We have been slamming tiny short bass for days on top and bottom rigs with bloodworms. Puffers are in the mix too, good old chicken of the sea, aka the blow toad. It was fun weekend of fishing for many anglers. A keeper striped bass was landed in Delaware Seashore State Park in the Surf on bunker chunks. We were sent a report that a kingfish was caught on the north side of the inlet from the beach. Going to spend the week fishing for them and these larger bass. Black Drum are here hopefully they will start hitting baits. Flounder are showing up in the Lewes Canal being caught on minnows. A kayak angler got a nice bluefish on Sunday near the Henlopen pier. Lot of yak anglers are hitting the flats, especially since the pier is still closed. The crews are only halfway out to the end so far. It will be nice when that is finally done because there is fish in the flats. I know a few kayak anglers that are much happier fishing near the pier without any lines in their way. The incoming tide seems to be the best fishing time for the blues. There are sand fleas in the surf you just have to dig a good foot for them. Look in the cuts in the soft sand where the waves slam into each other. Closer to jetties we are finding more fleas. Bluefish action was hot at the Indian River inlet for about 20 minutes a couple of nights ago. The blues are randomly showing up in places up and down the coast. You have to be there when it happens.
Tautog action was great for some of the boats. Captain Pete of Top Fin managed a nice catch and the Pirate King with Captain Chris Ragni (big Chris) did decent the other day. The Indian River Inlet is till seeing decent taug action. Keep in mind the creel is only three fish per angler until the season closes on May 11th.
trout catches have been decent up north. Striped bass action on the upper Delaware bay and river has been good once you get into the fish. Lot of boats up there this weekend. The beaches down here were crowded but at least for once it was all people fishing. The trophy season in the Chesapeake has been on fire for many boats, filling the box in a matter of hours and calling it a day.
Freshwater crappie action is still hot and the bass and pickerel are hitting hard. The Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware had their second annual pickerel on the fly tournament on Saturday. The members landed a lot of pickerel. The second annual All Species Fishing Tournament anglers are landing a lot of decent fish. You can enter the nine month online tournament anytime.
Fish On!!
Rich King