Fishing on the Morning Star headboat out of Ocean City Maryland

Type: Ocean
Region: Ocean
Location: Ocean City

I just got back from a fishing trip on the Morning Star headboat out of Ocean City Maryland captained by Monty Hawkins. After waiting an entire week for the winds to die down I called the reservation phone number and took the last spot available on Sunday. Overall seabass fishing was good though there is still a lot of culling of fish in order to reach the 12&1/2 inch minimum size. There were a lot of double headers but most of those had to go back. At the end of the day the dogfish made their appearance and the captain said "lets get out of here and try a new spot." I will say the mates were helpful in getting rid of this pests from our lines. They can be dangerous with a poisonous spur on their back which they use for defense. Most people wound up with around 12 fish. Some people came close to the limit or limited. No real big fish this trip though all the keepers were nice and fat. By day's end I had 14 fat seabass out of over 70 that I caught. There were two fisheries service people on the boat recording all the catches made, anglers names and fish thrown back. A lot of the seabass being released where picked off by seagulls and probably the dogfish as well. Upon returning to the dock I started to clean my fish and a party of anglers came to the other cleaning station next to me with a catch of 6 stripers they caught on a private boat. One of the fish was 40 inches long. It made my seabass seem insignificant in comparison. I talked to one the anglers and he said they caught the fish by trolling Mojos just offshore of the Pyramid building in north Ocean City. I hope these stripers will make their appearance at the inlet or the surf. Until then tight lines.