Ocean City, Maryland is primarily a tourist resort, with a population that swells from less than 10,000 winter residents to over 2 million in the summer months. The Ocean City Inlet did not exist until1933, when the Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane tore thru the narrow island, separating Ocean City from Assateague Island. The Army Corps of Engineers stabilized the inlet making the town among the top mid-Atlantic fishing ports. The access to productive fishing grounds brought not only commercial fishing but recreational fishing, mostly boats that fish offshore for tuna, sharks, billfish and bottom fish.

Commercial fishing from Ocean City Maryland consists of a variety of commercial vessels that fish the Atlantic Ocean including surf clam boats, scallop boats, groundfish trawlers, lobster boats, gill net boats, and boats that fish for sea bass using pots, trawls and hand lines. Inshore boats fish for blue crabs, hard clams and gillnet for a variety of inshore fish.

Most commercial boats tie up in the West Ocean City harbor which is only minutes from the inlet. The harbor is home to Martin Fish Company, Ake Marine, dockside bars and restaurants, several mechanical and marine electronics shops and a Tow Boat US facility. Nearby is the local United States Coast Guard operation, several marinas and downtown Ocean City.

Ocean City Maryland General Category Scallop Boats

A Trip into the ETAA

Mid-Atlantic Trawler Photo Gallery

USA Commercial Fishing