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Fishing Report
Weekly fishing reports for the surf and tidal waters of Delaware.
The Point Opens September 1st
The best sign of end of the summer season is the point opening.
(August 27, 2021) ... We wait all summer for this day, with gleeful anticipation. It is one of our favorite places to fish. Pro tip, for some reason almost every year the fishing is horrible the first week or so. We don't care and go out anyway, because you never know…
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Surf Fishing report
Finally some new fish to catch and talk about
(August 27, 2021) ... Summer fishing rarely changes, just the frequency of catches. Some weeks it is pointless to do fishing reports, NOTHING changes. What does change are the water temperatures. Now we are in the bathtub month. Flounder become more frequent along the surf. Spot,…
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Angler Breaks Newly Set Maryland Swordfish Record
Swordfish Record Broken During The 2021 White Marlin Open
MD DNR (Aug 10, 2021) ... A New Jersey angler is now the second officially recognized state record holder for swordfish, which he caught in a tournament August 6 at Ocean City.
Jake Bertonazzi broke the state’s nearly two-week-old record for the Atlantic Division with a 318.5-pound…
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Catching Flounder In The Delaware Surf
There are a couple ways to catch flounder while surf fishing in Delaware
Many anglers message us and ask ... I'm doing everything I have read for catching flounder in the surf, why am I not catching? I usually respond ... How many John Skinner videos did you watch? The response is usually, all of them. That man can catch fish and…
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Maryland Record Set with 301-Pound Swordfish off Ocean City Coast
MD DNR (July 29, 2021) ... An Anne Arundel County angler is now the first officially recognized state record holder for swordfish, which he caught in a tournament July 23 at Ocean City. (Big Huk Fish Classic)
Annapolis resident Peter Schultz, 36, is the first record holder for the Atlantic division – Swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Schultz…
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Lion’s Mane Jellyfish Along The Delaware Beaches
Identifying Jellyfish is easy when you know what to look for
Delaware's Aquaman is at it again, this time shooting Jellyfish. Merton Briggs got some killer shots of a Lion's Mane jellyfish the past couple weeks. No he didn't jump in for these shots. The Go Pro on a selfie stick abided from a kayak. Last time someone jumped in the…
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Pompano Are In Town Check Out This Slob
Somebody tell the Pompano Princess time to come get some!
We have been seeing some of the smaller pompano the last few weeks. Yesterday Kevin got a few while snagging that dead whistle pig. Today Alex Tkachuk and the boys were fishing and Cameron Maas landed this slob of a pompano. Lok at the water behind him too, tropical! So is the…
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The Catch Of The Week Is A …
You never know what you will catch at the beach
Last weekend Troy Rabe caught ... a wig. Possibly a weave, but definitely fake hair. "We were freaking out a little bit until we saw the clips, and no head attached to it". Before you ask, yes that is rumored to have happened before. We may or may not have heard of a report about eight…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Summer fishing is in full swing with new species arriving
(July 15, 2021) ... If you haven't been outside, we can cut the air with a butter knife now. Summer time is in full swing. I'm so busy in the DS Custom Tackle warehouse, I haven't seen water in weeks! They don't let us out much this time of year. No one blew anything up…
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Ocean City Tuna Tournament Scales Final Day
Watch the last day of weigh ins for the Ocean City Tuna Tournament today live. The bottom video is the live scales camera the top video is the highlights from the last couple days at the scales on their website.Total Boats: 106Total Purse: $1,019,690 I believe is a new record purse for 2021.
Ocean City Tuna Tournament Leaderboard
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Bluefish Finally Arrived in Droves
Bluefish where are they?
This has been the question of the past couple months. Where are they, why aren't we seeing a lot? Now you know why the creel limits were changed drastically. Their numbers are down. The summer bluefish have finally arrived in Delaware in large numbers. The past months have been random catches at best. Now…
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Bunker Impale Of The Year
I've seen fish caught all kinds of ways, but never like this
You always hear the stories. I once fished with a guy that ____________. I have a few of my own that are so unbelievable, but true. Like the guy who caught a bass on a shoestring and trim gun nail, that happened. It was lunchtime and we we were bored at a jobsite on Millsboro…
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Wicked Weekend Weather You Should Surf Fish
Memorial Day Weekend will be a treat for diehard surf anglers.
