Compiled by Robert Jones
May 11,2005
OCEAN ? Windy weather last weekend put a temporary hold on the fishing action along the coast, but reports were back to normal as soon as the winds calmed. Anglers fishing the surf saw improved fishing, with bluefish dominating the catch. There also were a mix of blowfish, dogfish sharks, skates, striped bass and even a couple of flounder reported by surf fishermen during the past week. Indian River Inlet continues to provide quality fishing for striped bass, including some over the 20-pound mark, along with schoolie bluefish, tautog and flounder. The stripers and blues are being caught on a mix of eels, bucktails, Storm Wildeyes, Calcutta Flashfoils and Sassy Shads. Tog reports from the inlet?s rock piles showed green crabs and salted clams to be the most productive baits for fish ranging as heavy as six pounds. Tautog also are providing good fishing for anglers running out to fish the inshore wrecks and reef structure at sites 10 and 11. Reports of success on black sea bass are just starting to come in from the reef sites and the open bottom between the DB and DA buoys. Look for this action to improve significantly as the water temperatures rise. Flounder action was reported to be very slow during the early week, primarily due to the dirty water that was stirred up by the nor?easter that rolled up the coast last weekend. The flounder are here, so the action should pick up again as soon as the water clears.
DELAWARE BAY ? Striped bass being caught up and down the bay, with some of the best fishing reported by anglers returning from the rips at the Outer Wall, the Eights, Brown Shoal, Horseshoe, Pin Top and Woodland Beach. Early reports from the new fishing pier indicated decent catches of stripers, but most have been too short to keep. The stripers are hitting on a mix of bloodworms, eels and fresh bunker. Reports from the lower bay showed more diversity in the catch as bluefish, flounder, shad move up the coast and into the bay. The first hook and line weakfish catches also were reported during the past week. So far, the fish have been too small to keep, but we should be seeing some keepers any day now. The most effective bait for the trout during the early season is strips of boneless chicken breast that has been marinated in shedder oil. Tautog, some running more than 10 pounds, are being caught at the Outer Wall, the lower bay wrecks and the artificial reefs by anglers bait with green crabs, salted clams and sandfleas. Reports that drum have been caught at Brown Shoal were right on schedule with last weekend?s new moon. Look for the action on these monster-sized fish to improve over the next few weeks, with some of the best fishing of the season when the moon reaches full on the 23rd of May. In addition to Brown Shoal, drum traditionally are caught at the Coral Beds off of Slaughter Beach and on the Jersey side of the channel at the Horseshoe. Bait with salted sea clams.
PONDS? The largemouth are spawning in most of the state?s ponds, and most fishermen are releasing the fish as quickly as possible so they can get back to guarding the beds. Soft plastics, especially plastic lizards and plastic crayfish have been extremely effective. Pond reports also showed good fishing for crappie, bluegills and even a few nice chain pickerel. The crappie are hanging around deeper structure, the ?gills are being caught around shallow weed beds and the pickerel are hanging out on the deep water side of the weeds.
TIDAL Rivers ? Delaware River fishermen continue to report good catch-and-release fishing for striped bass on bloodworms, bunker and herring at Ft. DuPont, the Powerlines, the Icebreakers off of New Castle, the pilings just inside the mouth of the Christiana River and Cherry Island Flats. Anglers fishing outside of the designated spawning areas have been connecting with keeper fish at Augustine Beach, Sam Green?s Beach, the Bullpen, the south end of the Augustine Jetty, the Pipes and the Yellow Can. The Delaware River, C&D Canal and the state?s smaller tidal rivers and creeks are good bets for channel catfish and white perch. Night crawlers, bloodworms, and bunker are good choices for the catfish, with bloodworms and grass shrimp working best on the perch.
NON-TIDAL STREAMS ? While the spring trout stocking has ended, fishermen are still reporting good fishing at White Clay Creek, Christiana Creek, Wilson Run, Beaver Run, Pike Creek and Mill Creek, with several fish over the two-pound citation minimum caught over the past week. Smallmouth bass fishermen are reporting good fishing on the non-tidal waters of Brandywine Creek. Hotspots have been the stretch below the Hagley Dam, Alopocas, and the area around the Swing Bridge and just below the Market Street Dam in Wilmington. Live shiners are a top choice, with jig ?n pigs, soft plastics and Mepp?s-style spinners also working on the bronzebacks. Anglers fishing the upper reaches of the Brandywine also are reporting good fishing for rock bass. Bait with night crawlers and fish the slower moving sections of the creek.
