Ocean City MD fishing report for the week of October 15, 2026. Fall is the changing of the guard around the inlet, with summer flounder slowing down, tautog moving onto the structure and the first stripers arriving.
What’s Hitting
Flounder are still around the inlet and the channel edges, though the bigger fish are heading toward the ocean. Tautog are on the jetty rocks, bridge pilings and offshore wrecks, and the first stripers are showing along the beach and the inlet. Bluefish and speckled trout are in the back bays, and sea bass are on the reefs.
Looking ahead, the next two weeks should bring more stripers into the surf and inlet as water temperatures keep dropping, while flounder taper off and tautog fishing improves. Cooler nights are the trigger, so a cold snap tends to accelerate everything.
Where to Find Them
Fish the inlet rocks and the Route 50 bridge pilings for tautog, and the channel edges for flounder on the falling tide. Work the surf at Assateague for early stripers and blues, and drift the back bays near West Ocean City for trout.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon heading toward first quarter, tides are easing. The falling tide at the inlet is the best window, and early morning produces the calmest water. Check a current tide chart and the marine forecast.
Tackle & Tactics
Green crabs and fiddler crabs on a tautog jig fit the structure, and a Gulp or live minnow on a bucktail covers flounder. For stripers and blues, a bucktail or swim shad from the surf works. Medium spinning gear with 20 pound braid is a good all-around choice.
If tautog are the target, fish tight to the structure and keep your bait right on the bottom. For flounder, slow your retrieve and let the bait sit. When bluefish show up, expect to lose a few jigs, so bring spares and a short wire or heavy fluorocarbon bite leader.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes the Inlet area at the south end of the boardwalk, the ramps along Shantytown Road in West Ocean City, and Assateague State Park for surf fishing. Fish are concentrating at the inlet, the bridges and the jetties. Check current Maryland regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, especially tautog and flounder.
This Week’s Tip
Be patient on tautog. They stay tight to structure, so bring extra rigs and expect to lose a few.
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