Article by Larry Jock
Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said the first thresher of the season in Delaware hit their dock on Saturday. Pete Truitt tackled the 307 pounder at Reef Site 11 aboard the “Lil’ Angler II”. Other sharkers told of threshers, makos and blue sharks at the Fingers, and on traditional 20-fathom structure such as the Hambone and Sausages.
Tuna were also news at the marina last week. Warm water that pushed into the Wilmington was moving south along the edge and offshore boaters encountered yellowfins and dolphin in 90 to 100 fathoms between the Baltimore and Poor Man’s Canyons. Shawn Gallagher and his crew on the “Free Spool” trolled rainbow spreader bars and skirted ballyhoos through 66 to 68-degree water on Baltimore’s Natural Hundred for five Yellowfins weighing up to 36 lbs.
A little closer to the beach, bottom fishermen picked at sea bass on Site 11. There have been decent numbers of short bass, but keepers were not plentiful. Guys who put their time in did manage some decent catches. On Thursday, Captain Brent’s group on the “Katydid” kept 101 bass, plus some ling and Pollock. Saturday’s patrons aboard the “Katydid” had 82 sea bass and a pair of cod.
Delaware Bay black drum action was in full swing. Early in the week, a hot bite developed in Bayshore Channel off Cape May. On Monday night, Jim Wiedman battled 15 boomers himself aboard the “Grizzly” there. Jim kept three for the smoke house, and released the others. Captain Brent did some drumming north of 8 Buoy on Monday evening, and his gang aboard the “Katydid” landed 16 big drum. One was kept for table fare, and the other 15 were set free. Karen Grosser got a 67.2 pound drum on Thursday evening while fishing on the “Martha Marie” and Samuel Hastings had a 64.5 pounder on the “Fish Whisperer”. Because of heavy traffic on the Jersey side Saturday evening, drum were more active on the Delaware portion of the Bay. Captain Ted’s crew on the “Indian” drummed up seven boomers Saturday night, including Mark Butler’s 62.4 pounder. Dan Okoniewski decked a 52.4 pound citation drum in Broadkill Slough. Drum should stick around through the June full moon.
Joe reminds anglers interested in clams to reserve baits early in the week.
Croakers made an appearance in the Delaware Bay last week. Bottom bouncers in the Broadkill Slough hooked hardheads, and fish were also caught at the Roosevelt Inlet.
Surfcasters found bluefish at Cape Henlopen. Jason Vavala and Crissy Finch beached four choppers weighing up to 9 lbs. at Herring Point on Sunday morning. Jeromy Poore pulled in a 14 lb. citation blue near the Pier on Sunday.
Short stripers were caught in the wash at Herring Point at first light and at dusk with clams. Wading casters on the flats next to the fishing pier hooked bluefish, croakers, flounder and small rockfish on spinning and fly tackle. One fly fisherman released a red drum on Tuesday evening.
Flukers in the Lewes Canal captured a few more fish than in previous weeks. The most notable was an 8 lb. doormat that Lee Shahan scored right in front of Lewes Harbour Marina. Donnie and Greg Nauman teamed up on Sunday to take 6 fine keeper flatties while working the Henlopen flats with minnows and Gulp!
At the Hook’em & Cook’em Tackle Shop in the Indian River Marina, Capt. Bert Adams reported bluefish, bluefish and more bluefish in the Indian River Inlet. Fish weighed at Hook’em & Cook’em weighed up to 14 lbs. with the best bite coming at the end of the incoming tide and the beginning of the outgoing. A big 17 lb. 3 oz. chopper was caught by Mike Smith of Middletown, DE while fishing with bucktails in the Inlet. Mike weighed his fish at Rick’s Bait & Tackle in Long Neck, DE.
Anglers have been able to find a few striped bass under the bluefish during the day, but most of the action is at night. Flounder fishing is very slow in the Inlet and only a few are being caught in the back bay.
In the surf, bluefish are being caught by surfcasters soaking bunker, primarily from the beach at 3R’s Road. Surf fishermen also caught a few kingfish and blowfish, but the action on those 2 species came to a halt once the big bluefish arrived on the scene.
Inshore, anglers out of Indian River have been catching sea bass at Site 11. On Sunday, the headboat, “Judy V” returned with sea bass and flounder in the box, but the afternoon got a little breezy to fish inshore.
Offshore, it was a tremendous weekend with plenty of yellowfins caught in the Baltimore and Poor Man’s Canyons, and points in between. Most of the action took place in 70 to 100 fathoms.
The 1st bigeye tuna in Delaware came in on the “Knock On Wood”. The 115 pounder was caught in the Baltimore Canyon.
A few boats ventured out on overnight trips and returned with yellowfins and makos from the Baltimore Canyon. The makos aren’t very big with the heaviest one weighing 109 lbs. A total of 6 makos came in over the weekend along with an average of 4-5 yellowfins per boat.
Until next week, tight lines!
