Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
Summer has arrived, and with it, the fish have made their presence known. As the tourist season kicks into full swing, fishing spots are bustling with boats. The high level of activity in these popular areas has put increased pressure on the fish populations. Anglers are now seeking out less frequented spots, venturing further out or into deeper waters, to increase their chances of landing quality catches. Areas at depths of 100 feet or more have proven to be particularly fruitful, yielding impressive flounder and some of the finest sea bass of the year.
Nearshore Coral & Reefs
At Site 11, Todd Herman from PA guided a successful fishing trip for sea bass and flounder with Greg, Dylan and David Lawrence. The group had an outstanding day, reeling in over 20 sea bass, 8 flounder, and even a remarkable six-foot shark. Dylan claimed the title for the largest catch, a 23-inch, 4.75-pound fish. Brian Marine had the pleasure of taking 6-year-old Liam Kane out fishing and young Liam proudly caught a fine 16.5-inch flounder—an impressive achievement for such a young angler. Travis Kerr experienced his own moment of triumph aboard the "Gotta Go" from Banks Harbor Marina in Delaware, hooking an impressive 26-inch, 8-pound fluke on an ocean structure.
Darryl, Danielle, and Grace Barthelmess explored the coral structure just outside of A Buoy, where they encountered an abundance of flounder and knothead sea bass. The group managed to reach their limit of flounder, with sizes up to 23” and weighing up to 6 pounds. Grace, the youngest angler among them, played a significant role in reeling in most of the keeper fish. Ellan O'Rear embarked on her first-ever saltwater fishing adventure and quickly demonstrated her skills by landing an impressive total of 7 flounder. The fish were checked in at Hook’Em and Cook’Em Tackle. Ellan O’Rear went saltwater fishing for her first time and took everyone on the boat to school, landing a total of 7 flatties. The group fished on the boat “Adlee K”, and used Gulp on a double trouble rig. Meanwhile, Dennis and Matt Hamm, accompanied by Tom Springle, secured a three-man limit of flatfish using Gulp baits while fishing at the Old Grounds aboard the "Kortlyn Jade".
During the Indian River Marina Tuna Blast tournament for slip holders, "No Limit Sportfishing" may not have claimed the top prize, but they certainly found themselves amidst a plethora of biting fish. With over 50 flounder caught throughout the day, the crew skillfully kept their limit and released the rest for another angler's delight. The anglers aboard the "Bad Wind Charters" ventured to the Delaware Bay and targeted flatties weighing over 5 pounds on the coral beds. Steve, Bill, and Cody utilized clackers and 4 oz. jiggers to entice the fish, resulting in an impressive haul. The fish were weighed in at Rick's Bait and Tackle. Meanwhile, Nate Spencer embarked on an adventure with “Fish Bound” charters, venturing to the DE/MD line. The group had an astonishing day, reeling in an impressive 45 fish. Capt. Kane Bounds and mate Kevin led the way, ensuring multiple catches measuring over 20”, including a few surpassing 23”. The largest catch reached 24", weighing just over 5 pounds.
John Spence had a great day out on the grounds catching 5 flounder up to 19.5" and his partner also got a limit. 3 hrs from dock to his return with quick limits. William Krug hit the Old Grounds again this past week returning to the docks with a 3 man limit. The largest fish caught was 24". He reported that the drift was slow and the group had to power drift in order to get the fish to bite the baits. They reported the highlight of the day was watching tuna airing it out not far away from the boat. This time of year we often see blackfin tuna chasing bait out of the water nearshore. This is a great sign because this usually means the yellowfin and mahi will begin to move inshore.
David Book ventured out and returned with a delightful haul of fluke, providing a feast for dinner. David was fortunate to encounter a calm, lake-like ocean on his fishing day. Ricky Rothenberger enjoyed two productive days, catching 6 fluke and 32 sea bass on the first day, followed by an even more impressive haul of 15 fluke and 11 bass on the second day. Such productivity is a testament to their angling skills. David Quigley enjoyed a successful outing at the Old Grounds, reeling in fish ranging from 13.5” to 18". That's an abundance of black bass, perfect for indulging in delicious fish tacos. Eric Miller chose to troll #1 planer and 00 clarkspoons at the Fenwick Shoals, resulting in a cooler brimming with spanish mackerel.
Ocean Arsenal Tackle has also reported excellent catches of spanish mackerel at the shoals, primarily using clark spoons. The Fenwick Shoals have proven to be a haven for bluefish and spanish mackerel, with the best bite occurring during the early hours just after sunrise, typically lasting until around 9 am.
Charles Corrar enjoyed a productive 4-hour round trip from IR, returning to the docks with a limit of sea bass, one keeper flounder, and one triggerfish. The "Hunt Fish Life" crew experienced a delightful day on the water, catching 14 flatfish and selecting 3 to bring home for a satisfying dinner. The remaining fish were released, allowing for future memorable catches.
Back Bay & Inlet Fishing
Despite forgetting his lures at home, Brett McKune skillfully adapted, making the most of his trip and managing a quick two-man limit for flounder with gear he had onboard! Bud Watkins invited his wife to join him on a fluke fishing excursion, only to be outshone as she proudly caught the trophy fish of the day—a magnificent 25” doormat flounder. The catch was made at the inlet. Dan Maguire's persistence at the inlet paid off with his largest flounder yet, measuring 22.5", caught near the rocks. Despite foggy conditions, Ron Nattle and his son managed to secure a keeper rockfish from the inlet, measuring 29" and boasting an impressive girth. Ron joyfully reported that his son is still smiling from the memorable catch.
Wayne Whitby and his nephew Scott relied on minnows and Gulp on Nick rigs to land their 5 keepers from the Lewes Canal. Scott Whitby alone managed to catch 5 fish from the canal, with the largest measuring around 23". Kenneth Rearick, Matt Wall, and Wayne Wall timed their skiff outing with the incoming tide at the inlet, successfully landing keepers ranging from 18.5” to 19.5". Ben Dove had an awesome day catching a 23” sheepshead off the rocks at the inlet on sand fleas. Lastly, Augie Stern took his six grandkids out for a clamming adventure in IR Bay, and within a mere two hours, they managed to rake an impressive haul of 178 clams. Such a bountiful harvest in such a short period of time is truly noteworthy.
Until next week...
Tight lines and fins up!
