Boating & Fishing

Boating Information
Boat Ramps | Personal Watercraft

Fishing Information
Fishing Events | Types Of Fish | Size Limitations | Recommended Lures

Ocean City
Assateague Island, Route 611
West Ocean City, Gum Point Rd, off Route 589
West Ocean City, Sunset Avenue, Ocean City Commercial Harbor
North Ocean City, 87th Street bayside

Worcester County
Pocomoke, Cedar Hall Road
Stockton, George Island Landing Road, Chincoteague
Girdletree, Taylor Landing Road, Chincoteague
Snow Hill, Route 113 South, Shady Landing Park
Snow Hill, Market Street, Sturgis Park Ramp
Newark, Mason Landing Road, Newport Bay
Berlin (South Point), South Point Road, off Route 611, Sinepuxent Bay
Bishopville, Saint Martin’s Neck Road, Assawoman Bay
Cape Isle of Wight, Route 90 Bridge, Assawoman Bay
Berlin, Gum Point Road, off Route 589

Delaware
Milton, East of Union Street, Broadkill River
Millsboro, Route 24 W, Right on Route 328, Ingram Pond
Lewes, Pilottown Road
Millsboro, Route 24, Route 30, Millsboro Pond
Millsboro, Route 24, Rosedale Beach
Bethany Beach, Route 1, Route 26 W, left on County Road 361, right on 363, left on 364, Assawoman Wildlife Area (Sassafras Landing, Strawberry Landing, Mulberry Landing)
Millville, Route 26 W, Holts Landing State Park
Indian River Marina, Route 1, Delaware Seashore State Park
South Bethany, Route 1, Fenwick Island State Park

• You must be at least 16 years old to operate a personal watercraft (PWC)
• A PWC operator must posses a boater safety education certificate if they were born after July 1, 1972
• Everyone aboard a PWC must wear a personal flotation device (PFD)
• You may not operate a PWC between the hours of sunset and sunrise
• Because the operator rides on the outside of the vessel and is subject to falling off, each vessel shall be equipped with a safety cut-off or self-circling device
• When operating a PWC, all safety cut-off devices must be attached to the operator and/or the self- circling device must not be altered.
• On Maryland waters of the Atlantic Ocean, a person may not operate a PWC within 300 feet of people in the water or surf fishermen
• On all waters of the State, a person may not operate a PWC at a speed in excess of 6 knots within 100 feet of any shore, wharf, pier, piling, bridge abutment, or persons in the water.
• You may not operate a PWC at a speed in excess of 6 knots within 100 feet of a vessel except in a crossing or overtaking situation as described in the Federal Rules of the Road
• A PWC may not tow a water skier unless the craft has the capacity to carry 3 persons
• You may not operate a PWC in a negligent manner, i.e. jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of the vessel

• post a copy of these regulations;
• advise all renters to read the regulations; and
• add a clause to the rental contract, which will be signed by the renter, stating that the renter read and understands the regulations.

If you violate any of the above regulations, you may be charged a $500 fine.

Boat trailers may not be parked on public streets or municipal lots, except for 100th Street Municipal Lot. Several local marinas have space to park trailers and boats for a fee. Remember to check with your accommodations’ management concerning their boat trailer parking policy.

Information obtained from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Public fishing piers are located at the Ocean City Inlet Park, Shantytown, 3rd Street Bayside, 9th Street Bayside (lighted pier), and 125th Street Bayside (Northside Park). Other public fishing areas are Inlet, the Oceanic Pier, the Ocean Pier, Route 50 Bridge, 2nd - 4th St. bayside boardwalk, Convention Center, Cape Isle of Wight, anywhere on the beach, Indian River Inlet, and the Fenwick Island Bathhouse.

The Gulf Stream is not far from the Ocean City shore and contains additional types of fish such as yellowfin and bigeye tuna, mako, dolphin, white and blue marlin, and sailfish.

Surf fishing is permitted but you must remain at least 50 yards from beachgoers or swimmers between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm. Surf fishing is also permitted on Assateague anywhere except surf zones and guarded beaches.

• Fish two hours before and two hours after high tide.
• Eastern breezes help bring fish into the surf.
• Often when the surf is too rough, you may have better luck with lures in the inlet or Ocean Pier.
• Fishing bite the most right before weather changes such as storms and fronts.
• Surf fishing is best early in the morning and after dark.
• Never fish with graphite rods while there is lightning.
• Slide your bait back and forth in the water to keep it lifelike.
• Cast on the deep side of the jetties.
• Use a sand spike to prevent your reel from falling into the sand.
• Reels should not be washed in the ocean, instead with fresh water at home.
• Cut squid bait into tapered strips and only hook them once so they dangle nicely.
• Store your bait in a cooler or closed container so the seagulls won’t take it.
• When baiting with bloodworms, hook size should be 6 or 8.
• When you have trouble with crabs stealing your bait, use a single surf floater rig. That will keep your bait closer to the surface and away from the crabs.
• Let the waves help bring "hooked" fish to you. You don’t want them to crank too hard in a retreating wave.
• If you will be fishing on the Route 50 bridge, get a bridge net, bucktails, white plastic worms, spec rigs, redfish rigs, Gotcha plugs, and Rattletraps.

Ocean City offers a variety of tournaments and events for fisherman throughout the season.

Length limitations on what you can catch and keep from Ocean City waters.
*This is only meant to be used as a guide, it is not legal documentation, and may not be current at all times.
For legal information, please contact the Maryland DNR.