We have crappy weather incoming. Granted it changes every fifteen minutes in Delaware, but we are definitely headed into a nautical weekend. A holiday crowded nautical weather weekend, and you should go surf fishing. Mainly because that easterly blow and cool temperatures…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Fishing is picking up and so is the weather.
(May 26, 2021) ... We got robbed by the cloud cover to see the lunar eclipse. That's okay it is striped bass weather anyway. The fishing slowed down a little as the weather cooled down for some species. Now that we are warming back up it is turning back on. With a new arrival to boot.
…
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The Tax Man Is In Town
A variety of fish to catch, and some are here to eat your catch
(May 21, 2021) ... This half striped bass blitzed the beach last week. The sharks are in town and feeding on the striped bass as well as anything else around. David Moore "I wondered why the striped bass bite shut down." They were doing okay on stripers and hoping for…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
More fish and better weather
(April 28, 2021) ... The bite has gotten hotter and so is the weather. Feels like July for spring fishing. nothing like a quick heat wave to really am things up. The water temperatures have ben steadily rising with the occasional yoyo due to cold snaps. Now we will see temperature spikes with…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
The surf fishing and fishing overall is getting better.
(April 22, 2021) ... The past weekend a decent amount of people went surf fishing. The beaches weren't packed too bad either. Well except 3Rs on Sunday after that beast of a striped bass was landed, that was to be expected. Looked like a surf fishing tournament on the south end.…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
It is time to hit the suds for spring surf fishing in Delaware and Assateague
It doesn't take long, but when spring fishing springs, it goes off. We wait and we wait and we wait. You hear a rumor of a big fish, then another. Then, you see a picture, could that be real? Is that really a Delaware Beach? Black drum run is on and just got…
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My Bait Fridge Smells Amazing
Yesterday we went on a twelve hour chunk soak.
(April 2021) ... If you haven't seen Bob The Garbage Man videos out of Jersey they are hilarious. Keep the kids out of the room too. Chris Skelton got up with me last week ... "Hey man want to do a 12 hour soak Bob he Garbage Man style?"Me .. "Oh heck yeah!"We decided to do a little…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Hoping For Striped Bass Weather This Weekend
The Delaware surf has been calm waters the past few days, it is a nice change of pace. Over the weekend if this rain hits as predicted, that will all change. Yesterday and today, two days ago was supposed to be overcast and that changed. Just waint fifteen minutes and we get new weather.…
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When Will The Gator Bluefish Show
The gator bluefish run in the surf is slower each year.
Every year, a few big gator bluefish are caught in the spring, while surf fishing in Delaware. It happens every year, you hear about it if you weren't there, and then the action would just stop, lasting for a couple days at best. Then the fish move offshore. In 2014 that action…
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Weekend Fishing Picking Up
The resident striped bass are not the only schooling fish hitting in Delaware
This weekend's warm up out brought out more anglers, and created chances for more catches. The short bass action has been fun around the inland bays. That water temperature jumped up over fifty seven degrees. It has held at low tide for the past four…
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Sandy Surf Will Settle
Inland Bay water temperatures rise quick.
The surf was rough today, the wind was worse. Exfoliation level twelve, I'm down three layers of skin. The surf is really stirred up with wind blown sand. You could cast a mile. It will calm down over night. Sunday's rain looks like a lot of fun. Warm, moist rain.
Short striped bass are…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Finally something to talk about besides white perch, skates, dogfish, and the coming spring runs.
Striped bass action is finally picking up more in the upper Delaware Bay and river. Up north Richard King, commercial angler, and owner of Port Penn Bait and Tackle ... "We are starting to see more and more big striped bass in our nets. They…
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Surf Fishing Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving everyone hope you all had a great day, despite all the crazy. We spent the morning into the late afternoon beach hopping and surf fishing. It was a skatefest today but it was a good time and we all needed a break. Fishing holidays is awesome, I can't work on a holiday, or that is my excuse anyway. The beach was empty…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
We keep getting messages, are the migratory striped bass here yet ...
No they are not, but there are keepers to be caught. We discuss this every year, twice a year in fact. The striped bass migration works in phases or stages. We are in stage one in Delaware. There may be a few early arrivals for migratory striped bass, the fish don't…
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Fly Fishing The Flats With The Club
The Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware club gathers and fishes the Henlopen flats every couple weeks.
