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The 9th annual DMS invitational surf fishing tournament went off well this weekend, they had some rough weather on Saturday but many fish were still caught. I rode around with Corby Fulton while he was judging. It was fun, I got to mark where everyone was catching fish, talk smack to my friends, and found a ton of sea glass every time we stopped. The tide pools on conquest and Faithful Steward beaches were huge, deep and full of quick sand. I am sure you all saw the jeep that sank when it tried to drive through the tide pool. I also heard a few people took a header and wound up falling into some of these pools. One in particular sounded rather comical. You have to be careful near or crossing those pools. I saw some today at the point and even though they were only half full if you tried to walk in them or drive in them it would have made for a bad day, and is was beautiful out. On Saturday the water was washing across the beaches and filling in the pools and there was that biting cold wind. I saw one pool today that had drained and it was crazy looking, at least four feet deep and even though it was empty it still would have made a bad driving hazard. Avoid the pools, but fish in front of them that is where the cuts will reform once the surf shifts the sand around. Beaches are starting to form back up but it will take time. There is one pool at the point we called “the pond” today, it’s huge, there might be a few fish in there.
DMS tournament results …
OVERALL DIVISION – N.B.: revised list
1st-Debbie Wiechardt, 22 points,21″ Black Drum $1,000, trophy
2nd-Acie Mankins. 15 points, 14″ Blue $750, trophy
3rd TIE – Sam Catalano & Pete Curran, 14 points. 13.50″ blue. $500 ($250 each), Trophy
4th TIE – Chris Tenbusch & Bill Alexander, 14 points, w/ 13.25″ blue
5th TIE – Robert Zakrewski & Darren Purcell 14 points, 13″ blue and choice
of prize valued up to $175
FEMALE Division
Debbie Wiechardt, 22 points, $300
BLUEFISH CALCUTTA
Acie Mankin, 14″ bluefish, $1,980.
LARGEST FISH
Debbie Wiechardt, 21″ black Drum, $750
I met Robert “Boots” DiGiacomo, Bob DiGiacomo, and Tim and Carolyn Sullivan on the point today. It was gorgeous. The boys were hammering bluefish all morning until I showed up and brought the dolphins with me, or so that was the joke. I have them trained, what can I say. We had some random catches once the blue fish rolled through, and then the fish shut down so out came the grill and burgers. We ate, joked around, and had a good time fishing. Then the fish turned back on in full force. I think between the five of us we caught a hundred fish today. It was a blast! We were using frozen mullet on mullet rigs, some folks were using mullet chunks on top and bottom rigs down on the southern beaches and doing just as well. The blues seemed to be on all the beaches today. Funniest thing was we caught some fish that would have qualified for the tournament. Boots and his dad Bob were both yelling at the fish … Where were you yesterday!! The amount of score-able fish they caught would have won the tournament, but that is how it goes, Murphy’s Law and all that. Everyone around us seemed to be doing just as well.
I found a ton of sea glass and Delaware Diamonds today, while walking back and forth to cast lures or chat with everyone. I seem to be a magnet for sea glass. One way I always find it is by not actually looking for it. Most of the time we all stare up at our rods, I look down at the shadow on the ground. It keeps my neck from kinking, so while I am waiting for the shadow to bounce I tend to find glass and other cool treasures. That and I am out there so much I think my eyes are just conditioned to see it laying around. You never know what you are going to find on the beach and every time a wave washes across the sand more things are buried and revealed. The new word for the week credit goes to Carolyn Sullivan, she told Tim his rod was “twickeling” when it was being hit by a fish. Epic!
So what else is out there? The tautog bite has been off the hook at the walls, haystacks and bay structure. The charter boats in Lewes are doing well and so are the private boats. I have several friends that fished right in front of us today and we were texting back and forth. “What are you catching in the surf?” … “I’m blowing up bluefish?” … “How are you guys doing?” …. “We are hammering tog” … Hey, what’s that smell? … Those are the burgers Boots is cooking” … “Can we have one??!!” … “Sorry but beaching a boat in a state park is illegal” … “%#%#$@%@&^%#$@%^%@” … “I’m sorry what was that?” We have fun when we fish all the time, it is part of the whole “thing”. The tog are slamming green crabs more than sand fleas, but they are working as well. Tom has a theory on a new bait, so we will try that on Wednesday, if it works and he lets me, I will tell you all about it. Otherwise check out our business directory charter boat section for a boat to get you out there.
Puppy drum are still in the surf and the one that won the DMS tournament was twenty one inches long, but for the most part they have been small pups. Sand fleas, fishbites bloodworm or shrimp formula are working decent for the puppies. Kingfish are hitting mullet chunks and fishbites, all on top and bottom rigs. Some flounder have been caught in the surf on mullet rigs and top and bottom rigs with mullet chunks. Even a few keepers. Some small striped bass are hitting in the surf, mostly on mullet rigs, because everyone is fishing for bluefish and mullet were the bait of choice in our waters. After the storm mullet have been very hard to find, seems they decided to leave after or during the storm. Bunker are still around and spearing. so at least we have a good food source for the schooling striped bass and the ones that are headed this way from up north. Migratory bass are showing up in New York so if they hold to any kind of timeline they could be here in as little three weeks, but that is a guess and don’t hold me to it. Also that would be the first wave so to speak and there is no telling if they will come into the shore during their journey, or just roll on by. Yeah I know, no one wants to hear that but we have a lot of “ifs” when it comes to the spring or fall run. In the mean time stripers are schooling up and feeding so you can have some fun once you get into them. There have been a few keepers here and there.
The water temperatures are leveling off since the last cold front moved through, and I have more leaves in my yard than I would prefer. Trees are changing colors fast, if that is any indication how quick fall is rolling through. Masseys Landing has been fluctuating between sixty two degrees to sixty five degrees on the average. It spiked a few days ago and then dropped back down. Hopefully it stays leveled out and continues to slowly drop, you don’t want a fast temperature crash, that tends to freak the fish out and change their feeding habits. The Delaware Bay near Lewes has been averaging sixty five degrees and the upper Delaware River is around sixty six degrees. The surf temperature is about sixty six degrees, it felt a tad chilly today. There is a massive temperature drop predicted for this weekend, keep that in mind if you are headed down here and look on the bright side, the flies are not annoying. Right now we are going to have decent days and warm temperatures during the day. Have a great week and we will update in a few days. In the mean time get that gear cleaned and ready to roll for bigger fish and cooler temperatures.
Fish On!!
Rich King
TIDES >>> IRI >>>
| 10/13 | Tue | 02:51 AM | 0.4 L |
| 10/13 | Tue | 09:27 AM | 3.14 H |
| 10/13 | Tue | 03:22 PM | 0.44 L |
| 10/13 | Tue | 09:40 PM | 2.88 H |
| 10/14 | Wed | 03:20 AM | 0.41 L |
| 10/14 | Wed | 10:02 AM | 3.18 H |
| 10/14 | Wed | 03:58 PM | 0.49 L |
| 10/14 | Wed | 10:14 PM | 2.82 H |
Buoy 44009 Data ….
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