Monthly Archives

January 2017

Ghost Crab Pots Around The Inland Bays

Mike Meibaum and Lorenzo Grey were boating around Rehoboth bay this past weekend.  They ran into a few ghost crab pots and decided to help out and remove several of them.  Some of the pots had crabs in them, which they let go, since it is past crab pot season and they weren't planning on crabbing anyway.  A few crab pots had old…
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Frets 4 Vets Needs Your Help

The other night I met with Tom Baker the founder of Frets 4 Vets.  I wanted to see how they are making out and they could really use our help.  He and his board members have gotten a lot done with Frets 4 Vets, but they need the financial support from the community.  I always hear I'd like to help the vets or see more done for them,…
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The Farmer, The Chef, & The Fisherman

The Farmer, The Chef, & The Fisherman By Tom Deptula I love to fish. I fish for anything that swims and eats. I love fishing saltwater, freshwater, creeks, rivers, branches, bays and bridges. I love the excitement of striper fishing the jetty at the inlet on a cold November night or stumbling into an action-packed perch or largemouth…
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Allen Harim Reaches Agreement with Artesian on Wastewater Company will no longer discharge wastewater into nearby creek

This is awesome news!!!  I was at every meeting to fight the fact Allen Harim wanted to dump even more water into Beaverdam Creek, which drains into the Broadkill River, to the Roosevelt Inlet, and ultimately the Delaware Bay.  Representative Steven Smyk and I spoke to representatives from Allen Harim and DNREC about why we didn't want this…
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Beach Access Upgrades For Delaware State Parks

The drive on beach accesses in some of the parks were filled in with debris and sand from the first nor'easter of 2017, which always happens.  Parks have been clearing them out and for the most part they are all good to go now, I drove on all of them yesterday.  The access at Fenwick Island state park, the middle surf fishing…
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Fly tying with Jello

Written in 2015, but thought we would share this again.  Ever use Jello to dye feathers? Yup, you read that correctly.  Now I am sure you are thinking, you can't even glue snot to Jello, much less tie it up or put it on a hook.  So how do you tie flies with Jello?  Shawn Rakes showed me a book this Saturday (2015) at the Saltwater Fly…
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Nothing Like A Crappie Day Of Winter Fishing

The Payton kids went fishing yesterday day with Pop pop.  You have to love these stories, when the kids get all geared up and it is like a spring day outside in January.  It was nearly sixty degrees a couple days after the nor'easter blasted Delmarva.  The kids first went and caught grass shrimp in some local tidal creeks with Pop…
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The First Annual Delmarva Outdoors Expo

This April on the 28th, 29th, and 30th is the first annual Delmarva Outdoors Expo at the state fairgrounds in Harrington, Delaware.   This event will feature many demonstrations and competitions.  A dock dog competition all three days starting at four on Friday, competing for distance, height, and retrieval speed.  We will have more details…
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DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announces exciting additions to the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announces exciting additions to the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament  DOVER (Jan. 24, 2017) – The Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife is pleased to announce the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament and the Live Release program will this year begin offering collectible award lapel pins to anglers for…
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Water Is Receding

We have a coastal flood warning in effect until 11 AM.  Route 1 is still closed, but should open once the water recedes.  That is becoming more common these days with nor'easters.  You can thank rising sea levels, the bays are silted in more each year, the inlet lets in a lot more water since it was dredged, and route 1 is built on…
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Oak Orchard Prepares For Flooding

Update as of 2:45 PM (since I wrote this) ... tide is coming back in fast and hard.  Water almost washing to dune base in Rehoboth.  Expect flooding around the inland bays in ... Well this is a lot of fun, the wind is ridiculous.  Now that all of this water has been pushed up against the coast flooding will be an issue on the next high tide.…
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Nor’easter Update First High Tide Observations

Update 6:30 AM .... Lewes ferry has been canceled today.   Crossings Cancelled Monday January 23 Due to high winds and rough sea conditions from the storm, all departures for Monday January 23, 2017 are being cancelled. Water on road in Oak Orchard at Chiefs road at the marina. We have a coastal flood and wind advisory in…
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Ventusky Real Time Wind And Waves

Ventusky waves screen for the Delaware area. Not long ago I was made aware of a new application that you can only use on a computer, it shows meteorological data worldwide, in real time. I know several apps do this now on our phones, but this one impressed me. It is a company called ventusky out of Czechoslovakia, and they
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First Nor’easter Of 2017 Hits Monday

We are going to get walloped with the first nor'easter for the year Monday with gusting winds upwards of 45 mph.  The brunt of the storm will be Monday, but the winds will pick up tonight and last into Tuesday afternoon.  We have a dense fog advisory tonight, and frankly it is pretty thick right now.   Gale warnings are in effect…
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Have You Recieved One Of These Cards

The other day a buddy of mine was at Beach Plum Island State park walking and working his dogs.  He has been coming here all of his life.  His was the only vehicle in the parking lot and this nice little card was left on the windshield.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say this person doesn't like fishermen, or people.  This…
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Fishing For Togzilla

The weather has been flip flopping as much as this cold I acquired.  If you haven't had the pleasure of the winter "funk" going around just wait, it is the gift that keeps on giving.  Seriously I hope none of you get this because being in bed for days on end sucks.  Watching your friends go fishing when you can't is even worse, even in the…
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January Is The Full Wolf Moon

