When black sea bass are around Ocean City
Black sea bass fishing out of Ocean City runs in two windows: late spring and early fall. The local fleet splits its sea bass effort between them, so if you’re trailering in from out of town, set your trip dates inside these windows. The wider picture is in the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Northeast and the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide.
General biology and tackle are covered in the black sea bass species guide. This page covers the port.
Late spring
Morning Star targets sea bass in late spring, the first window to plan around.
Early fall
Morning Star targets sea bass again in early fall. Muff Diver Charters lists sea bass on both its inshore and offshore trips, so the fish figure into both kinds of run from this port.
Where boats run from Ocean City for sea bass
The grounds are wrecks and reefs off the Delmarva and Maryland coast. If you’re running your own boat, look for the same kinds of structure the fleet fishes. For wider context, see reef and wreck fishing across the region. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Wrecks and reefs off Delmarva
Judith M runs daytime bottom trips to wrecks and reefs off the Delmarva coast.
Natural, shipwreck and artificial reefs
Morning Star fishes three structure types off the Maryland coast, and these are the three to look for on your own runs:
- Natural reefs
- Shipwreck reefs
- Artificial reefs
How sea bass are fished out of Ocean City
Two methods are used locally: party boat fishing and daytime bottom fishing. Both put baits on the bottom over structure, which is also the approach to copy on your own boat.
Party boat at numbered rail places
Morning Star runs party boat fishing, with anglers fishing from numbered rail places.
Daytime bottom fishing
Judith M runs daytime bottom fishing trips.
Who fishes for black sea bass out of Ocean City
Three local operations list black sea bass. Their trip types show how this port fishes sea bass, and a trip with any of them will show you the structure and methods used here.
| Boat | Dock or captain | Sea bass trips |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Star | Party boat; Capt. Monty Hawkins | Late spring and early fall; natural, shipwreck and artificial reefs off the Maryland coast; numbered rail places |
| Judith M | 60 ft DMR docked at Bahia Marina | Daytime bottom fishing on wrecks and reefs off the Delmarva coast |
| Muff Diver Charters | Docked at Ocean City Fishing Center | Lists sea bass on inshore and offshore trips |
FAQ: black sea bass fishing out of Ocean City
When is sea bass season out of Ocean City?
The local fleet targets sea bass in late spring and early fall. Morning Star fishes for them in both windows.
Where do boats run for sea bass from Ocean City?
Boats run to wrecks and reefs off the Delmarva and Maryland coast. Judith M fishes wrecks and reefs off Delmarva.
What structure holds sea bass off Ocean City?
Morning Star fishes natural reefs, shipwreck reefs and artificial reefs off the Maryland coast.
Which local boats target black sea bass?
Morning Star is a party boat run by Capt. Monty Hawkins. Judith M is a 60 ft DMR docked at Bahia Marina. Muff Diver Charters is docked at Ocean City Fishing Center and lists sea bass on inshore and offshore trips.
How do local boats fish for sea bass?
Morning Star fishes as a party boat with numbered rail places. Judith M runs daytime bottom fishing trips.
Where are the rules for sea bass out of Ocean City?
Maryland DNR sets them. Check the Maryland regulations and the federal Mid-Atlantic rules before fishing.
