Fish of Ocean City & Assateague

Viewing and ID highlights for Mid-Atlantic fish visitors notice from shore, kayak, or boat. Each card opens a Nature Guide page. Angling, harvest rules, and charter fit stay on the separate Fishing hub.

Sharks & rays Nature Guide overview Fishing: bay species Fishing: offshore

How to use this nature fish guide

  1. Pick a card for ID and viewing. Each opens a Nature Guide page with appearance, biology, where/when to look, and etiquette—not tackle or bag limits.
  2. Match the lane. Bay/nearshore species reward Inlet and Assateague walks; offshore pelagics are mostly rail views on bluewater days.
  3. Keep Fishing separate. Need regs or charter fit? Use the secondary “Angling & regulations” link on each nature page, or the Fishing bay directory.

15 featured fish for nature viewing. Need catch notes or tackle? Use the Fishing directories—linked from each nature detail page as a secondary CTA only.

Showing 15 of 15 species

Atlantic Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Mahi Mahi Coryphaena hippurus · pelagic · ★★★★★ Mahi mahi are highly sought for sport fishing and commercial purposes. They are pelagic fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters. Mahi dishes have become Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus · baitfish · ★★★★★ Found in coastal and estuarine waters from Nova Scotia to northern Florida, Atlantic menhaden play many important roles. They are filter feeders, primarily consuming phytoplankton Atlantic Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Striped Bass Morone saxatilis · inshore · ★★★★★ U.S. wild-caught Atlantic striped bass is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Atlantic Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri · pelagic · ★★★★★ U.S. wild-caught Atlantic wahoo is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Yellowfin Tuna Thunnus albacares · pelagic · ★★★★★ U.S. wild-caught Atlantic yellowfin tuna is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) — Ocean City, Maryland Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata · inshore · ★★★★★ The black sea bass fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Florida. Black sea bass are found in association with structured habitats. They migrate offshore and south in the fall Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) — Ocean City, Maryland Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix · inshore · ★★★★★ The Atlantic bluefish fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Florida. Bluefish are highly migratory along the U.S. Atlantic coast and seasonally move. The bluefish fishery pred Scup (Stenotomus chrysops) — Ocean City, Maryland Scup Stenotomus chrysops · fish · ★★★★★ The scup fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Scup undergo an extensive migration between coastal waters in the summer and offshore waters (out Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) — Ocean City, Maryland Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus · inshore · ★★★★★ The summer flounder fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to the North Carolina/South Carolina border. Summer flounder is one of the most sought after commercial and recreational Blueline Tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) — Ocean City, Maryland Blueline Tilefish Caulolatilus microps · fish · ★★★★☆ Tilefish are found Maine to Campeche, Mexico on the outer continental shelves, shelf breaks, and upper slopes. The tilefish fishery in the Greater Atlantic Region of the U.S. is ma Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) — Ocean City, Maryland Cobia Rachycentron canadum · fish · ★★★★☆ U.S. wild-caught cobia is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. North Atlantic Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) — Ocean City, Maryland North Atlantic Swordfish Xiphias gladius · pelagic · ★★★★☆ U.S. wild-caught north Atlantic swordfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Golden Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) — Ocean City, Maryland Golden Tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps · fish · ★★★☆☆ Golden tilefish are found along the outer continental shelf and slope from Nova Scotia, Canada to Suriname. The golden tilefish fishery in the U.S. is managed from Maine through Vi Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) — Ocean City, Maryland Greater Amberjack Seriola dumerili · fish · ★★★☆☆ Although some populations are below target levels, U.S. wild-caught greater amberjack is still a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested un Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) — Ocean City, Maryland Winter Flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus · inshore · ★★★☆☆ U.S. wild-caught winter flounder is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.

Beach Blog on Fish

Trip reads written for this hub—pacing and advice, not a second directory.

All posts about Fish
Bay fish ID for curious kids: names, shapes, and catch-and-learn energy — Beach Blog photo, Ocean City, Maryland

Bay fish ID for curious kids: names, shapes, and catch-and-learn energy

Leo Park Fish

All Nature videos