Ocean City, New Jersey remains in the midst of its fall fishing transition as October progresses, with inshore and nearshore opportunities providing solid action for anglers targeting a variety of species. The back bays and surf zones continue to offer productive fishing as cooler temperatures settle in and migratory patterns shift.

Weekly Catches

No verified catches in the last 7 days; the catches below cover the last 15 days.

Kingfish

Kingfish have provided slow and steady action for Ocean City anglers through early to mid-October. The bite has been consistent rather than explosive, with catches reported from both surf zones and nearshore waters. Anglers have found success using Fishbites as a primary bait option, which has proven effective for targeting these fish during the fall transition period.

Spot

Spot have been present in Ocean City waters alongside kingfish during the early October period. Like the kingfish bite, spot fishing has been described as slow and steady rather than red-hot. These fish have been caught on Fishbites in similar locations to kingfish, providing reliable action for anglers working the inshore areas and back bay structures.

Bluefish

Bluefish activity has been documented in the broader southern New Jersey region during mid-October, with Ocean City falling within this active zone. The 56th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament held by the Ocean City Fishing Club saw anglers land 130 fish total, with the majority being bluefish. The tournament produced blues ranging from 13 to 17 inches, indicating a solid population of cocktail-sized fish working the surf zone. The winning team, Merchantville A, caught 23 bluefish to secure first place with 369.25 points, while the runner-up American Anglers White Team landed 14 bluefish.

Sea Bass

Black sea bass season reopened in the region on October 1st, providing excellent opportunities for anglers targeting structure and wrecks. The season opened with a 10-fish bag limit at 12.5 inches through October 31st, then increasing to a 15-fish bag limit starting November 1st. Reports from the broader southern New Jersey area indicate excellent sea bass fishing for those making it to ocean structures during the early to mid-October period, with fish holding on local reefs and wrecks in 50-60+ feet of water.

Pompano

A notable catch during the Ocean City Fishing Club tournament was a 10-inch pompano landed from the surf zone. While not common, pompano remain a possibility in Ocean City waters as surf temperatures hover around 70°F during the fall transition, providing occasional bonus catches for surf anglers working the wash.

Weather & Marine Conditions

Ocean City experienced challenging conditions during the mid-October tournament period, with northeast winds blowing up to 30 miles per hour at times. Despite the strong winds, conditions remained fishable on a mostly outgoing tide. The early October forecast called for northeast winds to 20 knots with seas building to 7 to 9 feet, transitioning to east/southeast winds with seas moderating to 4 to 5 feet. By the following weekend, offshore winds of just 5 to 10 knots from the west brought calmer conditions with inshore wave heights settling to 3 to 4 feet.

Water temperatures in the back bays have cooled faster than ocean waters due to shorter days and cool nights, with bay temps sitting in the low to mid-60s while surf temperatures remain near 70°F. This temperature differential is typical for the fall transition and influences fish movement patterns as species begin their seasonal migrations.

Fishing Conditions & Tips

The fall transition is in full motion throughout Ocean City, with fishing patterns shifting from summer species to fall targets. Anglers working the surf zones should focus on the wash and troughs where kingfish and bluefish are concentrated. The outgoing tide has been particularly productive during recent tournament conditions, allowing baitfish to concentrate and predators to feed actively.

For those targeting sea bass on nearshore structure, calm ocean conditions following periods of rough weather create ideal opportunities. Anglers should look for reefs and wrecks in 50-60+ feet of water, where fish congregate in good numbers. The productive action on structure has been described as drop and reel fishing with steady bites throughout the water column.

Bait selection remains critical, with Fishbites proving highly effective for kingfish and spot in the inshore zones. For surf anglers targeting a mixed bag, having multiple bait options available increases success rates as different species respond to different presentations throughout the day.

Regulations & Notices

Black sea bass regulations for Ocean City anglers include a 10-fish bag limit at 12.5 inches minimum size from October 1st through October 31st. Starting November 1st through December 31st, the bag limit increases to 15 fish while maintaining the same 12.5-inch minimum size requirement. Anglers should ensure all harvested sea bass meet the minimum size requirement and stay within daily bag limits.

The fall fishing season brings increased opportunities but also requires attention to changing regulations as different seasons open and close. Anglers should verify current regulations for all target species before heading out, as bag limits and size requirements can vary throughout the season. Tournament participants and recreational anglers alike must adhere to all state and federal fishing regulations while enjoying Ocean City's productive fall fishery.