And I shouldn't say this, lest a big secret gets out......the best part of boating near OC is going about 20 miles south to Snow Hill, put in at Byrd Park, and have a 25 mile river all to yourself! The Pocomoke River. My beach place is a mile from the Ocean Pines ramp, yet I will only hit the OC bay (that is, the Assawoman Bay) once a season, if that. Did it last week and the clean up afterwards from all the salt, plus the jelly fish and jelly fish remnants touching your skin if you jump in, plus if you go south of the Route 50 Bridge into the Assateague Bay (just don't do it) you will be sucking out seaweed every 50 yards because the weeds are so thick the reverse clean out manuever won't work, reminds me why its only a once or twice a season visit into the Assawoman Bay. In addition, there are too many other boats, many drunk drivers on the weekends, and schools of waverunners cutting in and out of your path. We do hit Seacrets each time we are out, tie up to a ball and they bring a taxi right to you. And this year, the Corps of Engineers built up an island which will be a cool place to check out for an hour or two....If you need a nice ramp, brand new and beautiful with parking, use the White Horse Park ramp which is supposed to be for Ocean Pines residents only, but it is not enforced at all. Take 90 out of OC, right on 589, go about a mile and right on Beauchamp Road to end, Turn right into ramps. Free, clean, parking and nice. It leads into the St. Martin's "river" (really just the bay) which leads into Ocean City.
The Assawoman Bay is choppy often, unless you are out at dawn or dusk. The St. Martins north of the Route 90 bridge is usually very smooth. If running all the way to where the "river" starts/ends, be going on plane or you could run aground. Note that unless you are in the bay channels, the average depth of the water is about 3 feet, which is why I have owned jet boats for 10 years. Here is the article on the new island in the Assawoman Bay you can check out:
http://mdcoastdispatch.com/2015/06/29/american-flag-raised-on-bay-island-met-with-cheers-area-resident-joined-by-others-in-endeavor/
The Assawoman Bay would be a fine place to visit for a week long trip, but when you live down here for the summer, IMO the Pocomoke can't be beat. Deep water, average depth 18 feet and I have observed up to 60, clean, great (and inexpensive) restaurant in Pocomoke City, a couple state parks you can dock up at - one with gas - and you will be the only one on the water most of the time, as the below video will attest.
Here is a 12 minute version of a 50 mile round trip on the Pocomoke River, last run of 2014.
) They are, however, by mo means impassable.