Article by Larry Jock
Every season, we have a week where you could write the fishing report on a napkin, and unfortunately last week was one of those weeks.
Big storms rolled through the area beginning on Thursday and lasted right through Sunday. Very heavy winds, lightning and drenching rain. We had it all. It was so bad that the Big Fish Classic down in Ocean City was postponed until September.
We could look at it as a wasted weekend, but we could also hope that the storms turned the water over, which was sorely needed. Although water temperatures were very warm on top, reports came in from folks fishing in the bays, inlets and even on ocean structure that the water temperature on the bottom was unseasonably cold. Perhaps we will see an improvement in fishing once things settle down and water clarity improves.
Up at Rick’s Bait & Tackle, Mike Behney reported that he only had a couple of customers try to fish on Sunday when they headed to the Lewes Canal and pulled out a couple of keeper flounder during a morning trip. Mike said that flounder fishing in the Canal has been improving, but like everywhere on Delmarva, anglers are struggling with massive numbers of throwbacks in order to get their keeper.
The high throwback ratio hasn’t been limited to canal and bay waters. Mike said that his customers have also reported a lot of short flounder being caught at the Old Grounds and on other ocean structure. The bite at the Del/Jersey/Land reefsite, which had been good early in the season has definitely petered out. There have been some keepers caught in the Delaware Bay by anglers fishing at Brown Shoal and around Site 8.
The slot striper season in Delaware goes right through the month of August and anglers are picking up a few in the Lewes Canal around the Railroad Bridge. Unfortunately, the slot season doesn’t not extend down to Massey’s Ditch where Mike said stripers are thick under the lights at night.
Mike reported that the triggerfish bite for his customers was good before the recent blow with fish being hooked on sand fleas and clams at the Ice Breakers, Cape Henlopen Pier, around the pier at Massey’s and even down along the rocks at the Indian River Inlet.
A few anglers coming into Rick’s Bait & Tackle reported catching some red drum at the Indian River Inlet by the Coast Guard Station and along the North Jetty while livelining sand fleas and live spot. One angler had to throw back a 36-incher that was over the slot limit.
Not much going on with black drum right now, but Mike said that action typically heats up in mid-to-late August around the Massey’s Landing Fishing Pier for anglers using sand fleas for bait.
In the surf, the kingfish bite is pretty good right now for anglers fishing during the day with bloodworms and clams. At night, sharks and rays continue to dominate the action. Remember though, in Delaware it is illegal to remove the shark from the water prior to releasing it. Fines have been levied on anglers who weren’t aware of the rule, and the fines can be hefty, so make sure you know the rules and reg’s before hitting the beach.
Before the storms, offshore anglers fishing out of Delaware were still finding good size yellowfins while chunking at the Hot Dog and near Massey’s Canyon. They continue to be a nice class of fish, with fish weighing between 45 and 55 lbs. not too uncommon. Unfortunately, they have become very leader shy and anglers have had to go down to 30 lb. leader to get their hook-ups which has led to a lot of fish being broken off.
At Hook’em & Cook’em Tackle Shop, Capt. Bert Adams reported slow fishing, even before the storms rolled through. Some flounder and red drum are being caught off the Indian River Jetty, but Bert said it isn’t anything to get excited about. A few short tautog in the 14-inch range were caught by the Coast Guard Station.
Headboats out of Indian River continue to peck away at sea bass and flounder on ocean structure, but like everyone else, Bert hopes that the storms will turn the water over and reinvigorate the bite. As this report was being written on Monday morning, it looks like Bert’s hopes may be realized. Capt. Christopher Adams on the headboat, “Judy V” called in to report that they already had 7 keeper flounder and a half-dozen sea bass in the box while fishing in calm seas on ocean structure.
In the surf around the Indian River Inlet, anglers have been catching kingfish, sharks, skates and rays.
Matt Shoup at Fenwick Bait & Tackle reported that most of his customers are heading down to Ocean City for flounder fishing in the East Channel, but are dealing with an ungodly number of throwbacks. Anglers are having luck around the Rt. 90 Bridge where they are catching some red drum on sand fleas and croakers on Sabiki rigs tipped with bloodworms, Fishbite bloodworms or cut squid.
There isn’t much to report coming from the Fenwick Ditch. Matt didn’t hear of any flounder being pulled from the area and just a few short stripers.
Upcoming Tournament
The next big tournament in Delaware is the Paradise Grill Flounder Pounder Open on August 18, 19 and 20. Anglers can fish 2 of 3 days with lines in the water at 7:00 AM and out by 5:00 PM. Anglers can fish in both Delaware and federal waters and leave from Ocean City to Cape May.
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 started on August 1st and is $100 per angler if you register before August 7th. Registering from August 8th to 13th will cost $125.
The tournament will donate $50 per boat to the Beebe Tunnel Cancer Center.
Until next week, tight lines!
