Article by Larry Jock
Windy, rainy weather put a damper on bay fishing last week and it probably will take some time before we see improved water clarity. Offshore, rough seas and big swells from the hurricane far offshore kept most boats at the dock late in the week.
Capt. Bert Adams at Hook’em & Cook’em reported short flounder being caught in the Indian River Inlet. However, anglers did see some action with plenty of weakfish hooked on Gulp! artificial baits. There were also some croaker caught on the south side of the Inlet by anglers fishing from boats and from shore. Fishbite clam-flavored strips worked the best, but chartreuse Gulp! also fooled some hardheads. Small red drum were also caught, but no black drum were seen all week. Bluefish were snapping in the Inlet during the incoming tide and out on the Jetty when the tide was running out. A few striped bass were caught during the early morning hours on live spot.
Anglers fishing on half day trips aboard the head boat, “Judy V.” caught a lot of croaker while fishing with clams around ocean structure.
From the beach, Norfolk spot were absent, but surfcasters got into a good number of kingfish, some bluefish, skates, rays and sharks.
Further north, Capt. Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said that there’s quite a variety of species in the area this time of year, and anglers are catching a mixed bag in the Delaware Bay. In the middle of last week, the “Katydid” anchored over Reef Site 8 and returned with a boxful of assorted critters. Their cooler contained 70 puffers, a dozen triggerfish, a 4.45 lb. spadefish, croakers, bluefish, spot and sea bass. On Saturday, the “Lil’ Angler II” set-up at the Star Site and had similar results, coming home with a bunch of blowfish, triggerfish, a spadefish, spot, croakers, porgy and pinfish. Small pieces of clam, shrimp or squid, on size 4 and 6 hooks did the trick.
Weakfish also look like they may be headed for a comeback, with a good number of fish seen this year. Anglers are catching them on reef structure, around the Inner and Outer Walls and in the Roosevelt Inlet. Dave Dunlop decked a 4.04 lb. weakfish while fishing from his boat, still in the slip on the Lewes Canal.
Red drum continue to be a surprise with 3 being released at the Roosevelt Inlet. Carl Meyer also caught a 20-inch puppy drum near the Train Bridge.
Stripers were caught in the Lewes Canal, Broadkill River and in Canary Creek by anglers drifting eels or casting Storm shads. Joe said that the mullet run is on and anglers deploying live mullet at the mouth of Canary Creek got the attention of striped bass feeding on abundant baitfish.
Those targeting flounder found a few still hanging around Reef Sites 6 and 7 near Brown Shoal. Flatties were also caught in the ocean on natural structure between “DB” and “DA” Buoys and at Reef Site 11. Anglers looking for sea bass at the Triple Wrecks hooked fluke around the edges in 20 fathoms.
Joe reported hordes of snapper bluefish feeding on silversides, anchovies, bunker and mullet just off Cape Henlopen, working under diving birds on most moving tides.
Offshore, tuna remain elusive, but the billfish bite continues to be good for crews trolling naked and skirted ballyhoo between the south end of the Poor Man’s Canyon and the Washington Canyon, where white marlin, blue marlin and even a few sailfish were released.
Until next week, tight lines!
