Striped bass fishing out of Ocean City, New Jersey, splits into two fisheries: the back bay flats of the Great Egg Harbor estuary in spring and fall, and the ocean beachfront, reefs and wrecks within about 15 miles in fall. The ocean run is popular in mid-November and December. This guide covers the striper fishing; the Ocean City port page covers the port itself.
When striped bass are around Ocean City
The season here is spring and fall. Why the fish move is covered in the striped bass species guide, and the coastwide run is laid out in the Atlantic Northeast striped bass guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide).
| Season | Where the fishing is | Local source |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Great Egg Harbor back bay flats | Badfish |
| Fall | Back bay flats, plus ocean within about 15 miles | Badfish, Moover, Mod Squad |
| Mid-November to December | Ocean trips | Moover |
Spring
Spring fish are in the back bay. Badfish lists spring trips on the Great Egg Harbor flats, and the ocean boats don’t come into play until fall.
Fall and the late ocean run
Badfish fishes the flats in fall, and the ocean opens within about 15 miles of the port. Moover and Mod Squad run fall and winter ocean striper trips, and the Moover’s trips are popular in mid-November and December.
Where boats run
Boats work three zones, from inside to out:
- Great Egg Harbor back bay flats
- The ocean beachfront
- Reefs and wrecks inside about 15 miles
Great Egg Harbor back bay flats
Badfish works the back bay flats of the Great Egg Harbor estuary in spring and fall, with Somers Point as its base.
The ocean beachfront
The beachfront is part of the fall ocean water the local fleet lists. The charters that run it do so in fall and winter.
Reefs and wrecks inside 15 miles
Fall boats run to wrecks and reefs within about 15 miles, which is the range the grounds below fall into.
Grounds and structure off Ocean City
The named structure, nearest first:
| Ground | Type | Depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean City Reef | Artificial reef | 55 to 70 ft | 4.5 nm off Ocean City |
| Libra | Hopper scow on Ocean City Reef | – | On Ocean City Reef |
| Sulzer, Ohio, AC Wescoat 2, Shamrock | Barges on Ocean City Reef | – | On Ocean City Reef |
| Great Egg Reef | Artificial reef | 50 to 70 ft | 7.2 nm off Atlantic City |
| 28 Mile Wreck (The Varanger) | Wreck | – | Named for its rough distance from Ocean City |
Plot the reef and its barges against the Chart Contours layer to see where the bottom changes. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Ocean City Reef and its barges
Ocean City Reef is 55 to 70 ft deep and sits 4.5 nautical miles off Ocean City, per the published New Jersey reef locations. It is the closest named ocean structure in the fall zone. Njscuba lists four barges on the reef: Sulzer, Ohio, AC Wescoat 2 and Shamrock. The Libra, a hopper scow, also sits on it.
Great Egg Reef
Great Egg Reef is 50 to 70 ft deep, which overlaps Ocean City Reef’s range. Njscuba puts it at 7.2 nautical miles off Atlantic City, so that distance is measured from Atlantic City, not Ocean City.
28 Mile Wreck and the canyons
The Varanger takes its name from roughly how far it sits from Ocean City, which puts it well outside the 15-mile fall striper zone. The offshore canyons are not striper ground; the offshore gamefish guides cover them.
How striped bass are fished here
The local fleet shows how the fishery runs:
- Flats: artificial lures and fly fishing
- Timing on the flats: day and night
- Fall and winter ocean: trips run by Moover and Mod Squad
Lures and fly on the flats
Badfish fishes the flats with artificial lures and fly fishing.
Day and night
Badfish runs trips day and night. All its striped bass trips are catch-and-release, which is the charter’s own policy.
Fall and winter ocean trips
Moover and Mod Squad run fall and winter ocean striper trips. The Moover is popular in mid-November and December.
Who fishes for striped bass out of Ocean City
Six local charters list striped bass:
- Moover Fishing Adventures: The Moover, a 42-ft boat, docked at Seaview Harbor Marina in Longport.
- Mod Squad Charters: Captain Syd Unsworth; a 29-ft Triton center console.
- Badfish Fishing Charters: Captain Brian Williams, operating from Somers Point.
- Kott-the-Limit Fishing Charters: Captain Bill Kott and Captain Bill Kott Jr.
- Shore Thing Charters: Captain Mike Bernert; a 27-ft World Cat catamaran, departing from Somers Point.
- Mighty Heron Charters: Captain Michael Doebley.
OCMTC Striper Tournament
The OCMTC Striper Tournament is usually held in November.
FAQ: striped bass fishing out of Ocean City
When do striped bass show up off Ocean City?
Striped bass fishing out of Ocean City runs in spring and fall. The back bay flats are fished in both seasons, and the ocean trips are popular in mid-November and December.
How far offshore is Ocean City Reef?
It is 4.5 nautical miles off Ocean City.
How deep is Ocean City Reef?
It is 55 to 70 ft. The barges Sulzer, Ohio, AC Wescoat 2 and Shamrock and the Libra hopper scow sit on it.
Is the 28 Mile Wreck a striper spot?
The Varanger is named for its rough distance from Ocean City, which puts it well beyond the roughly 15-mile zone where boats work fall stripers.
Who runs back bay striper trips from Ocean City?
Badfish Fishing Charters, with Captain Brian Williams from Somers Point. It fishes the Great Egg Harbor flats with lures and fly, day and night, and all its striped bass trips are catch-and-release.
When is the OCMTC Striper Tournament?
It is usually held in November.
