Coastal Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report, October 3 Update:
Two hurricanes off the coast have kept most of the offshore boats at the dock during the later part of the week. The swells have been big, and the ocean has been rough, so fishing has been limited to inshore waters, but the bite in the Atlantic was good before the wind machine turned on. Several readers have checked in after enjoying rather epic mahi-mahi action at the canyons. At least prior to this week’s big blow, they were still crowding around the lobster pot floats waiting to be bailed, so let’s hope the passing hurricane didn’t rile up those waters too much. Fish In OC also had some great reports from the canyons. One of which included a private boat that put 17 yellowfin tuna and 54 mahi in the box. The nearshore wrecks and reefs have been producing good catches of black sea bass and flounder recently. The size of the fish appears to be improving as the weather cools off.
On the beaches of Assateague, the bite has been picking up, and Dave Moore of Shark Whisperers says the big redfish have been chewing in the evening and after dark. Four trips produced nine bulls, with two topping the 50” mark. October is when you want to be on the coastal beaches targeting the bull reds in the fall. The run will only last a few more weeks before the bulk of the fish have migrated south of our waters. The surf has been very rough thanks to offshore storms, but once the water lays down, the bite should pick back up. The drum tend to like a little bit of choppy water, and you can catch them even if it is rough. Last weekend, we had a report from an angler fishing at Assateague who caught a mixed bag of species, including pompano, bluefish, and flounder. Another reader reported that flounder were biting in the surf on double-bucktail/Gulp! Rigs, though mostly small fish, up until the rough conditions hit. Over at the Ocean City Inlet, sheepshead are still biting along the rock jetties. A few tautog have also been in the mix. Striped bass and bluefish are biting at the Route 50 Bridge. Casting lures to the bridge pilings by boat or dropping down from the bridge walkway is how most anglers target them.