Article by Rick Willman
Hi folks. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend! I’m not sure where the summer went, but I think the calendar guy should certainly receive a speeding ticket.
The fishing slowed this past week, but I’m sure that was due to the weather. The wind just did not want to quit. Days that were fishable continued to produce flounder and croaker in the back bays. Stripers and bluefish have been caught in the Indian River Inlet and the size of the stripers seems to be on the upswing. Bluefish are being landed mostly on the incoming tide. Massey’s Ditch is giving up some flounder, croaker and spot. Folks soaking a sand flea from the wooden pier are catching some tog. Remember that the Delaware tog season is currently closed!
Bottom bouncing in the ocean is providing croaker and flounder activity along with an improvement on sea bass.
Tuna fishing continues to be almost non-existent. There are still dolphin catches and the white marlin bite continues to be very good in the canyons.
From Bill’s Sport Shop on RT #1 in Lewes we find fishing action also hindered by the weather and not a whole lot to report. Here is some of the action that did take place. Matt Langdon went fishing with Dave Abraham and Dave Reinhart to the Spencer Canyon and released two whites and boated 2 gaffer dolphin. The anglers at Massey's Landing have been hooking up with blues, small stripers and a few keeper flounder. Diana Molino was fishing on one of the headboats out of Lewes and boated a sweet 10 1/2 lb. flounder using squid at the Old Grounds. Captain Charlie Helmer, of "Tranquila Sport Fishing" reported a successful trip to the Baltimore Canyon. Charlie's charter went 3 for 4 on white marlin. Charlie said, "Find the bait and you will find the fish".
At Rattle & Reel Sporting Center, Ron also said action has slowed a bit due to the weather. Flounder and croaker are still in the Indian River and Rehoboth Bays and the sea bass action has gotten better around “DB” Buoy with the arrival of larger fish.
Bert from Hook’em & Cook’em Bait and Tackle reported an 80.4 lb. wahoo caught by John Galyen aboard the “Dream Catcher” while trolling the 40 line of Baltimore Canyon. Bert also reports that Reef Site #10 is giving up some nice flounder and the sea bass action is getting better. Folks fishing on the headboat “Judy V.” are connecting with some nice flounder and sea bass catches. Bert tells us that bluefish were plentiful from the suds and should pick up again when the surf settles down. In the Indian River Inlet, Pete Hesson used a Berkley GULP! crab to trick a 12.5-pound sheepshead. Striper action has been good with plenty of short stripers being caught and more good-sized stripers continuing to show up.
Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said relentless northeast wind hampered fishermen all week, but a fair number of boats made it out over the weekend. Flounder were caught at the mouth of the Delaware Bay at Overfalls and Middle Shoals Saturday, but the closure of New Jersey’s fluke season caused crews to try other locations on Sunday. A few flatties came from Reef Site #7 at Brown Shoal and Site #10 in the ocean. Open bottom southwest of “DB” Buoy gave up some quality fluke also. Croakers were scattered after all the wind, and schools of big hardheads that normally gather between Hen and Chicken Shoal and around #4 Buoy this time of year have yet to materialize. Snapper bluefish were prevalent, and boaters found them under birds outside the Outer Breakwater and off Cape Henlopen Point. The feeding blues could be taken by casting small bucktails and metals. Snappers were also caught in the Cape Henlopen surf with cut mullet. Spanish Mackerel were mixed with blues outside the mouth of the Bay and just off the coast. They’ll grab small spoons or flashy metal jigs.
The Lewes Canal and Broadkill River held good numbers of spot. Spot were pulled over the rails of the pier in Cape Henlopen State Park as well. Bloodworms and Fishbites were favored baits.
Offshore action improved following continuous wind from the northeast. There were good white marlin bites in 40 to 60 fathoms inshore of the Wilmington and Baltimore Canyons. Dolphin gathered on lobster gear that had been left untouched for several days. Even though fish weren’t always visible just beneath the surface around the balls, it was worth sinking a live bait into the depths below. That technique often resulted in nice mahi that would otherwise have been overlooked. Tuna still have not shown in numbers, but a few were reported by trolling boats. The “Skipjack” pulled in a pair of yellowfins from a temperature break west of the Elephant Trunk Saturday. Fall full moons usually bring swordfish action offshore. The guys aboard the “Grizzly” captured a good sword in the Wilmington Canyon on Saturday night. They were on the way in at the time of this writing, but estimated the fish at between 130 and 150 pounds.
Don’t forget to stop in and sign up for the Rick’s Bait & Tackle / Sea Side Gas and Grill Striper Tournament.
‘Til next week, have fun and be safe!!!
Rick and his wife Deb are owners of Rick’s Bait & Tackle in Long Neck, DE.
