Vol 37 | Num 17 | Aug 22, 2012
Article by Larry Jock
Well, we are in our typical mid-to-late August mode with days of frustration mixed in with days of jubilation. That’s just the way it is this time of year. It’s hard to predict what you will come back with.
Flounder
According to Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina, flounder fishing continued to be good surrounding the new moon. Reef sites, 9, 10, 11 and the Old Grounds were very productive last week. Ocean structure, in particular, has produced some impressive catches. Matt Baker’s 9 lb. 15 oz. trophy doormat came off Site 10 while drifting live spot.
Delaware Bay reefs yielded some nice catches also. Sites 5, 6, 7 and 8 gave up fish during different parts of the tide. The influence from hard running currents after the moon was more noticeable in the bay than in the ocean. Some days it was necessary for skippers to use their engines to slow their drift and stay in the strike zone. Anchoring also proved a viable option when wind and current ran in the same direction. Three ounce bucktail jigs or short-leadered bottom rigs tipped with squid strips, cut croaker or bluefish, shiners, smelts or Gulp! artificial baits were favored presentations.
The “Katydid” continued their impressive run on Friday, boating their 700th keeper of the season.
The Indian River Inlet is also holding some nice fish right now. Bert at Hook’em & Cook’em reported a few flounder being caught during the week on live spot or Gulp!, but on Sunday they saw a couple of 8 pounders and a 9 pounder caught.
The month-long Pier Point Marina Flounder Tournament came to a close with Tom Wise from Lewes, DE coming out on top with a 5 lb. 4 oz. flattie caught at the Outer Wall. Marc Larsen from Milton, DE came in second with a 3 lb. 11 oz. flounder and Don McKinney ended up in third place with a 2 lb. 15 oz. fish caught at Site 10.
Sea Bass
Boats hitting ocean wrecks and reefs have been able to catch some sea bass, but most anglers fishing ocean structure are too consumed with catching flatties, so we haven’t seen too many sea bass hitting the dock. Baiting up top and bottom rigs with clams will certainly give you your best shot.
Striped Bass
According to Bert at Hook’em & Cook’em, the stripers being caught in the Indian River Inlet are getting larger, but are still mainly in the 27-inch range.
Don’t forget that Delaware’s slot striper season ends on August 31st. Up until then, anglers can only keep fish measuring between 20 and 26-inches caught in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and their tributaries.
Bluefish
Small bluefish are dominating the action in the Indian River Inlet for anglers casting any type of metal lure available.
Larger bluefish are being caught by boats trolling around Fenwick Shoal and even further south at Isle of Wight Shoal.
In the Delaware Bay, snapper bluefish are taking advantage of an abundance of baitfish and have been seen slashing through schools of silversides, anchovies and menhaden according to Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina.
Sharks
Joe also reported numerous sharks being seen roaming the lower Bay. Big brown sharks and sand tigers seem to be more prevalent than in recent seasons. Capt. Pete on the “Top Fin” was doing some catch and release sharking outside the Outer Wall on Wednesday when he hooked a 5-foot long brown shark. During the battle, the shark suddenly felt a lot heavier and stronger, then went limp. Pete reeled in what turned out to be the front half of the shark that had been bitten in two by a considerably bigger toothy critter.
Croaker
Bert said there are a load of croakers in the Indian River Inlet right now, although most are very small, in the 8 to 10-inch range. Catching them on Fishbite clam strips is no problem.
Anglers have also been catching croakers at the Roosevelt Inlet and in the surf between Herring Point and Cape Henlopen where they have been mixed in with spot, kingfish, small trout and snapper bluefish. Sabiki rigs baited with bits of Fishbites or bloodworms fished right in the wash did the trick on these panfish.
In the Surf
Bluefish, kingfish, spot and croakers have kept surfcasters busy during daytime fishing and rays, skates and 3 to 5-foot sharks are being caught at night by anglers rigging up with cut bait.
Offshore
Unfortunately, the tuna bite continues to be very sporadic and scattered. Some yellowfins were caught deep outside the Poor Man’s Canyon by anglers trolling for billfish. Wahoo have been hooked further inside, in 30 to 50 fathoms, and billfish continue to be released in 1,000 to 1,200 fathoms.
Upcoming Tournaments
If you are starting to make plans to fish in some fall tournaments, here are the scheduled dates:
• Lewes Harbour Marina Tautog Tournament - Oct. 1-31
• Lewes Harbour Marina Striper Tournament - Oct. 20 - Nov. 20
• Bill’s Sport Shop Striper Tournament - Oct. 26 to Dec. 7
Until next week, tight lines!