB trolling. This means that no vessel should attempt to pass another in these fishing grounds any closer than 300 yards astern. Another effective technique employed by the boats in this area has been the use of deep running ballyhoo rigs sent subsurface with the use of a planer or downrigger. Aboard the Reel Addiction we use both but find the downrigger while more precise in its depth to be a nuisance when the time to clear comes about. For those more interested in the yellow fin bite I wish we had a suggestion. The yellow fin continue to disappoint in 2007. Most of the yellow fin action has been from just above triple 000’s south to the tip of the Washington in anywhere from 35 to 60 fathoms. Unfortunately, the action is usually over before lunchtime and never predicated on large amounts of bait being in the same areas day after day. We can only hope that as the sea surface temperatures begin to cool in September that more definitive temperature breaks and baitfish will be present to support a late summer and fall yellow fin season. Currently water temperatures from the 20 fathom line outward are hovering in the upper 70s to low 80s which has produced some good marlin fishing from 35 to 70 fathoms. The marlin fishing continues to be above average ranging anywhere from the tip of the Baltimore canyon to the tip of the Norfolk canyon. Aa always we wish all of our readers the best of luck!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Greg Ignash
President Ocean City Captains Association
Toll Free 877-725-FISH