Article by Larry Jock
Anglers are doing their darndest to make the most of this spring fishing season, but Mother Nature is really trying their patience. Dreary, windy conditions have plagued us on most days, but when the conditions are right, anglers are hitting the water in force.
Last week was no exception, but a sunny day on Saturday when the wind died down even allowed offshore anglers to head 100 miles offshore and inshore boats to put a whooping on sea bass.
Capt. Bert Adams at Hook’em & Cook’em Tackle Shop and Hook’em & Cook’em Outfitters said that fishing out of Indian River has been slow with bluefish still the main attraction during the day and some stripers at night. The blues are definitely smaller than we have seen in past weeks, averaging in the 2 to 4 lb. range, with the best bite coming during the incoming tide. Tossing or drifting any cut bait or offering swim shads and metal lures have done the trick.
Stripers have been caught by anglers casting SP?Minnows off the Indian River Jetty. Bert heard of a 48-incher caught on Saturday night but hasn’t been able to confirm it and we haven’t seen any pictures, so it could be a bad rumor.
Flounder fishing in the Inlet has been non-existent with only 1 keeper coming into the shop last week.
Bluefish have also been caught in the back bays, but that bite has dwindled.
Surfcasters are catching a few kingfish on bloodworms and some small bluefish on mullet. The horrible spring run of stripers has continued, but a few smaller fish were caught in the suds off Fenwick Island.
When boats were able to break the inlet, they had a good chance of having a good day of sea bass fishing. Site 11, which had been a good spot over the last few weeks, was less productive last week with anglers having to weed through a lot of short fish to get their keepers. The east side of the Del-Jersey-Land reef, in 130 feet of water was a good spot for knotheads and some fish were caught in the Shipping Channel between “A” and “B” Buoys. Clams have been the best sea bass bait this spring with strips of squid coming in a close second.
Dirty water has hampered flounder pounders in the inlet and back bays, but a few keepers, up to 22-inches, were caught around “B” Buoy over the weekend.
Offshore, the patch of water down in the Norfolk is just too far for Delaware boats. One boat did head out on an overnight trip on Saturday and returned the next day with 2 small bluefins and 6 mahi. They were in 100 fathoms between the Baltimore and Wilmington Canyons where they found a 58 to 64-degree temperature break.
Sharkers found threshers around “A” Buoy and nothing but blue sharks at the Fingers.
At Lewes Harbour Marina, Tommy reported black drum fishing has really picked up with fish weighing between 30 and 50 lbs. being caught off Broadkill Beach and at the Coral Beds by anglers fishing with clams.
The Cape Henlopen Pier has been packed with anglers fishing for bluefish but they have also found some small weakfish and flounder happy to take their offerings.
A few stripers and some kingfish are still being caught in the surf from Fenwick Island up to Herring Point.
Tommy said that the best flounder fishing has been right in front of Lewes Harbour Marina but decent fishing can be found from the Roosevelt Inlet down to the Route 9 Bridge.
Anglers are picking up a few weakfish around the Coral Beds and off Broadkill Beach.
Justin at Fenwick Tackle told me that bluefish continue to make up most of what they have seen, but a few stripers have been brought in by surf fishermen as well. The Ditch has been producing short flounder with most of their customers hitting the Thorofare flats in search of larger fish. Slow trolling cut bait has been the most effective method. Nothing beats flounder belly, but with all the bluefish around, anglers should have plenty of bluefish fillets to offer as well. Those drifting are having the best results with Gulp! Swimming Mullet and minnow combinations.
Justin’s customers have found a few shad and stripers around the Rt. 50 Bridge in addition to some tog around the pilings for those fishing with green crab.
Until next week, keep those lines tight and have fun! That’s what it’s all about.
