Article by Larry Jock
Fishing in Delaware is really a mixed bag right now. Those fishing in the Delaware Bay and points around Lewes are finding better action for tog, flounder and black drum. Anglers fishing farther south continue to experience slower fishing both in the bay and off the beach.
Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said many anglers targeted tautog over the past week, trying to put some away before the end of Delaware’s spring season on Sunday, May 11th. The bite was good, and limit catches were common among the headboats and charter boats, as well as private boaters.
Blackfish came from the rock breakwaters off Lewes, at most of the lower Bay reef sites and ocean beachfront wrecks. Some toggers told of seeing fish splashing on the surface around the Outer Wall in the Delaware Bay, indicative that spawning activity has already started.
Several quality fish were checked in recently. Paul Matthews muscled in a 12.77 pound tautog at the Outer Wall. Doug Riniker reeled in an 8.73 pound tog. Ryan Greel got one 8.63 pounds. Karl Bryfogle brought in an 8.55 pounder. Bob Meyers managed an 8.03 pound citation tog from the Inner Wall. John Little landed a 7.22 pounder while wreck fishing aboard the “Katydid”. Jesse Rodriguez reeled in a 7.16 pound tog on the “Indian” and Paul Pergeorelis pulled a 7.05 pounder off the Outer Wall. Delaware’s tautog season reopens on July 17th.
Black drum came on strong for surfcasters between Broadkill and Primehook beaches. Fishing clams during afternoon tide changes produced boomers that averaged 15 to 35 pounds, although, some larger fish were landed as well. Peter Taggart took a 30.3 pounder from the beach while fishing with clams at the top of the flood. Cody Dmiterchik dug sand fleas at Broadkill Beach to use as bait and was rewarded with a 26 pounder.
Beach anglers also had an occasional striper and even a few flounder. Kara Teat was casting a Gulp! from Broadkill Beach when she connected with an impressive 5.2 pound flatfish.
Boaters got in on the drum action too, and with rising temps, fish will likely spread out from shallow water along the shoreline onto traditional grounds such as the Coral Beds area and into Broadkill Slough. Danny Selby on the “Misdemeanor” was anchored in shallow water off Broadkill Beach on Thursday, soaking clams when he boated a 59 pound boomer. Danny returned to the same spot on Friday with Larry Taylor, where they put a limit of 6 in the box, including Larry’s 70.5 pound behemoth. Gracie Fetterman had a cast on her right arm, but that didn’t stop her from battling black drum weighing 33.8 and 34 pounds just off Broadkill Beach on Saturday.
Some drummers in the Broadkill Slough encountered decent sized croakers last week. It’s early for hardheads, but good to hear they’re around already. Joe said the shop will be stocking surf clams throughout drum time, but he suggests calling to make bait reservations.
More trout are showing up recently. Marty Riley caught a tiderunner on a Storm shad near the Lewes Canal railroad bridge that weighed over 6 lbs. Paul Hazzard had a 5 pounder and Amanda Frey fought a 4 pound trout from the Cape Henlopen Pier while jigging pink Zoom Flukes. Cary Rutherford tossed a Gulp! around Roosevelt’s North Jetty and hooked a 4.74 pound weakfish last week.
Flounder action remains confined to the shallow water of the Lewes Canal, around the Cape Henlopen Pier and close to Lewes and Broadkill beaches.
Lewes Canal anglers picked away at flatties using Gulp! artificial baits, shiners and minnows. Chuck Hazel checked in a 6 pounder he captured from the Canal.
Hopefully fluke will turn on for the annual Canal Flounder Tournament this Friday, sponsored by Lewes Harbour Marina, the Dewey Beach Lions Club and Martek Marine Electronics. The event takes place on the Lewes Canal between 7 AM and 3 PM on May 16th. The $25 cash entry must be paid at Lewes Harbour Marina in advance of start time. Five dollars of each entry is donated to Camp Awareness. Cash prizes and major bragging rights will be awarded for the eight heaviest flounder.
Further south, Bert Adams at Hook’em & Cook’em in the Indian River Inlet reported that the weather and slow fishing has kept most fisherman at home, but water temperatures are on the rise and we should start seeing better fishing in the coming weeks.
Surfcasters are still hooking into blowfish, small bluefish, short stripers and a few black drum. Most of the bluefish are in the 18 to 22-inch range.
Anglers fishing in the Indian River Inlet are also finding smaller bluefish and short stripers dominating the action. An occasional keeper striper is being landed along with a lot of shad.
Last week, at least 1 weakfish was caught in the Inlet and it was a nice one. Steve Papaminas caught a 28-inch, 7 lb. weakie while tossing a Bomber lure off the north wall.
Until next week, tight lines!
