Article by Larry Jock
Every summer, we hit a couple of weeks where it seems like fishing really slows down, and we are definitely in that time period right now. Every person you talk to, no matter where they are fishing, is complaining about the same thing.
Capt. Bert Adams at the Hook’em & Cook’em Tackle Shop in the Indian River Marina said that fishing is slow all around Indian River right now. In the Inlet, like down in Ocean City, everyone is complaining about the large number of small flounder. Some have said that they had to catch 40 short flatties before they got their keeper. The 1 or 2 keepers a day that they are seeing in the shop are mainly being caught at the end of the incoming tide by the Campground and near the Coast Guard Station.
Small fish aren’t limited to flounder either. Short striped bass are also being caught along the rocks at night.
There was one night last week where anglers found an influx of bluefish, but the bite didn’t last very long.
In the back bays, Bert said they are hearing about short flounder, in the 14-inch range, in addition to triggerfish being caught along the rocks at Massey’s Landing boat ramp.
In the Delaware surf, Bert said that angles are hooking into small croakers and a lot of sharks. Smaller sharks are being caught during the day and larger ones have been hungry at night. Sand tigers have been absent, but surfcasters are catching sandbars in the 5-foot range and duskies measuring 3 to 5-feet in length.
On the inshore lumps, anglers are still finding small, snapper bluefish along with king mackerel, triggerfish, some black drum, weakfish and flounder. Triggerfish and black drum have been eating sand fleas offered by anglers anchored over inshore wrecks.
Bert said that the ocean flounder bite is definitely improving, but the conditions have to be good. If conditions aren’t favorable, it’s not even worth trying. The Old Grounds continues to be the hot spot for those looking for larger fish. Dropping Spro bucktails tipped with bellies or Gulp have produced the best results.
Offshore anglers have been really disappointed lately with slow bites all around. Bert did say that some yellowfins were caught by a group of anglers chunking in Massey’s Canyon, but other than that not much was brought back to the dock. Anglers looking for marlin are really spread out, searching everywhere from the Spencer Canyon down to the Washington Canyon. The results from the White Marlin Open provides a good snapshot on white marlin fishing right now. Last year, there were 1,300 whites released during the 5-day tournament. This year, there were 390. For blue marlin, the results were pretty similar year-over-year (34 vs 30).
At Rick’s Bait & Tackle, Mike Behney hasn’t been hearing much from anglers drifting in the Lewes Canal. Some are even telling Mike that they are giving up because the flounder bite has been so bad. Like everywhere, anglers are incredibly frustrated with the large number of short flounder.
Out at the Ice Breakers and the Walls, sheepshead and triggerfish continue to be caught by anglers who are using sand fleas for bait.
A lot of small weakfish are in the Delaware Bay right now, especially around Sites 8 and 10, but anglers are finding a lot croakers milling around Site 10 interested in bloodworms.
The flounder bite around Site 10 had picked up quite a bit lately and those using the larger, 5-inch white Gulp artificial baits are finding better results. Action also improved on the south end of the Old Grounds, closer to “A” Buoy with fish coming into Rick’s Bait & Tackle weighing up to 6 lbs.
On the east side of the Shipping Channel, between “A” Buoy and the Lightship, trolling spoons will give you a good shot at catching Spanish mackerel.
Mike said that a few of his customers caught keeper flounder off the pier at Massey’s Landing along with bait size spot mixed in with small croakers. He also heard of triggerfish being caught along the rocks in the Indian River Inlet.
Offshore, Mike reported that anglers looking for tuna are still pecking away at yellowfins while chunking at the 12 Fathom Lump, but they have needed to go down to 30 lb. leaders, resulting in quite a few broken off.
At Fenwick Tackle, Matt Shoup said that The Ditch is producing small stripers in the 20 to 25-inch range along with some short flounder.
Anglers fishing around the Rt. 90 Bridge are still finding some croakers interested in Sabiki rigs tipped with Fishbite bloodworms. A few smaller red drum are also being found around the Isle of Wight Pier.
Matt said surfcasters are hooking into a few kingfish in the suds but most are targeting sharks, skates and rays at night
Upcoming Tournament
This weekend is the Paradise Grill Flounder Pounder Open on August 18th, 19th and 20th. Anglers can fish on 2 of 3 days in both Delaware and Federal waters with lines in the water at 7:00 AM and out by 5:00 PM. They can also leave from any port between Ocean City and Cape May.
It’s definitely turned into a big money tournament with the winner receiving the choice of $100,000 or a new boat. This year, the tournament is adding a 4th and 5th place to the standing with 4th place worth an estimated $10,000 or a new jet ski from Short’s Marine. Fifth place will earn the angler $5,000 or a new jet ski. The winner of the Flounder Pounder Open will win $100,000 or opt to receive a new boat from Short’s Marine.
Registration is now closed and at presstime, I heard that over 300 boats had entered the tournament.
The tournament will donate $50 per boat to the Beebe Tunnel Cancer Center.
Until next week, tight lines!
