Article by Rick Willman
Hi folks. The recent storms passing through have kept the back bay waters kind of dirty and in turn have slowed the fishing action.
Some flounder are still being taken in areas that are not quite as cloudy and it seems the outgoing tide is still producing the most fish. Bluefish and stripers are still providing action in the backwaters as well as in the Indian River Inlet. Incoming tides are bringing schools of shad that provide some real hot action.
Ocean fishing continues to be slow but I’m sure that will improve as water temps rise. It has been tough on most days to find any amount of keeper size sea bass. Flounder numbers seem off but it seems most of the flatties that are caught are of the keeper size. Brian Harner on the “Fender Bender” took Rob Moore to the Hambone where they trolled up a 38 lb. bluefin tuna. They also found themselves just covered up with blues.
Be sure to get in on the action by taking part in the 2nd Annual Rick’s Bait and Tackle / SeaSide Gas and Grill Fishing Tournament. The entrance fee is $25.00 and includes a t-shirt. Contest is July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The deadline to enter is 7 AM on July 2nd. Cash prizes are paid for heaviest flounder, sea bass, bluefish and tog. Don’t miss out on all the fun.
While talking to Ron at Rattle & Reel Sporting Center on Long Neck Road he reported plenty of flounder in the Rehoboth Bay and Indian River along with pretty good action on bluefish. Stripers are being caught in the Indian River Inlet during morning hours on live spot. Mike Britton weighed in a 5.8 lb. flattie he caught in the Rehoboth Bay using a pink GULP! and a minnow.
At Henlopen Bait and Tackle on Savannah Road in Lewes, Dan said that flounder fishing in the Delaware Bay has been hot and cold. The Anchorage has been the “Hot Spot” when fishing is good. The Broadkill River is producing just a few trout at night, but has been spotty at best. A few kingfish have shown up on the beaches. Sharks and skates are still plentiful and providing most of the action along with an occasional striper.
Bert at Hook’em & Cook’em Bait and Tackle at North Shore Marina in the Delaware State Park reports flounder, bluefish and stripers in the Indian River Inlet. Flounder are being caught on live spot, shiners, or pink GULP! artificial baits. Striper action is fair but most are too short to keep. In the surf, action consists of sharks and skates along with some blues measuring up to 18 inches. A few kingfish have also been showing up. The ocean is providing good catches of sea bass, but Bert said that only about 5% are of keeper size. Thresher sharks can be found in the same areas as sea bass, and are being caught in good numbers.
Massey’s Canyon and the Hambone are holding loads of bluefish along with some bluefin tuna. One of the few yellowfins we have seen was caught by Matthew McMenamin on “Boy’s Toy” who headed south to troll up a 38 pounder.
At Bill’s Sport Shop on Rt #1 in Lewes, we received reports that George Walton from Havertown, PA caught a 38", 19 lb. 4 oz. striper at the Indian River Inlet on a Storm lure. Captain Bill Baker hosted family members on the “Slicker Three” where they released six blue sharks and one mako at the Tea Cup. Al Boyd of Lancaster, Pa, caught a 21.74 lb., 40-inch striper at the Indian River Inlet on a rigged eel.
Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said sharks and tuna were the topic this week. The crew of Price Lindsay, Jim Azato, “Boot” DeHoys, Jason Lesniczak and Tom Wilkie teamed up for a 180 lb. thresher while sharking at Delaware Light. Jonathan “Bubba” Hastings was drifting Reef Site #11 with John Hazzard and Kevin Beam when he hooked a 163-pound longtail.
Reports of mako sharks came from the Hambone and Sausages. Blue sharks have been numerous on structures between twenty and thirty fathoms. Perhaps this is a good sign, since there haven’t been many blue whalers inshore the past several seasons. Bluefish have been plentiful across the Fingers, in Massey’s Canyon, on the Chicken Bone and Hambone, so there seems to be good forage for the sharks. Bluefin tuna have shown up on the inshore grounds as well. Boats trolling ballyhoo at the Hambone connected with tuna in both the 27 to 47 inch and 47 to 73 inch classes. Brian Prout brought in a 45 lb. bluefin he caught at the Hambone on the “Skipjack”. Randy Doyle got a 10 lb. bluefish on the same trip. When tuna are marked at mid-water or close to the bottom on the inshore lumps, the situation offers a great opportunity to jig the fish. Shimano Butterfly Jigs and the new Jerk That Jig lures have proven highly effective on tuna, and the jigging technique often produces reactive strikes, even when fish won’t rise to trolled lures. Also, casting out a jig when a tuna bites on the troll might result in an additional hookup.
Yellowfin tuna, and blue and white marlin were reported from a large warm eddy offshore of Poorman’s Canyon. The billfish were in warm water, and tuna hung out on the cool side of the break.
Closer to the beach, flounder action remained good. Flatties continued to come from the Lewes Canal, Broadkill River and Roosevelt Inlet. The Cape Henlopen, Cape Shores and Port Lewes piers yielded fish too, as did shallow water along Broadkill Beach. Paul Caras Sr. and Paul Caras Jr. scored 5 quality keepers weighing up to 5.74 pounds while casting Gulp! grubs in skinny water. Paul Jr. also nailed a 3.71-pound trout. Jesse Baird brought in a 4.58-pound flatfish from the Canal. John Weber got a 4.95-pound flatfish with a minnow, also from the Canal. Michael Lindale used a jig tipped with squid to tempt a 4.83 lb. flounder from the Broadkill River.
The bay bite in the Anchorage cooled off somewhat, but fluke were found at other locations. The bottom at Buoy #10 also produced some flatties. The artificial structures of Reefs #5, #6, #7 and #8 held flounder as well. Al Grenfell checked in a 6.66 lb. flounder that he caught on Saturday aboard the “Pirate King” on a Delaware Bay structure. Minnows, shiners, smelt, squid, shark strips and Gulp! were effective offerings for Bay fluke. Flatfish were also reported from the Old Grounds surrounding “DB” Buoy in the ocean. Spro Jigs tipped with strips of bluefish, shark, squid or Gulp! worked well. Joe said if readers want to check
out pictures of recent catches, they’re posted in the photo gallery section of the store’s website at www.lewesharbourmarina.com.
‘Til next week, have fun and be safe!
Rick and his wife, Deb are owners of Rick’s Bait & Tackle in Long Neck, DE.