This evening some of the members of the Saltwater Fly anglers of Delaware club met at Cape Henlopen State Park at the fishing pier. The topic of tonight's gathering was fishing the flats for fun. The wizards of the long wand were lined…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Summer time fishing has been hot to not. Depends on the day and the tide. Low tide and a hot day doesn't make for the best fishing. You have to go a little deeper. The pompano just showed up, so everyone is excited about that. There seems to be much large pompano at Assateague than Delaware right now.
Nice to see some larger…
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Our Resident Artist Gets The Catch Of The Day
We hit the point on the day it opened, the 31st of August. Cassie Okonewski grabbed the net after catching sand fleas for bait. She proceeded to draw the biggest catch of the day. The fish she did was awesome, there was a dragon or two as well. She decorated the beach while we tried to catch fish.
Cassie using the net handle to draw in…
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Maryland Fishing Report
Maryland Fishing Report is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood, Maryland Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist.
The abundance of speckled trout in the shallower shoreline areas has been a real treat to those who love their light-tackle shallow water action. Recreational crabbers are enjoying some of the best crabs of the season…
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Working On A New Fish Identification Section
We are working on a new fish Identification section. Any suggestions or additions are welcome. Starting a pool on how long it takes to see all these critters up this way.
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
We are coming out of a heatwave. Extreme heat is no fun, even at the coolest times in the outdoors.
The pool is a bathtub, it only feels good when the heat index is 105. The surf is warmer and the bays are heating up. It is that time of year. But the fishing is still pretty good and anglers are having a great time filling the coolers. Some…
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Maryland Fishing Report
White perch are providing plenty of fun fishing in the tidal rivers and creeks whether in a small boat or fishing from shore access points, docks, and fishing piers. Northern snakeheads will be found holding in shallow grass areas in the tidal rivers and although their activity has slowed down a bit, they will go after noisy topwater lures.…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
The Delaware State unicorns are getting bigger
The weather finally broke, but we are looking at a wet weekend. The fish don't care, but be careful of pop up storms. If you are on a crowded beach, it is really best to stay put in your vehicle. You are going to be in line trying to get off and air up your vehicle. By the time you manage…
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Maryland Fishing Report
Maryland Fishing Report – June 10
June 10, 2020 ... The summer-like weather is bringing families out to enjoy the outdoors. What could be better than being out on a fishing adventure with mom, especially if you catch a strange-looking fish like a northern snakehead!
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers two more…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
June must be the new August, between the heat and last weekend's crowds one would swear it is much later in the summer season. The humidity got here real quick too. Either way the beaches are one of the best places to cool off. Getting on the water always helps this time of year. Not to mention it is a great way to avoid the…
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DSF’s Summer Surf Fishing Slam Series June 2 Card
The second day of the DSF’s Summer Surf Fishing Slam Series starts off with a beautiful day and the four of hearts. Make sure that card is in all pictures and these are time and date stamped with the state ruler in the picture. The rules and fish list. Good Luck Everyone!
DSF’s Summer Surf Fishing Slam Series June 2nd card
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DSF’s Summer Surf Fishing Slam Series June 1 Card
The first day of the DSF's Summer Surf Fishing Slam Series starts off with a beautiful day and the seven of diamonds. Make sure that card is in all pictures and these are time and date stamped with the state ruler in the picture. The rules and fish list. Good Luck Everyone!
DSF’s Summer Surf Fishing Slam Series First Card June 1st
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Little nautical the last few days, prevented boats heading out and surf anglers had to fight wide waves, higher tides, and rough wash. Private boats are the only ones going out charters and head boats are still under restrictions not to operate. Eventually after June 1st that will change, just not sure when. The weather turning…
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Recreational Bluefish Possession Limit Will Be Reduced On May 15 To Comply With ASMFC/MAFMC Management Action
PRESS RELEASE ... (May 13, 2020) ... Notice is hereby given that DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin has signed Secretary’s Order No. 2020-F-0015 approving Final Regulation, pursuant to 7 Del. C. §903(e)(2)a.1, to Amend 7 DE Admin. Code 3516: Bluefish.
