Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
Welcome back to a new year of the Coastal Fisherman. What a year it has been, between Covid shutdowns and new restrictions,lack of supplies, and social distancing..As we start to return to a more normal lifestyle much is still different. At this time most businesses are still operating at a reduced capacity and a distancing mandate. When booking a charter or headboat please bear this in mind.
Sea Bass & Tog
Colder air than this time last year has slowed our start. Sea bass is set to open in two weeks. At this time last year the water was much warmer and several reports of nice size sea bass being caught by tog fisherman were coming in on a regular basis. This year very few sea bass reports are heard. As for tog, several reports have been received that tog are here and biting in big numbers. Mark Steelman on the Savanna Lynn out of Lewes Harbour tells me he has been catching several big tog on recent trips. Mark says when he can find crab that is the best bait. Mark reports that peeler crabs are very hard to find this year. Deep water in the 100-130 ft range is producing the best tog. A reminder as we start this year tog are notorious bait stealers. Pay close attention to small bites on your line because if you wait too long the tog and your bait will be gone. Tog rarely ventures far from the wrecks so paying attention to your line will also reduce wreck hang ups. Tog along the rock walls of the Indian River inlet have been producing some keeper tog, however most are under size. Sand fleas and cut blue crab have been producing the best on a flood tide. Austin Mendes weighed in a 10.21 pounder at Lewes Harbour caught on ocean structure.
Flounder
Flounder in the back bays are beginning to show up. I mentioned earlier the water temp is around 53 degrees. The end of this past week brought our first true warm spell. Temps in the mid to upper 80s have begun to warm our back bays. The deeper channels such as those near the inlet mouth tend to hold the bigger fish,however on warm days fish can be found on the flats and shallows where the sun warms the water. Minnows and squid combos are the best baits for this time of year. Slow moving current produces the best presentations and therefore the best chance for a bite. Other reported areas holding fish are the area near and in Massey ditch, the north side of the channel near the VFW, and the area by the power plant. Lewes canal has produced a few nice flounder with Loghan Slaughter bringing in a nice 20” flounder to Lewes Harbour.
Bluefish & Rockfish
Bluefish are around, although not in the numbers as last year. Cut bait on a short wire leader is the best producer. Areas just outside of the inlet have seen small schools of these fish mostly on high tides. The near shore wrecks are also producing some decent fish although most are small. The bigger blues should be here in a week or two as more baitfish (mullet) make their move into the area. Trolling for bluefish at the Fenwick Shoal is always a good producer. Spoons, jigs, bucktails and stretch 25 plugs trolled slightly faster as compared to speeds for rockfish will take many of these fish. Around 3-5 mph seems to be the perfect speed when targeting bluefish.
Small stripers are around but I haven't heard of many keepers. Catching a 28-35”is not an easy fish to find in the ocean. Several small rockfish are being caught in the surf. Mike Brown caught several of them on surf bullets just north of the inlet. Remember, if using bait inline, circle hooks are required this year.
Drum
Several black drum have come off the beaches. Sandra and Nick Roof of Dover caught a nice drum on Broadkill beach. They were fishing with sand fleas. Robert Willis caught a big drum on clams, also at Broadkill beach.
Clams & Crabs
Due to the colder water, crabbing has been a little slow so far this year. Samantha and I are averaging about 6 keeper crabs per pot compared to last years 10-12 per pot. The key seems to be finding water around 6 ft. and seeing snails in the pots when you pull them up. An occasional oyster cracker fish also signals that crabs are in the area. I have received only one report of clams and that was from the area by Holts Landing. We are receiving reports that they are very deep and lots of effort must be used for a modest return.
As always,Tight lines and fins up!
Captain Martin B.J. Pietryak
