Updated: Thursday, September 24, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, October 1, 2026
This Ocean City MD fishing report covers late September, when the fall run starts in Ocean City. The water is cooling, the mullet move through the inlet and the fish are feeding. Flounder are the lead target, stacking up at the inlet and in the channels as they get ready to head offshore, with sea bass on the wrecks and yellowfin tuna in the canyons. The Saturday full moon sets up big tides in the inlet, so plan your flounder drifts around the slower stages of the tide.
What’s Hitting
Flounder stack up at the inlet and in the channels ahead of their move offshore. Sea bass sit on the ocean wrecks and reefs, and bluefish work the surf and the inlet. Offshore, yellowfin tuna roam the canyons, and some white marlin are still around. Tautog start to show up on the inlet rocks.
Where to Find Them
Target flounder at the Ocean City Inlet, around the Route 50 bridge and in the channels behind Assateague Island. Channel edges funnel bait in and out with the tide, which makes them natural ambush lanes for flounder. Sea bass hold on the wrecks and reefs in 60 to 100 feet of water.
Yellowfin tuna are in the Baltimore, Poor Man’s and Washington canyons, and bluefish are in the surf and at the inlet.
Tides & Conditions
With the Saturday full moon, the inlet runs hard, so fish the slower stages of the tide for flounder. Expect water temperatures in the low 70s. Northeast wind can stir up the surf and the inlet this time of year.
Tackle & Tactics
- Flounder: a Gulp! on a jig head or a live minnow on a drift rig, fished along the bottom in the inlet and channels.
- Sea bass: a two-hook bottom rig with squid or clams.
- Tuna: troll ballyhoo or spreader bars in the canyons, or chunk with butterfish.
- Bluefish: cast metal lures or plugs.
Surf anglers on Assateague find kingfish, spot and small bluefish on bloodworms and Fishbites, with the occasional red drum on cut bait at dusk. As the water keeps cooling over the next few weeks, look for the first schools of striped bass at the inlet and along the beaches, and for the tautog bite on the jetty rocks to keep improving.
Local Intel This Week
The Ocean City Inlet has a public fishing area along the Boardwalk, and the Route 50 bridge is a popular spot for flounder from shore. West Ocean City Harbor has a public boat ramp that puts you minutes from the inlet and the channels. For surf fishing, Assateague Island National Seashore is a great option; check park rules and permits for oversand vehicles. Assateague State Park and Northside Park are also public options. Fish concentrate at the inlet and in the channels.
Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
When flounder fishing in the inlet, try to fish the slack tides. The current is less intense, and the fish are more likely to feed. Slower water also lets your bait stay on the bottom with less weight, which keeps the presentation natural and makes strikes easier to feel.
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