Ocean City Inlet is a Maryland Atlantic fishery where stone jetties and strong tidal exchange connect the ocean with Isle of Wight and Sinepuxent bay waters. Striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder are principal targets around the inlet, channels, and adjacent beaches.
Active coastal or marine alerts
Gale Warning
Severity: Moderate
Gale Warning issued October 20 at 2:17AM EDT until October 21 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Begins Oct 20, 2026, 2:17 AM · Ends Oct 21, 2026, 7:00 PM
Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.
New Jersey · Wilmington Canyon head east of Cape May / Delaware · Offshore
Approximately 36 miles away
Predicted Tides
Predicted
Falling
Next low tide
Oct 20, 2026, 9:23 AM
In 3 hr 26 min
0.7 ft MLLW
Previous
High · Oct 20, 2026, 3:36 AM · 1.9 ft MLLW
Following
High · Oct 20, 2026, 4:17 PM · 2.3 ft MLLW
Tide station at destination
Ocean City Inlet · NOAA 8570283
Predicted Tidal Current
Predicted
Tidal-current predictions are not available for this destination.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
Ocean City Inlet jetty and pass fishery
A Maryland Atlantic inlet fishery at Ocean City Inlet between Ocean City and Assateague Island. Inlet Park, inlet bulkheads, and the pass concentrate striped bass, summer flounder, bluefish, sheepshead, and tautog.
Fishery type
Jetty inlet pass
Fishing modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
Ocean City Inlet north jetty / Inlet Park shore and bulkheads · Deep Atlantic inlet between Ocean City and Assateague Island · Route 50 Bridge piers and inlet-adjacent docks named in MD DNR reports
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 16, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
MD DNR fishing reports name striped bass, bluefish, sheepshead, and tautog at Ocean City Inlet, and flounder in the connected inlet channels. Listed species are not typical every month. Harvest seasons are not biological calendars. Seasonal notes, where present, describe typical presence.
This reflects typical biological/fishery timing, not a legal open season. Check current regulations before fishing.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Striped bass
PrimaryRegulations vary annually
Morone saxatilis
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING AND FALL
MD DNR fishing reports name striped bass at the Ocean City Inlet and Route 50 Bridge area. Atlantic harvest dates are regulation dates.
Summer flounder
Primary
Paralichthys dentatus
No seasonal pulse known
MD DNR reports flounder fishing in the inlet-connected coastal bays and channels.
Bluefish
Secondary
Pomatomus saltatrix
No seasonal pulse known
MD DNR names bluefish with striped bass at the inlet and Route 50 Bridge area.
Sheepshead
Secondary
Archosargus probatocephalus
No seasonal pulse known
MD DNR reports sheepshead on inlet jetty rocks and bulkheads.
Tautog
SecondaryRegulations vary annually
Tautoga onitis
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING AND FALL
MD DNR reports tautog with sheepshead on inlet jetty structure.
Typical Seasonal Targets
Striped bass — SPRING AND FALL
Tautog — SPRING AND FALL
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Public shore fishing includes Town of Ocean City Inlet Park at South 2nd Street, which posts fishing and crabbing, and the Chicago Avenue bulkhead between 2nd and 4th Streets. NPS Assateague Island National Seashore permanently closes the eastern unimproved half of the north-end jetty to public entry. Town of Ocean City posts public boat ramps, including Ocean City Commercial Harbor on Sunset Avenue in West Ocean City. Confirm current parking, jetty closures, and harbor traffic before you go.
Primary hazards
Strong inlet current, slick jetty rock, and heavy boat traffic are the primary hazards. NPS cites drowning risk on the unimproved Assateague jetty.
Fishery considerations
Tidal current through Ocean City Inlet is the dominant fishing context. Current predictions and a local wave reading are not available here.
Wind against current can steepen the inlet. A local wave reading is not available here.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
