Ocean City Uses Emergency Ordinance To Ban Chumming From The Beach

Today the town of Ocean City passed an emergency ordinance to stop anglers from chumming for or luring sharks to the beach.  There is also concern about kayaking out baits.  The possibility of not allowing sharks to be removed from the water also came up according to one article by the Dispatch.  This is in response to people complaining about sharks being caught on the northern end (above 120th street) of Ocean City.  People are also sitting on the sharks and taking pictures with them, even taking groups of people to pose with the shark.  This is scaring the tourists and that has motivated the town to call for an emergency ordinance to stop people from “luring” in sharks.  There is a concern that luring sharks to the beaches will mean the shark they saw caught will still be there the next day.  Yeah I know, sharks live in the ocean, you don’t have to say it we are all thinking it.

The Mayor and Council on Monday night passed an ordinance banning shark fishing from the beach, by any means other than traditional rod and reel.  This means you cannot kayak out baits, you have to cast your line.  This si to counter the need to kayak out a large fish carcass or tuna head, which you obviously can’t cast.

Fish On!!

Rich King