The Order, which becomes effective at 11 a.m. on May 15, 2020, reduces…
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There Was A Disturbance In The Surf Monday
May The Fish Be With You, has come and gone. We didn't get to have the tournament this past weekend. It was rescheduled to May 30th, but that isn't looking too good either. We miss everyone and hope this all ends soon, but for now at least we have limited restricted access to the surf to fish for food. Yesterday was a good day for a few…
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Good Weekend Of Fishing
Striped Bass, Bluefish, Puffers, Flounder, and Sand Perch
The fishing is picking up and the catches are more noticeable. Mostly because more people are fishing in more areas. Good to see everyone spread out on the beaches, would like to see that all year. Lot of room to actually fish, or do whatever. No one is in each other's way. Just…
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Support Your Local Watermen Buy Lobster
Captain Wes Townsend is now bringing in Lobster, they were delicious. Buying local seafood will take the strain off the grocery stores, keep you in smaller crowds shopping, and support local watermen. The public can purchase some fish and lobster at Hookem and Cookem located at the Indian River Marina or check the Delaware Sea Grant website…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Gas is how cheap and we can't go anywhere? Well not true, you can go anywhere within the state to get outside and get some air. I'm still getting four days a gallon. A lot of people seem to have taken up fishing. Whole families are getting out and trying their hand at fishing. It is a great way to get outside, social distance and maybe fill…
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Northern Puffers Are Biting
(April 25, 2020) ... The southern ocean beaches roughly Keybox to Fenwick Island are alive with northern puffer fish. Andre just got this beauty on Fishbites and a DS Cutom Tackle top and bottom rig. Local tackle made in the USA. There have been random bluefish here and there upwards of thirty inches, on all the beaches, that is just…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
(April 23, 2020) ... At least we can still fish, hike, hunt, and walk the trails and some beaches. That is about all we can do in the outdoors and frankly it is one of the safest activities. Delaware is one of the few states allowing fishing, so be grateful not hateful. The surf fishing restrictions are still in effect, and we are lucky we got…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Between the flounder, striped bass, white perch and crabbing things are looking up for the fishing community.
The world may be going crazy while bored, but we are going fishing for dinner. For those that cannot come to Delaware we feel for you, we really do, and hope this is all be over soon. In the meantime you can live vicariously…
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Great Weekend Of Fishing
This weekend was decent fishing up and down the state. It is great to see people getting out and getting some air. Social Distancing is occurring in the fishing community, none of us want to fish next to anyone anyway. From freshwater to saltwater there were a lot of people enjoying themselves. We have a few days of warm weather like…
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Crabbing Has Picked Up
The inland bays are warming back up rather well. There was a little temperature dip the past few days, but the water temperature has been climbing. Today the temperature peaked at fifty-three and dropped to fifty-one degrees. Crabbing started up a couple weeks ago for many trying for the first time this year. We have a cold snap coming in…
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Time For Social “FishStancing” The Spring Striped Bass Run Has Sprung
Social Fishstancing is when you go outside and fish by yourself or in a small group that is keeping six feet apart from one another. You can do this easily. I isn't rocket science and the air isn't poisonous.
Just when things couldn't make ya feel any worse about fishing. The striped bass are running and it hard to find spots to fish…
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Surf Fishing, The Original Social Distancing
I'm still going fishing, because I can, I want to Social Distance, and it is mostly a solo activity.
We all learned a new phrase this week, social distancing. Many of us already do that daily, when we go fishing. You don't call fifty of your buddies or even ten to go surf fishing. Ten friends might show up near you by the day's end. But…
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Maryland Fishing Report
Maryland Fishing Report – March 11
(March 11, 2020) ... The signs of spring are everywhere and the warm sunny weather has families outside, enjoying the outdoors together. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is busy stocking local waters with trout and all are preparing for the grand event — the traditional opening day of trout season…
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Maryland Fishing Report
Maryland Fishing Report – March 4
March 4, 2020 ... There are many different signs of spring that we notice — for some, it might be the first blooming daffodil or spotting the first osprey. One of the most popular harbingers of spring in Maryland for anglers is the much anticipated yellow perch spawning runs that occur in many of the Chesapeake…
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Fishing Is Fun And Productive Despite The Weather
You aren't going to catch from the couch, put down the computer, get outside, and enjoy the winter fishing action.
