Ocean City Party Boat Fishing

Many anglers love fishing on party boats. They do it for the adventure, the comradery and the sheer convenience. There’s something about fishing with a group of strangers who become your best friends by the end of the trip.

I have to admit, I’m one of the crowd. I have been fishing on party boats since I was a kid, and I hope I never loose my passion for hugging the rails.

For many anglers, party boats, which are also called head boats, are an inexpensive and uncomplicated way to get into bay and ocean fishing action. Generations of anglers, like myself, have grown up on head boats, learning to fish from the old timers who seem to be fixtures on many of these boats. Party boats are also a great way for a novice or family to get exposed to the challenges of big water fishing.

Ocean City Offers Many Party Boat Opportunities

For those anglers seeking to enjoy the adventure of headboat fishing, a number of boats are located in Ocean City. Charter boats in Ocean City will also occasionally act as pseudo head boats and promote make-up or mixed charter trips to help small groups of anglers cut costs. They will mix and match individuals for a day on the water. It seems this happens more often than not during the peak of the offshore tuna run. To find out about getting in on charter make-up parties, first check with the local marina.

What Fish Do Ocean City Party Boats Catch?

Party boats, because of the nature of their business, usually target seasonal migrations of several types of schooling fish. This strategy basically means more fish for a larger group of anglers. Thus, popular species will include sea bass, tautog, bluefish, flounder, croaker, mackerel, and even tuna, when conditions are right.

In most cases, Ocean City head boat action traditionally kicks off in the early spring, coinciding with the annual Boston mackerel run. These fish have been very sporadic over the last few years, with catches good some days and weak at best on others.

Mackerel are fun to catch and if the run is solid, and an all-day boat can switch off to other species to finish out the day. The “other” species during this early spring season typically means tautog, and the occasional stray ling, pollock or cod.

As inshore waters begin to warm up, sea bass, the primary fish for most of the Ocean City head boats, will make their appearance in large numbers. These good-eating, little fighters will move onto inshore wrecks, sometimes literally covering them.

“There are days when we are catching so many sea bass that they will hit anything dropped down to them. Its not uncommon for us to sometimes catch fish on bare hooks,” says Captain Monty Hawkins of the Ocean City party boat Morning Star. The spring sea bass run usually gives anglers their best shot at citation sized fish.

As spring feeds into summer, head boats will continue to target sea bass and tautog, but also seek out flounder, triggerfish, and bluefish. And with these warm waters, it’s not unusual to also see spadefish, cobia, amberjack, false albacore, and sharks occasionally come over the rails.

In the last few years, the inshore wrecks have produced a plethora of species, reflecting the health and quality of both natural and man made offshore wrecks. Bravo to those who participate and support artificial reef program development.

During late spring and throughout the summer, there is an assortment of small inshore head boats which primarily fish for flounder and croaker in the back bays of Ocean City. They include everything from pontoon-style boats to 60-foot party boats. These boats run half-day and are perfect for anglers constrained for time or families wanting to experiment with fishing. Don’t think these boats are just for novices, as I’ve seen some big flounder come off these boats.

Fall offshore party boat fishing continues to produce sea bass, but croakers, seatrout, and rockfish will also fill the card. It’s also usually the last shot at tautog before winter sets in. There is plenty for Maryland coastal head boat anglers to choose from on almost a year-round basis.

What To Bring On A Party Boat Trip

Party boat fishing is only as complicated as you want it to be. Most boats will supply you with all the tackle you need, such as rods and rigs, for a nominal fee. Most of this gear is good quality stuff. They want you to catch fish, and they need tough tackle to stand up to the punishment of daily use by both amateurs and seasoned veterans alike.

More seasoned anglers, like myself, like to bring their own gear. Depending on what type species we are after, I usually opt for one conventional outfit and one spinning outfit when fishing in the ocean.

My primary conventional rod is usually a 7-foot, medium-heavy combo. I spool this with 30-pound test line, which can easily handle seabass, tautog, rockfish, and triggerfish. It can also take on bluefish or false albacore, should they hit my bait.

My spinning gear is usually a fast taper, medium-heavy 7-foot rod, spooled with 20-pound test line. I use this for jigging sea bass or finesse fishing for tautog. It can also be a blast when hooking up with triggerfish, flounder or bluefish.

Besides fishing tackle, other essential survival gear on a party boat includes

• sun block
• shades
• hat
• food and sandwiches
• camera
• plenty to drink
• a cooler.

Get Out and Try Party Boat Fishing

If you’re ready to catch some fish with a bunch of seasoned and not-so-seasoned anglers, the headboats are calling your name. So get out and get on the Ocean City party boats.