It’s a fishing day

Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until tomorrow 3 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 59°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for striped bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 1003 am
  2. 100
  3. 100
  4. 1006 am
  5. 100
  6. 100
  7. 1009 am
  8. 100
  9. 100
  10. 10012 pm
  11. 100
  12. 100
  13. 1003 pm
  14. 100
  15. 100
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 100
  18. 100
  19. 1009 pm
  20. 100
  21. 100
  22. 100Tue
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 1003 am
  26. 100
  27. 100
  28. 1006 am
  29. 100
  30. 100
  31. 1009 am
  32. 100
  33. 100
  34. 10012 pm
  35. 100
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
59°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
3 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:20 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
48°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Maryland tidal regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

100GoNow until tomorrow 3 pm

Water

59°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays and their tributaries (Ocean City / Assateague): 28–31" slot, 1 fish/day, year-round — the ASMFC coastwide reg. Distinct from the Chesapeake Bay 19–24" reg.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on striped bass

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

78Worth the tripToday 4 am to tomorrow 8 am

Water

59°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside summer flounder's active range. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: May–Sep. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

69MarginalToday 4 am to tomorrow 8 am

Water

59°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 8" minimum; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on a for-hire boat (up from 3 and 5 in 2025). Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: May–Oct. More on bluefish

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

69MarginalToday 4 am to tomorrow 8 am

Water

59°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Red drum prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: Jun–Nov. More on red drum

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

57MarginalToday, 12 pm–3 pm

Water

59°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 14" minimum, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: May–Oct. More on spotted seatrout

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

59°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Sheepshead is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 12" minimum, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland tidal

Season here: May–Oct. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

The water

  • Water temperature59°F
  • Barometer30.39 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:20 am
  • Sunset today6:08 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Maryland DNR, Oct 14

Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays. The Ocean City area had to shake off another rainy and windy weekend, that is three in a row. The weather turned around yesterday, and sunny and warm temperatures are instore for the rest of the week. Surf anglers may see the tail end of the red drum catch and release fishery this week. Inside the inlet anglers are catching striped bass and a few bluefish by casting soft plastic jigs. There are still some sheepshead to be found near the jetties, bridge and dock piers. Tautog are also in the mix and pieces of green crab or live sand fleas are good baits for the sheepshead and tautog. The back bay waters are once again churned up, and water clarity is a real issue for flounder fishing.

Quoted from the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report. Reports are what anglers and biologists saw that week, not a forecast.

Licenses and rules: MD DNR · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Ocean City Inlet at the north end of Assateague Island has a public fishing pier on the north jetty (Inlet Park) plus bank fishing along the inlet. Flounder in the inlet channel, stripers at the jetty tip, and sheepshead on the structure are the specialties. Access the south side via Assateague.

Inlet Park has a small fee for the pier. Parking fills on weekends in summer. Flounder gigging is popular at night in the inlet. Sheepshead are structure-specific — fish the jetty rocks with fiddler crabs.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Assawoman State Wildlife Area4 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Assateague State Park6 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing9 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Assateague Island National Seashore9 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Fenwick Island State Park10 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Public Landing Beach17 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty you need a Maryland Chesapeake Bay & Coastal Sport License issued by MD DNR. Anglers may instead qualify for the free Maryland Saltwater Angler Registration in some circumstances (e.g., guest on a boat carrying a Bay & Coastal Sport Boat Decal, or holder of a Virginia saltwater license). See the agency's current rules: https://dnr.maryland.gov/pages/service_fishing_license.aspx

What fish are commonly targeted at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty?

Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Summer Flounder, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty have?

Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Inlet Park has a small fee for the pier. Parking fills on weekends in summer. Flounder gigging is popular at night in the inlet. Sheepshead are structure-specific — fish the jetty rocks with fiddler crabs.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty?

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tidal regulations apply at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty tidal water?

Yes. Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.

Is there parking or an entry fee at Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty?

Inlet Park has a small fee for the pier. Parking fills on weekends in summer. Flounder gigging is popular at night in the inlet. Sheepshead are structure-specific — fish the jetty rocks with fiddler crabs.