Warm to cold, Sprinter for the win. The beaches are deserted, it is wonderful to be out there and all alone. Skates and dogfish for the most part, but still a day at the beach. The weekend weather is looking a lot like…
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Maryland Weekly Fishing Report
Maryland Fishing Report – Dec. 11, 2019 Last Fishing Report for the Decade
December 11, 2019 ... Excerpt of the weekly Maryland Fishing ReportWhile everyone is caught up in the pre-holiday rush, those looking for a little respite will find plenty of fun fishing opportunities this month. The preseason stocking of trout has begun and walleye,…
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Striped Bass In The Delaware Surf
Striped Bass are showing up in the Delaware surf and a few other waterways.
Friday the thirteenth is supposed to be an unlucky day, but not if you were surf fishing this morning. The boys are back in town for their annual surf fishing excursion. They do this every year. This is the same crew that was surf fishing together when Ben Smith…
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December Is The New Rocktober
We have been bailing short bass in the surf and around the inland bays, but today a couple anglers who took a shot got into some serious action. Pulling stretches, mojos and bunker spoons. Once they found bait fish schools, they found striped bass, lots of them. In Delaware waters right out front feeding on bunker and sand eels. There are…
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Check Out The State of Delaware Fishing Report
Check out the weekly fishing report put out by the State of Delaware.
DNREC ... The weekly Delaware Fishing Report offers information on when to fish, where to fish, which species are biting, and how to catch them.
excerpt ... Delaware Bay The Upper Bay continues to produce white perch on bloodworms. Fish have been taken along the shoreline…
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Check Out The Maryland Fishing Report
Maryland Fishing Report November 27, 2019
"Although the mornings can be a bit nippy, good fishing opportunities exist from the mountains of western Maryland to the waters of the Atlantic. The Chesapeake Bay striped bass season has a little more than two weeks to go before it closes, and anglers are bundling up and enjoying the fun.
…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Delaware Surf Fishing Report for November 8th, 2019
Brrrrrrrr cold enough for ya today? It is a little brutal in that wind, but the fish don't care. There are fish to be caught you just got to put in some time. It will warm up after the weekend and maybe we will see some snow next week too, or not, that depends on who you are…
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Maryland State Record Set with Tripletail
Maryland State Record Set with Tripletail Caught in Atlantic Ocean
MD DNR October 23, 2019 ... Wicomico County Angler Holds First Record for Tripletail Species in Maryland
Angler Don Whittington of Bivalve reeled in the state’s first-ever record tripletail off the coast of Ocean City. The 11-pound, 25.25-inch long fish was caught Oct.19…
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Maryland Fishing Report – Oct. 23
Maryland Fishing Report – Oct. 23 MD DNR October 23, 2019
Photo by Steve Doctor
The stormy weather during September and October often bring fishy friends from southern waters to the coast of Ocean City. Don Whittington of Bivalve, Wicomico County, was fishing near some offshore lobster pot buoys recently when he caught an 11-pound…
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Two Great White Sharks Caught A Mile Off Ocean City Maryland
This past weekend two great whites were caught by Drex Harrington and his dad. They were fishing off the coast of Ocean City Maryland. Literally a mile off the coast, you could probably smell the Thrasher's fries if they were open.
https://www.facebook.com/IslandWatersportsOC/videos/535970703827661/
Drex Posted ... "Sunday at 9:12…
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Time To Hit The Suds For Rat Wrangling
Short Striped Bass Are Thick In The Surf And Easy To Catch
The fall fishing is upon us, fish are on the move, and one of our favorite activities is what we call rat wrangling. Short striped bass known as rats to some surf anglers are thick in the surf right now feeding. Up north migratory bass are thick on sand eel and bunker schools…
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Delaware Surf Fishing Report
Delaware Surf Fishing Report for October 17th
Delaware Surf Fishing report for the Delaware beaches, inland bays, and area waters.
Brrrrrr it was a balmy fifty five degrees this morning. This is my favorite time of year to do some night fishing. Just wear warm gear that will keep you dry, Helly Hansen for the win. The water is warmer…
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Maryland Fishing Report – Oct. 2
Maryland Fishing Report From Maryland DNR October 2, 2019
The catch-and release fishery for red drum is particularly exciting as evidenced by that big smile on Tim Campbell’s face before he slips this beautiful fish back into the Bay. Photo courtesy of Tim Campbell
As we transition to October, summer-type weather has continued to hold on…
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Bull Red Drum Are On The Move
A few nights ago Dave Moore was fishing Maryland and landed three bull red drum. That is good news, they are a little early according to some, but to Dave, right on time. He sent me a few pictures the other night ... "I picked up a few reds for the season already, a lot of people don't think they are here yet." I'll be right there was my…
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Delaware Weekend Weather Outlook
Weekend Weather Outlook Whether You Like It Or Not Is Going To Be a Little Nautical
We have been dealing with storm surge from Hurricane Humberto off our coast, wayyyy off our coast. North Carolina was getting the brunt yesterday, we are getting less, but it is still nautical. Small craft advisories and rip current advisories. The waves…
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DSF’s Summer Surf Fishing Slam Series 9 Tournament results
Great day for a surf fishing tournament, despite the rough conditions in the surf.
