Article by Larry Jock
It was a pretty weekend. Winds died down in the morning, but definitely picked up in the afternoon.
This time of year is when anglers like to target big sharks, particularly threshers and makos. The Mako Mania Shark Tournament was last weekend and I know quite a few Delaware boats entered this year. Threshers were found in 20 to 30 fathoms with the winning 583 pounder coming in from the Fingers and the 2nd place fish was caught inshore of the Rockpile. There were also some caught in Massey’s Canyon. Makos were caught in 30 fathoms around the Hot Dog, Sausages, Tea Cup and down inshore of the Washington Canyon. The area around the Hot Dog was definitely the best location for makos last weekend. Water temperatures were in the very low 60’s.
At Lewes Harbour Marina, Tommy reported that the flounder bite is improving in the Lewes Canal, both in the number of fish being caught and in average size. Minnows have been the bait of choice, but anglers are also having good luck with Gulp! artificial baits, specifically the Swimming Mullet. Smaller striped bass are also being hooked in the Canal, with the average size being around 28 to 29-inches.
Like elsewhere up and down the Delmarva coast, the bluefish bite is definitely slowing down and we really aren’t seeing the number of big choppers that we saw for quite a while last month. Mostly what we are seeing are fish in the 5 lb. range but they are still going after practically anything thrown their way. They love the swim shads, and those lures are deadly, but it can be an expensive outing if you decide to go with the rubber. Sticking to metal lures or topwater plugs will still produce good numbers of fish and keep your expenses down.
Those looking for black drum are hitting their prime time with big fish over 70 lbs. being pulled from the area around the Coral Beds and on the “dark side” closer to Jersey. Clams, both chowder and surf, have been the bait of choice for big drum.
In the surf, bluefish have been more scarce but kingfish are being caught along with a couple of stripers. Tommy said that the quality of stripers has improved in the suds.
Not many weakfish have shown up at the cleaning table, a few snipers have been targeting them around the Coast Guard Station.
Outside the inlet, sea bass fishing has been very good. Anglers on the charter boat “Katydid” have put a whooping on knotheads while fishing with clams on ocean structure and natural bottom. Early in the week, Lex Robertson’s 3.2 pounder was part of a boat limit caught on clams. The best spot this spring has been the Del-Jersey-Land reef site. Headboats have reported smaller sea bass closer to shore with larger fish in 100 to 120-feet of water.
Down in Fenwick, Rick at Fenwick Tackle said that he didn’t see much this past week, only some stripers caught from the beach in Bethany on Saturday and a few bluefish, also from the surf. Flounder fishermen that come into the store have been targeting the Thorofare flats for their fish with slow trolling belly meat or Gulp! Swimming Mullets providing the best results. There were no reports of fish coming out of the Ditch.
At Hook’em & Cook’em Tackle shop in the Indian River Marina, the big news was the 461 lb. mako shark caught by John Pendell, Jr. during a trip to outside the Elephant Trunk. The 100-inch mako ate a bluefish fillet.
A few boats ventured further offshore in search of marlin, tuna and mahi. Frank Perna on the “Indian Giver” caught an 84 lb. bluefin tuna in 61.7-degree water in the Baltimore Canyon on Saturday. They also released another bluefin similar in size during their trip.
In the Indian River Inlet, a few flounder have been caught including a 6 pounder by Tommy Cline and a 7 lb. 10 oz. flattie by John Billbrough. Tommy hooked his on a jig head tipped with a chartreuse Gulp! bait and John caught his 30-incher on a bucktail. Most of the flounder are coming from the areas around Burton’s Island, the Coast Guard Station and the VFW.
Anglers fishing off the rocks are primarily getting small bluefish and a few short stripers.
The headboat, “Judy V” has been targeting bluefish closer to shore and customers have come back with quite a few in their coolers. Those looking for larger sea bass have had to run further off the beach into 110+ feet of water.
Until next week, keep those lines tight and have some fun! That’s what it’s all about.