The first full moon of the year 2017 will occur today, on Jan. 12 at 6:35 AM.  This is known as the Full Wolf Moon to native American tribes.  Wolf packs would howl hungrily just outside of the Indian villages in the deep snows of midwinter.  It is also referred to as the Old Moon or the Moon After Yule.  Some call it the full snow moon but…
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White Marlin Caught By Jet Ski Fishermen

Today some of the Delaware Jet Ski crew drove down to Ocean City Maryland and dropped in their skis.  Every weekend some of the boys get together and do an offshore fishing trip, to the old grounds.  Today was another planned trip except,  Rob Jones, Rob Wolhar, Brian Stier, and  Jack Dillon  headed to Masseys canyon to do a little…
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Delaware Outdoor Expo 2017 Update

A lot of vendors are signing up for the Delaware Outdoor Expo at the state fairgrounds in Harrington on March 11th at 8 AM.  This is going to be a great event.  There will be eleven presentations ranging from fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities.  If you would like to be a vendor at the event you can download this…
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Drive On Beach Conditions

The parks are open but the drive on accesses are full of snow, and in some spots it is a good three to four feet deep.  Do not try to cross these areas you will get stuck.  You still have to air down to drive onto the beach, the snow makes that seem like it is not necessary.  You will be sinking in snow and sand too boot.  Seems weird…
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Redemption

“Redemption”   By Ethan Henry Well it’s that time of the year that’s the worst for most of us fishermen. The air is cold and crisp the, the rods are up to dry, there is not many fish biting and our minds are left wondering about the big one that got away. For some, they just get over it. For others it will drive them crazy. For me…
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Name Your Fish For Fun

Name Your Fish For Fun By ... Kevin Blouch I was involved in a family fishing tackle business all my life.  We sold saltwater tackle too, but I was 3 hours away from the ocean in Reading Pa. I listened to tales from the customers and became obsessed and dreaming of fishing in the ocean or any saltwater.  So I did.  Nobody ever showed me, I…
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Beach Access and Etiquette

Beach Access/Etiquette Hello everyone from SDJC and DSF.  Let’s talk about proper equipment for driving on the beach.  Last time we gave a list of the equipment required by DENREC.  You also find the required equipment list in your state park pamphlet when you get your beach tag.  So since you will have these items; let’s go over some tips…
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Winter Fishing

This was written a day before the storm hit us and snowed us in. Last weekend I went out and about with some friends looking for ghosts. We drove all over the ocean looking for birds and whales. We heard some blue fin were spotted offshore about ten to twelve miles. Ghost hunting is not easy, first you have to find fish,…
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Seals And Snow Totals

The seal at Courseys pond spillway keeps crossing route 15 and going into the pond.  Please keep an eye out if you are traveling in that area, so it does not get hit by a car.  Yesterday it was sitting in the middle of the road.  MERR is aware of the situation and wants to remind everyone to stay at least a hundred and fifty feet away…
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Snowshizzle aka Storm Helena update

Due to the nature and necessity of this news, this is free to read for the public.  Please  subscribe to Delaware Surf Fishing for future updates, reports, and releases.  Thank You. Well that was a fun day!  It finally stopped snowing near Georgetown around seven this evening.  I was talking to Tim Furlong of NBC 10 at 5 AM he sent…
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BOEM Denies Atlantic Seismic G&G Permits

BOEM Denies Atlantic Seismic G&G Permits 01-06-2017 WASHINGTON, DC The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced the denial of six pending geophysical and geological (G&G) permit applications to conduct airgun seismic surveys in the Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas of the Atlantic Ocean.  The decision is based on…
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Snowy Owls Visit Delaware And Delmarva

They're back!  In the winter of 2013 there was a massive irruption of snowy owls (Bubo Scandiacus) and they were all over the place in Delaware and Delmarva.  You literally couldn't go anywhere without seeing or hearing about a snowy owl.  Ever since then everyone has been hoping to see one again.  Last year we didn't see too many of…
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Snowstorm Shifts What’s In Store For Delaware

Well the first snow storm of the year is coming and the predictions have been all over the map, pun intended.  The hardest part is predicting how far north the storm would reach and how far into Delmarva.  As of Thursday afternoon we are looking at a shift more to the north and northwest which puts Delaware in the track for much more snow by…
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Dune Being Ruined In CHSP

Last winter a few kids went sledding on this dune and everyone lost their minds, many saying kids will be kids what is the big deal?  Well the big deal is now this dune is being used as a path and is getting worse and worse.  Parks had to put signs there, that I am sure cost money, and are obviously being ignored.  Not just one sign,…
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Quadrantid meteor shower of 2017 peaks

The Quadrantids will reach its peak at sixty to 120 meteors ZHR.  The Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) is the amount of meteors expected per hour during a peak, the Quadrantids are one of the top three.  However this event  can be disappointing due to the speed of the peak, it may only last a few hours or less.   You need to be in a dark…
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The Flounder Wars

There is a lot of misinformation going around about the new "proposed" flounder regulations.  Some of the info is so off that it is causing people to get up in arms, pointing fingers at each other.  Some groups are starting petitions to stop the ASMFC.  The confusion being created as it turns out is the intention of some of the people putting…
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