Some areas were calmer than others. The bayside of the point was the nicest, and the ocean surf was nautical. Angry seas, but there were fish to catch. Lot of striped bass in the wash and those little puppy drum. The pompano bite today was off the…
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Delaware Fishing Report Friday The Thirteenth
Fishing report for Delaware Beaches, Bay, Inland Bays and Area waters
Hurricane Dorian Storm surge was a little rough, and ate some beaches up a tad last weekend, but the fishing was not too bad the rest of the week. The beaches survived the storm surge, and are a lot flatter with wide surf. They look like Assateague and New Jersey surf…
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Maryland Fishing Report – September 11
Maryland Fishing Report Courtesy of the Maryland DNR September 11, 2019
Photo by Captain “walleye” Pete Dahlberg
September is an exciting month for those who love the outdoors and fishing is usually at the top of the list. Mild late summer weather is providing exciting fishing opportunities across the Maryland landscape from the western…
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Fish Finally Showed Up At The Point With a Surprise
Apparently the fish didn't get the memo that the point opened early this year. Fishing the first couple of days was horrible and that dead low tide made for a bleak fishing report for Delaware. Then on September 1st the fishing at the point picked up exponentially. Now I am curious what the summer surf fishing at the point would be like. If…
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Pompano Are Big This Summer
Surf Anglers Are Catching Big Pompano Surf Fishing Delaware Beaches
Pompano in Delaware caught surf fishing the last few days are much bigger than usual. They won't be headed home once summer is over. No creel limits, eat all you want. These are the biggest ones we have seen in Delaware's surf. Perfect size to grill and eat. Right at…
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Maryland Fishing Report – August 28
The Maryland Fishing Report Is On Amazon Echo Just Ask Alexa
MD DNR ... August 28, 2019
The recent cooler weather has been a welcomed relief for all, and the hot summer months are beginning to fade into memory. Fishing has been good and recreational crabbers, in particular, are enjoying the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay, providing healthy…
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Striped Bass And Mullet On The Move
Sudden Inland Bay Water Temperature Drops Trigger Fish To Feed
Summer packed her bags, left, and she didn't even say goodbye! Actually she is just taking a breather, we have plenty of hot weather coming back, but this reminder of fall weather is nice. It is also getting the fish fired up around the inland bays. Triggered bass with the…
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Spanish Mackerel Triggering The Blues
Crooked Hammock Brewery Actively Fishing Lager and Beach Escape Session IPA seasonal craft beers. Mention DSF and receive 10% off your purchase.
Yesterday at Key Box and few other spots the blue fish schools were also producing Spanish mackerel. Schools are moving by start tossing spoons towards them orSstingsilvers and deadly dicks.…
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Delaware Fishing Report August 23
Fishing Report for Delaware Waters, Beaches and Bays
If you can avoid a summer cold, no matter what it takes do it! Day five and I can still hear colors thanks to the NyQuil which is the only thing keeping me sane. What is it about summer colds that make them worse than a winter cold. Speaking of cold we have a front incoming,…
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Maryland Fishing Report – Aug. 21
Maryland Fishing Report – Aug. 21 Striped Bass Summer Fishing Advisory Chesapeake Bay Oxygen Levels
Maryland DNR .... August 21, 2019
Memories are made while fishing and crabbing and this guy is lucky enough to have a grandfather to take him crabbing. Photo by Jim Livingston
We are on the back end of August and there are signs…
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Commercial Closure in Federal Waters for Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel
Commercial Closure in Federal Waters for Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Northern Zone on August 24, 2019
WHAT/WHEN:The commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel northern zone in federal waters will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 24, 2019, and will re-open on March 1, 2020. The northern zone for…
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Maryland Angler Tops Record for Common Dolphinfish
August 19, 2019 Catch Record for Mahi Set Just Three Weeks Ago at the Poor Girls Open
A Pasadena woman reeled in a new Maryland state record common dolphinfish, also known as mahi mahi. Kristy Frashure was participating in the Poor Girls Fishing Tournament in Ocean City on Aug. 16 when she caught the 74.5-pound fish.