May 11,2005
OCEAN ? Windy weather last weekend put a temporary hold on the fishing action along the coast, but reports were back to normal as soon as the winds calmed. Anglers fishing the surf saw improved fishing, with bluefish dominating the catch. There also were a mix of blowfish, dogfish sharks, skates, striped bass and even a couple of flounder reported by surf fishermen during the past week. Indian River Inlet continues to provide quality fishing for striped bass, including some over the 20-pound mark, along with schoolie bluefish, tautog and flounder. The stripers and blues are being caught on a mix of eels, bucktails, Storm Wildeyes, Calcutta Flashfoils and Sassy Shads. Tog reports from the inlet?s rock piles showed green crabs and salted clams to be the most productive baits for fish ranging as heavy as six pounds. Tautog also are providing good fishing for anglers running out to fish the inshore wrecks and reef structure at sites 10 and 11. Reports of success on black sea bass are just starting to come in from the reef sites and the open bottom between the DB and DA buoys. Look for this action to improve significantly as the water temperatures rise. Flounder action was reported to be very slow during the early week, primarily due to the dirty water that was stirred up by the nor?easter that rolled up the coast last weekend. The flounder are here, so the action should pick up again as soon as the water clears.
DELAWARE BAY ? Striped bass being caught up and down the bay, with some of the best fishing reported by anglers returning from the rips at the Outer Wall, the Eights, Brown Shoal, Horseshoe, Pin Top and Woodland Beach. Early reports from the new fishing pier indicated decent catches of stripers, but most have been too short to keep. The stripers are hitting on a mix of bloodworms, eels and fresh bunker. Reports from the lower bay showed more diversity in the catch as bluefish, flounder, shad move up the coast and into the bay. The first hook and line weakfish catches also were reported during the past week. So far, the fish have been too small to keep, but we should be seeing some keepers any day now. The most effective bait for the trout during the early season is strips of boneless chicken breast that has been marinated in shedder oil. Tautog, some running more than 10 pounds, are being caught at the Outer Wall, the lower bay wrecks and the artificial reefs by anglers bait with green crabs, salted clams and sandfleas. Reports that drum have been caught at Brown Shoal were right on schedule with last weekend?s new moon. Look for the action on these monster-sized fish to improve over the next few weeks, with some of the best fishing of the season when the moon reaches full on the 23rd of May. In addition to Brown Shoal, drum traditionally are caught at the Coral Beds off of Slaughter Beach and on the Jersey side of the channel at the Horseshoe. Bait with salted sea clams.
PONDS? The largemouth are spawning in most of the state?s ponds, and most fishermen are releasing the fish as quickly as possible so they can get back to guarding the beds. Soft plastics, especially plastic lizards and plastic crayfish have been extremely effective. Pond reports also showed good fishing for crappie, bluegills and even a few nice chain pickerel. The crappie are hanging around deeper structure, the ?gills are being caught around shallow weed beds and the pickerel are hanging out on the deep water side of the weeds.
TIDAL Rivers ? Delaware River fishermen continue to report good catch-and-release fishing for striped bass on bloodworms, bunker and herring at Ft. DuPont, the Powerlines, the Icebreakers off of New Castle, the pilings just inside the mouth of the Christiana River and Cherry Island Flats. Anglers fishing outside of the designated spawning areas have been connecting with keeper fish at Augustine Beach, Sam Green?s Beach, the Bullpen, the south end of the Augustine Jetty, the Pipes and the Yellow Can. The Delaware River, C&D Canal and the state?s smaller tidal rivers and creeks are good bets for channel catfish and white perch. Night crawlers, bloodworms, and bunker are good choices for the catfish, with bloodworms and grass shrimp working best on the perch.
NON-TIDAL STREAMS ? While the spring trout stocking has ended, fishermen are still reporting good fishing at White Clay Creek, Christiana Creek, Wilson Run, Beaver Run, Pike Creek and Mill Creek, with several fish over the two-pound citation minimum caught over the past week. Smallmouth bass fishermen are reporting good fishing on the non-tidal waters of Brandywine Creek. Hotspots have been the stretch below the Hagley Dam, Alopocas, and the area around the Swing Bridge and just below the Market Street Dam in Wilmington. Live shiners are a top choice, with jig ?n pigs, soft plastics and Mepp?s-style spinners also working on the bronzebacks. Anglers fishing the upper reaches of the Brandywine also are reporting good fishing for rock bass. Bait with night crawlers and fish the slower moving sections of the creek.
