Jigs
Spro Bucktail Jigs
Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.
Check Price
Saltwater & Coast
Spin, Cast & Bait
Ocean City Inlet Fishing Guide
Maryland
The inlet at Ocean City, where anglers work the jetty rocks for sheepshead and stripers, flounder hold in the channels, and mackerel and albies run close to shore.
Trip at a Glance
Anglers come to Ocean City Inlet for striped bass, flounder, sheepshead, bluefish, false albacore and spanish mackerel. In October, striped bass, flounder, bluefish, false albacore and spanish mackerel are in season, and Walking Topwater, Paddle-Tail Swimbait and Casting Spoon are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 25 miles; the closest is Atlantic Tackle in Ocean City, about 1 mi away. Indian River Inlet is about 20 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.
Season at a Glance
Striped Bass
Flounder
Sheepshead
Bluefish
False Albacore
Spanish Mackerel
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What You'll Catch
Ocean City Inlet Species
Striped Bass
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Apr to Jun, Sep to Nov
Flounder
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov
Sheepshead
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Dec to Apr
Bluefish
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: May to Oct
False Albacore
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: Sep to Nov
Spanish Mackerel
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best: May to Oct
Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.
Plan by Month
What to Use
Month
Fish
8 picks for October. marks species in season in October.
Metal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz
LureJig · Spanish Mackerel, False Albacore, Bluefish
Shop This LureWalking Topwater 4 to 5 in
LureTopwater · Bluefish, Striped Bass
Shop This LurePaddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in
LureSoft Plastic · Flounder, Striped Bass
Shop This LureBucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz
LureJig · Flounder, Striped Bass
Shop This LureCasting Spoon 1/4 to 1 oz
LureSpoon · Spanish Mackerel
Shop This LureLive Minnows 1 to 3 in
BaitLive Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.
Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in
BaitLive Bait · Sheepshead
Cut Mullet Chunk or strip
BaitNatural Bait · Bluefish
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Rod & Reel
Recommended Setups
Striped Bass
Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate or sinking line, 20 lb leader. Clousers and Deceivers.
Spin / Cast 7 to 8 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 30 lb braid with a 20 to 30 lb leader.
Flounder
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.
Sheepshead
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod with a sensitive tip, 3000 reel, 20 lb braid, fiddler crabs on a small strong hook.
Bluefish
Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate line, wire or 40 lb bite tippet.
Spin / Cast 7 to 9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 20 lb braid with a wire leader.
Matched to These Species
Gear for Ocean City Inlet
Reels
Penn Battle III Spinning Reel
A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.
Check PriceRods
Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod
A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.
Check PriceMetal Jigs
Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig
A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.
Check PriceSpoons
Acme Kastmaster Spoon
A dense spoon that casts a mile and flutters on the fall.
Check PriceLine
PowerPro Spectra Braided Line
Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.
Check PriceTerminal Tackle
Egg Sinkers and Swivels
Egg sinkers, swivels, and beads for slip-sinker and Carolina rigs.
Check PriceSoft Plastics
Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ
A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.
Check PriceSome links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Within 25 Miles
Shops Near Ocean City Inlet
Bait & Tackle
White Lightning Fishing
Ocean City, Maryland· 1 mi
Sub Marina, 12703 Sunset Ave 410-404-7872
Bait & Tackle
Rumble Fish Tackle And Lure
Ocean City, Maryland· 2 mi
9748 Stephen Decatur Hwy Ste 405 443-664-2330
Bait & Tackle
Old Inlet Bait and Tackle
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware· 22 mi
25012 Coastal Hwy 302-227-7974
Within 25 Miles
Guides and Charters Near Ocean City Inlet
Charter
Restless Lady Charters
Ocean City, Maryland· Under 1 mi
311 Talbot St 443-995-1249
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore, Full-Day Trips
Charter
Chasin' Tides Charters
Ocean City, Maryland· Under 1 mi
300 Dorchester St 443-987-0727
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore
Charter
Fish Bound Charters
Ocean City, Maryland· Under 1 mi
312 Talbot St 443-497-1361
Per their website: Inshore
Charter
Ocean City Girl
Ocean City, Maryland· Under 1 mi
311 Talbot St 302-381-4255
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore, Full-Day Trips
CharterFly Fishing
Fin Chaser Sportfishing Charters
Ocean City, Maryland· Under 1 mi
311 Talbot St 443-397-0315
Per their website: Offshore
Guide
Coastal Guide Service LLC
Ocean City, Maryland· 1 mi
Inlet Isle Ln 410-726-8790
Per their website: Inshore
Make It a Trip
Nearby Water
Saltwater & Coast · Delaware · About 20 mi
Indian River Inlet
A busy inlet with jetty fishing for stripers, flounder, and blues.
Striped Bass · Flounder · Bluefish
Saltwater & Coast · Virginia · About 34 mi
Toms Cove (Assateague)
The cove and surf at the south end of Assateague Island near Chincoteague, open to fishing in marked areas, with red drum, flounder, stripers, and bluefish.
Redfish · Flounder · Striped Bass
Saltwater & Coast · New Jersey · About 45 mi
Cape May
The southern tip of New Jersey with rips, jetties, and back bays for stripers and fluke.
Striped Bass · Flounder · Bluefish
Saltwater & Coast · Delaware · About 51 mi
Delaware Bay
A broad estuary known for spring striped bass and summer flounder.
Striped Bass · Flounder · Bluefish
Saltwater & Coast · Maryland · About 70 mi
Point Lookout
The tip of Maryland where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake, with a long state park pier and a lower Bay mix of stripers, red drum, speckled trout, and bluefish.
Striped Bass · Redfish · Speckled Trout
Saltwater & Coast · Maryland · About 74 mi
Chesapeake Bay
Striped bass from the bridges to the flats, plus speckled trout and red drum to the south.
Striped Bass · Red Drum · Speckled Trout