Article by Rick Willman
Hi folks! Well it’s the last report of the year and I just don’t know where the summer went. It seems to go by faster and faster each year. They say as you get older the years speed up, and my wife is getting older too, so maybe there is something to that saying. Oh man... am I going to pay dearly for that!
I hope I was able to help you stay on top of the fishing action this year, and I look forward to doing the same next year.
I know it sounds like a broken record but the weather is the biggest factor in the lack of successful fishing. High tides, strong winds and murky water have all played a part in making it tough to have a productive day of fishing.
Those fishing the Indian River Inlet have been able to find a few keeper flounder and a fair amount of short stripers. Only a few keeper stripers have been taken. Bluefish are being caught on the incoming tide and there are still a few croakers around. Bluefish have also been caught off the beaches when the surf is not pounding relentlessly.
Throughout the Indian River and the Rehoboth Bay you can still find flounder, croaker, bluefish and a few small trout. Minnows, squid, fresh mullet, Gulp! and bloodworms for the spot are the baits you will need. Jim Bailey fished the Indian River using minnows to boat plenty of short flounder, but did manage a 19-incher to take home.
Don’t forget to sign up for the Rick’s Bait and Tackle / SeaSide Gas and Grill Striper Tournament. It runs from Oct. 17th through Nov. 21st and pays thetop 3 heaviest stripers. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Bill’s Sport shop on Route 1 in Lewes reported some nice catches. Jim Hawke was fishing the rocks at the Indian River Inlet and nailed a 15 lb., 36-inch striper using live eels. Chuck Nagle of Bill's Sport Shop caught a 21-inch flounder using fresh spot at Massey’s Landing. On another trip, Chuck caught plenty of sheepshead up to 3 1/2 lbs. using clams. Anglers hitting the beach are being rewarded with snapper blues.
Capt. Chris Thurman of "Skipjack Charters" returned from an overnight trip and reported catching 11 tuna including 2 bluefin to 150 lbs., yellowfin to 50 lbs., 28 dolphin and released 6 sharks at the 30 Fathom Line.
Capt. Charlie Helmer of the "Tranquila" reported that on a recent trip to the Teacup, his anglers boated 4 yellowfin and 5 dolphin. On another trip to the same area, his crew put 1 yellowfin in the cooler and boated about 40 dolphin up to 23 1/2 lbs. The crew also reported a white marlin release.
On a charter to the 30 fathom line, the "Grizzly" came home with 8 yellowfin, a pair of dolphin and had 2 shark releases.
At Henlopen Bait & Tackle on Savannah Road in Lewes, Dan reported slow action due to weather conditions. Flounder are still coming from the Delaware Bay as well as blues, croaker and a few small trout. Blues are also being caught in the surf. Spot are still around and providing some action when other fishing is slow.
Capt. Bert Adams from Hook’em & Cook’em Bait and Tackle at the Indian River Marina reported a few flounder and stripers being caught in the Indian River Inlet. Bluefish are also being taken in the Inlet and from the beaches. Inshore ocean fishing is providing action from flounder, sea bass, blues, croaker and a few trout. The inshore wrecks are holding a fair amount of triggerfish. Offshore action included a few tuna, dolphin and wahoo at the Tea Cup and the Elephant Trunk.
Ron at Rattle & Reel Sporting Center told me that he noticed a slow down in the flounder action from the back bays. Some stripers and blues are coming in from the Indian River Inlet, but most are small. Massey’s Ditch is giving up some sheepshead and there are still some spot roaming the waters.
Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said tuna continued to cooperate for crews working 30 fathoms. The guys aboard the “Skipjack” trolled skirted ballyhoo and spreader bars just north of the Tea Cup Friday for 7 nice yellowfin.
Several boats experienced good tuna action between the Tea Cup and the base of the Elephant Trunk, with both bluefin and yellowfin. Some big wahoo were thrown in the mix. Mike Eshleman weighed in a 40 ½-pounder he caught on a Black Bart. Once again, winds plagued inshore bottom fishermen for much of the week. When conditions permitted, a few fishermen got into flounder that were on their way out of the bay. Mike Connolly and friends had 6 keeper fluke to 5 lbs. between the Brown Shoal and the #9 Buoy aboard the “Sea Note”. Cut spot and bluefish fillets did the trick. Boats that anchored on the Star Reef Site picked at a mix of croakers, kingfish, snapper blues, small sea bass and triggerfish. When winds subsided Saturday afternoon, croakers that were bunched up near #4 Buoy at the bay mouth bit pretty good on clams, bloodworms and Fishbites. Ocean bottom bouncers had fair numbers of keeper sea bass, croakers and snapper blues at reef site #11 and on the Old Grounds. Some better sized sea bass have begun to stage on inshore wrecks. The number of flounder has dwindled, but a few decent fish remain, like the 5-pounder Matt Jester took with a slab of croaker, east of the DB Buoy. Joe said he’s collected quite a few pictures of catches brought in by customers during the season, and they can be viewed on
the shop’s website at www.lewesharbourmarina.com.
Once again, I hope everyone enjoyed the fishing reports this year and get out there and have a great fall fishing season!
‘Til next time, have fun and be safe!
Rick and his wife Deb are owners of Rick’s Bait & Tackle in Long Neck, DE.