Season
Blue marlin fishing out of Ocean City, New Jersey runs from summer into fall, and the offshore bite lasts through October. This page is written for owner-operators running their own boat. It covers when the fish are around, how far the run is, what structure sits on the way, how marlin are fished locally, and who fishes for them. We don’t promise fish; the aim is to help you decide where to look.
Summer into fall
The window opens in summer and carries into fall. That is the standing pattern for this port.
Marlin Month in September
OCMTC runs a Marlin Month in September, which is the club’s marlin focus on its calendar.
The October tail
The fishingbooker guide puts the offshore bite through October. Treat October as the late end of the window.
The run to the canyons
Ocean City boats run about 70 miles to the offshore canyons for blue marlin.
About 70 miles
The fishingbooker guide gives the run as about 70 miles. For the broader picture, see the wider Northeast canyon picture (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide).
Fuel, range, and the hour you leave the dock all follow from a 70-mile run each way.
Before you go, read the NWS Mount Holly marine forecast for wind, wave height, and period. Chart layers are not for navigation.
A canyon fish
Blue marlin is a canyon-area pelagic. Out of this port, that means the offshore canyons.
Named structure near Ocean City
The named structure near Ocean City sits in 50-70 ft of water, well inside the canyons. These are waypoints and reef sites from this port rather than marlin grounds, since blue marlin is a canyon fish here.
| Structure | Depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean City Reef | 55-70 ft | 4.5 nautical miles off Ocean City |
| Great Egg Reef | 50-70 ft | 7.2 nautical miles off Atlantic City |
| 28 Mile Wreck (The Varanger) | not listed | Named for roughly how far it sits from Ocean City |
Ocean City Reef
Ocean City Reef lies in 55-70 ft, 4.5 nautical miles off Ocean City. Njscuba’s Ocean City Reef listing details the structure on it:
- Libra, a hopper scow on the reef
- Sulzer, Ohio, AC Wescoat 2 and Shamrock, all barges
Great Egg Reef
Great Egg Reef lies in 50-70 ft. Njscuba puts it 7.2 nautical miles off Atlantic City. The Great Egg Reef site details are available here.
28 Mile Wreck (The Varanger)
The 28 Mile Wreck, the Varanger, is named for roughly how far it sits from Ocean City.
How it is fished here
Capt. Syd of Mod Squad trolls dredges and Caesar lures to bring marlin up, then pitches a bait.
Dredges and Caesar lures
The dredges and Caesar lures raise the fish. That is the first half of the method, as Capt. Syd describes it.
Pitching the bait
Once a fish is up, the bait is pitched to it. For more on rigging and pitching billfish, see our billfish guides.
Who fishes for them
No Ocean City charter lists blue marlin as a target. Out of this port, marlin is a private-boat and club fish, fished by owner-operators on their own boats and by the OCMTC crowd, with the club’s Marlin Month in September as the focal point.
FAQ
When is blue marlin season out of Ocean City, New Jersey?
Summer into fall. The fishingbooker guide says the offshore bite lasts through October.
How far do Ocean City boats run for blue marlin?
About 70 miles, to the offshore canyons.
What is OCMTC Marlin Month?
OCMTC runs a Marlin Month in September, which is the club’s marlin focus on its calendar.
How do local captains fish for marlin?
Capt. Syd of Mod Squad trolls dredges and Caesar lures to raise fish, then pitches a bait.
Do the nearshore reefs hold blue marlin?
No. Ocean City Reef (55-70 ft, 4.5 nautical miles) and Great Egg Reef are nearshore structure. Marlin is a canyon fish here.
