"We want to rent a boat and try a little fishing."

Families come to Ocean City to take in a little sun and fun. Sometimes the
family likes to try something different like fishing or clamming. Renting a
pontoon boat is the most relaxing, fun way to go. There's plenty of room in
the boat for the kids to move around, and you are less likely to get swamped
by bigger boats zooming by you.

"Where can we rent a pontoon boat?"

The following is a list of boat rentals in Ocean City. Most have small
rental boats and pontoon boats available. Always call and reserve a pontoon
boat.

· O.C. Bayside Rentals (Shantytown Rd. West Ocean City)
410-213-2277

· Bahia Marina (22nd St. and the bay) 410-289-7438

· Advanced Marina (66th St. and the bay) 410-723-2124

· Action Marine (pontoon boats only) Rt. 54 & Fenwick Island - 302-537-6500
or 1-888-2-GET-WET.

· Inlet Sea Doo's-- (Philadelphia Ave. & Inlet)
410-289-1488

"When should we go?"

If you plan to go fishing, your best bet is to go two hours before and
after high tide. Fishing is best during this time frame and the bay is
easier to navigate on a higher tide. If you plan to go clamming, low tide
is the best time to go. For crabbing, the higher fishing tide is what you
want.

If you have no rods and reels with you on your vacation, you can still go
fishing. Most marinas and bait and tackle stores rent rods and reels for a
small fee. It is not always possible, but try to pick your weather,
especially if you have small children. If it is too windy (over 20 miles
per hour) the boat ride will be uncomfortable and wet! If it is sweltering
hot (over 90 degrees) try to plan an early morning or late afternoon trip
when it is cooler.

Planning is the key to a successful trip out on the water. Your best bet
is to have everything ready the night before, so you don't wear you and the
family out riding here and there. Reserve the boat, get the rods and reels
rented and rigged up the night before, or have arrangements to pick them up
at the marina when you rent the boat. Buy your bait in advance if possible,
or plan to grab it first thing in the morning at a bait and tackle store you
know will be open on the way to the marina or at the marina itself. Make
sure the bait you want is available!

The following is a list of things you should have with you when renting a
boat:

--Extra rigs (Ready-to-go rigs with an array of bass-cast type sinkers in
the one to three ounce range.)

--Plenty of bait
-squid (one pound per group.)
-worms (for spot and croaker.)
-live minnows (one or two dozen per person.)
-frozen shiners (one pack is usually plenty.)

--Landing net-Large enough to net a good-sized fish - a 36" net is good. A
crab net is not big enough for fish!

--Crabbing equipment-a crab net, crab throw lines, chicken necks and/or
collapsible metal crab traps.

--Measuring tape-so the angler may measure his fish and crabs to know for a
fact if they are legal or not.

--Regulations__ If you are new to fishing in our area, a pamphlet of legal
size limits is a must.

--Sunscreen-At least an SPF factor of 8.

--Bug Repellent-If the wind is from the west or the day is extremely calm, a
bug repellent can become necessary to combat gnats, flies, mosquitoes, or
"no see 'ems."
--ADC Ocean City Recreational Map-for a couple of bucks, one can buy this
chart of the bay that will show the angler the channels, sand bars and water
depths.

--Rag, knife, pliers.

--Food and drinking water.

--Ice or a stringer-to keep your fish fresh

"The flounder season is closed. We were not going to keep any fish anyway.
Can we catch and release flounder?"

Yes you can. Even if the flounder season were open, a large percentage of
flounder caught in the summer are throwback flounder anyway. Release them
carefully. And expect to be checked by the "Marine Police" while out on the
water.

Even though there are lots of small flounder in the bay, your best bet for
mid-summer fishing is croaker fishing. Croaker fight harder and are easier
to catch than flounder. Use top and bottom type rigs with size #4 hooks
baited with shiners and squid, or squid and worm combinations and fish in
water anywhere from 5 to 12 foot in depth. Croaker like rough bottom. If
you feel your sinker hitting mussel beds or clamshells you are in good
croaker territory. Fishing right around the Rt. 90 Bridge will always give a
family in a pontoon boat plenty of action if they don't try to use hooks
that are too big. Remember, size #4 or smaller is best for kids who just
want to have some action! The worm and squid combination is better than the
shiner and squid combination when fishing near the Rt. 90 Bridge.

"Where else can we drift?"

On the west side of the bay, drift the area near the Thorofare (between
buoys #16 through #6) for some very active croaker fishing. On the east side
of the bay, follow the buoy markers #13 through #9 just offshore of the
Convention Hall at 41st Street. Always follow the buoy markers to find the
channels in the bay. Never arbitrarily cross over from the east side of the
bay to the west side of the bay without following buoy markers or you will
find yourself stuck on a sand bar! Even if you fish only once, it is a good
idea to spend that 3.50 for the ADC Ocean City Map which shows you the
channels in the bay.

"I just want the kids to catch anything!"

Again, set them up with a top and bottom type hook with a size #4 or #6
hook. Thread on a quarter inch piece of worm (bloodworms are best), and
then attach a small strip of squid (about a ½ inch long) to the same hook.
The kids should be able to catch croaker, spot, blowfish, sea bass, or
snapper blues. Drifting is the best way to find the fish you are looking
for. Once you find the fish, you can anchor as long as you are not blocking
a channel or other boats around you. Your best bet is this: If everyone
else is drifting, drift too. If several boats in the area are anchored,
then go ahead and anchor if you like.

Renting a pontoon boat can be a fun experience. Just riding in a boat in
the bay is nice for the family. Keep in mind the age and experience of the
children. If you know they will tire easily, rent the boat for half a day,
and try to choose the better tide (high tide) and the best time of day for
the family. Usually morning trips are good for kids, as they sometimes get
tired and cranky by afternoon. Be sure to take a camera, even if it is a
"throw-away" type and capture some of those "first fish" moments. You will
be glad you did later.

When you take the family out in the pontoon boat, know in advance that you
will be spending most of your time baiting up and taking fish off the hook
or untangling lines. If you are an avid fisherman and want to do some
fishing yourself, invite along take along a friend that will help you with
the kids.

Even if something goes wrong (like hitting a sand bar) smile and laugh, and
the family will smile with you.

Good fishing.