Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
This past week in Delaware we finally saw a slowing to the winds and many anglers went out to fish the ocean. Sea bass remains spotty with an average of 6-10 keepers per person, per trip. Flounder has really come alive in the ocean, although a lot of small fish are still on the wrecks. The surf is holding some nice sized blues with a few rockfish and drum in the surf.
Sea Bass, Flounder & Near Shore Wrecks
Sea bass has started to pick up from past weeks, with lots of fish both on the reefs as well as the coral grounds. Many of these fish are undersized and must be returned. The average angler is coming home with around 10 keepers for a full day. Mark McCormick of Bethany Beach, DE took a headboat trip out with his sons and returned to the docks with about 30 nice sized keepers to have for dinner. Mark said several flounder were also hooked, but most were just short of the 16 inch minimum size limit.
Thomas Vogel made a trip out in the afternoon, and after wading through a lot of small fish, did manage a limit of flounder as well as a few sea bass off the coral grounds near B Buoy. Thomas said the ocean was flat calm and they fished until dark. Ted Proseus was out at the reefs and used jigs to pull up tons of sea bass as well as a few keeper flounder. Short dropper loops with a jig suspended about 3 inches above the weight did the trick for both the bass and fluke. “Bottom Bouncer Charters” was also out at the reef and used jigs with their clients to bring home a variety of fish. Several nice sea bass were taken with the jigs. “Jay Sea 2 Sportfishing” had to work a little harder than usual but the crew brought home a box full of the tasty black fish. They will be finishing out their sea bass and flounder trips soon and changing over to tuna for the rest of the summer. “Get The Gaff Charters” also had a couple of good days on the Bass Grounds. They had to weed though a lot of short fish but managed a nice full cooler to bring home to Lewes Harbour Marina.
“Bad Wind Charters” returned to the docks after enjoying the calmer seas with a boat load of sea bass for their anglers. They said they will be searching for more of the flat fish as the season continues.
The “Angler” had several good trips this past week with their clients pulling in the best size fish they have seen all of this early season. A few flounder also found their way onto the boat, however, the amount of flatties haven't reached the true summer time normal numbers. Hook’Em and Cook’em Bait & Tackle reports that “Horizon Charters” came in with a boat load limit of flounder. They had 16 flatties, one sea bass, and one bluefish. Tim Yerkes had the big fish at 23.5 inches and 4.9 pounds. Great job guys.
“Surface Tension Charters” returned to the docks in Lewes with a load of sea bass. Ethan, April, Scott and Brittany pulled in a full cooler of fish. That's a lot of tasty meals.
Ryan West was out slaying fish again this week and returned home with a limit of sea bass. Ryan also got a big spadefish as a reward for his hard work.
Back Bays & Lewes Canal
The back bays remain consistent with quality fish brought back to the docks. The hot spots are Lewes Canal approaching the high tide and the Indian River Inlet area. Tim Goodman was fishing the inlet around a slack tide and managed a 19 ¾ inch fluke weighing in at 2.86 lbs. while his mother got a 17.5 inch, 1.91 lb. fish. Both fish were caught on the top hook teaser with a minnow.
“Flip N Fins” hooked a flounder and a few bluefish near the inlet last week. Anthony Puglisi was out and got himself two nice fluke in the back bays.
Tom Passwater and crew managed an impressive 6 pack of keepers in the Lewes Canal. This year the canal has been very productive.
Buddy Brewer of Dagsboro caught himself a fat 25 inch, 5.6 pounder near the inlet. Minnow and squid strip combos are accounting for many of the keeper fish in the bays.
Jake Wilkins was fishing the Lewes Canal and was surprised when he landed a trophy 26 inch, 8 pound 10 ounce flattie. Great job on a spectacular fish!
Leon Zimmerman and friends headed out and got their limit of big fluke. Strips of squid and big bucktails were the ticket in getting these fish to bite. Brady Mills got his first keeper of the year using LHM squid, shiner and a bucktail. The fish measured 18 inches. All the more reason to take a kid fishing... they always seem to catch the biggest ones.
Ralph had bragging rights when he caught a nice 26.5 inch, 6.5 lb. fish while fishing near Steamboat Landing in the bay.
Aidan Hudson used the famous Nik Rigs and got two nice keepers from the canal. The Nik Rigs are a hot ticket item this year and Lewes Harbour Marina is having trouble keeping them on the shelves, they are selling so quickly. Larry Coverdale picked up a few of the rigs and landed 3 keepers up to 3.96 pounds. He used white Gulp on the Nik Rigs to fool his fish.
Buddy Brewer of Dagsboro got his personal best fluke of 5.6 pounds and 25 inches long. He kept his limit and threw back many more.
Surf Fishing
Rockfish are still around but hard to find as water warms. Joe Corbino snagged a nice just under sized striper near the inlet. The fish was safely returned to swim another day.
Lee Ireland caught a nice drum while fishing for spot on the beach. The drum should begin to move north as the water warms . You may have another week left to try to snag one of these ugly but tasty fish.
George Frigm was at Fenwick State Park and pulled in a few bluefish. He was fishing a whole bluefish rig about halfway to high tide.
Steve Sawczenko finishes off our report with 9 dogfish caught at Slaughter Beach.
Until next week...
Tight Lines and Fins up
