Get hooked and make fishing a family affair to remember in Ocean City, Maryland, the “White Marlin Capital of the World.”

Ocean City is truly world-famous for its abundance of recreational fishing opportunities. There are hundreds of square miles of water to enjoy, from the sparkling waters of the bays and nearby rivers, to miles and miles of wide-open sea.

The Gulf Stream is a short distance offshore and easily reached by boat to fish for bigeye and yellowfin tuna, mako and dolphin, plus trophy fish such as white marlin, blue marlin and the occasional sailfish. The larger fish feed in and around the canyons of the Gulf Stream and haunt the relics of sunken ships and artificial reefs.

Headboats and chartered craft go out every day as early as 5 a.m. in search of fish. Smaller charter fishing boats take bookings well in advance, so it is important to call and reserve a boat to avoid missing out on some great fishing. Headboats mostly operate on a first-come, first-served basis, but you can call ahead of time to make a reservation to ensure your place.

Great catches have also been pulled from the piers and other fishing areas throughout Ocean City including the Route 50 bridge. Surf fishing off both Assateague and Ocean City beaches yields fine catches of bluefish, sea trout, kingfish and more. No license is required to fish in the saltwater bays and inlets in and around Ocean City or in the ocean.

Public fishing piers can be found at the following locations: Inlet Park in downtown Ocean City at the Inlet; Third St. Pier, bayside; Ninth St. Pier, bayside and Northside Park, 125th St., bayside.

Public boat ramps provide access to area waters for those who have their own boats. Public boat ramps can be found at Assateague Island Park, Rt. 611 at Assateague Island Bridge; Gum Point Rd off Rt. 589 and the Ocean City Commercial Harbor on Sunset Ave. in West Ocean City. Please note the parking of boat trailers is prohibited in the Little Salisbury area of Ocean City (87th St., Bering Rd.), and boat trailers are not permitted to be parked on public streets or in municipal parking lots. Please check with your hotel/motel or condo regarding boat trailer parking prior to bringing your boat to Ocean City. Most marinas have space available to park trailers and boats for a fee. Boat rentals also are available at local marinas.

Several fishing tournaments are held throughout the season and everyone is invited to sign up for the competition and cash prizes.