Frashure and five…
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Delaware Fishing Report
Delaware fishing report for August 16th Water Temperatures Are On Point
The weather has been dicey the last couple of days. Flounder Pounder anglers have been out, but not in full force. That will change today into the weekend. Everyone fishes, or has to finish their set of three days. There are flounder about just have to find the…
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Maryland Fishing Report – August 14
Maryland Fishing Report – August 14
MD DNR ... August 14, 2019
Photo by Michael Carr
No matter how seasoned one is as a fishermen, catching a noteworthy fish brings out excitement that is too often suppressed deep within us. Our daily trials can take a toll on our sense of childlike fun. This photo made me smile and caused me to…
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Cuda Been A WMO Contender Now You’re Dinner
Barracuda caught off the coast of Maryland and Delaware during the White Marlin Open
The Gulf Stream brings us many strange, unusual, rare, vicous, and tasty fish visitors. Once in a while we see a catch like this barracuda. The other day Stephen Paris and his boys were fishing the White Marlin Open when they managed to troll up a little…
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It Finally Happened
Identifying Fish Can Be Hilarious Online Especially When It Happens To Be a Banded Rudderfish
(August 12, 2019) ... I have been waiting a long time for this day, and laughing for a half hour. That moment someone sends you a fish ID question and it actually is a banded rudderfish. For those in the know, this is funny because, the standard…
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Free Bait On The Beach Gnome What I Mean
There is a lot of peanut bunker are being pushed up close to the shore, and washing up on the beach. They are also easy to cast net or snag. No idea what is pushing them in so close. Dolphin, skate, shark, flounder, cobia, bluefish, or Spanish mackerel. It could be everything out there is pushing the bunker. They could even be just…
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Maryland Fishing Report – August 7
MD DNR ... August 7, 2019
Photo by Eric Packard
Just like us humans, fish are seeking relief from the summer heat wherever they can find it, and some fish are more tolerant of high temperatures than others. Many anglers have chosen to curtail fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay this month and are enjoying other fishing…
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Delaware Fishing Report July 7th
Crooked Hammock Brewery Actively Fishing Lager and Beach Escape Session IPA seasonal craft beers
Today is the middle of summer, Wednesday, August 7th at 7:52 a.m. Eastern Time is the exact mid point of summer. As of this morning we have lost 63 minutes of daylight since the first day of summer, June 21st. Daylight has been getting shorter…
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Bluefishing Is On Point
The other night Jeff Purdy and the gang hit the inlet and wore out the bluefish. "The boys were having a blast reeling in fish after fish after fish. " ... Jeff Purdy "The next day went to the surf and they were killing it there with spot."
Anthony Purdy and Ticen Willey banging up spot in the surf
That action has been on fire for a…
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Spring Fishing Has Been Great This Year
Masseys Ditch temperatures have been holding nicely and fluctuating consistently. You can use the temperature indicator to tell the tide in the ditch, Lowest temperature is high tide, highest temperature is low tide. The charts are in real time.
The weather is awesome, well it hasn't rained in a few days so there is that. The pollen…
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Fishing Has Been Good When It Is On
Welcome to May gang! The fishing is off the hook, the Delmarva Outdoors Expo was amazing, and the May The Fish Be With You surf fishing tournament is this weekend. DSF has the best tournaments! We have our own beer for this tourney compliments of Iron Hill Brewery, when you get your own beer you know you've made it, I have heard tell. There is…
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Somebody Caught A Bluefish Now What Should You Do
Matt Dammeyer was high hook this morning with this nice big bluefish. ( May 2017)
This has been the question of the week/month/year. Are the bluefish going to show up and when? Beats me we haven't gotten their itinerary yet is usually my answer.No one ever knows exactly when, that is a guess at best. Over the last three years it has been around…
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Lot Of Early Arrivals And Some Are Either Late Or Never Coming?
Everyone has been asking where are the drum we keep hearing about and it took until yesterday to finally see one of size at Broadkill Beach. The reports a few days ago (the state's) said there were drum in the surf off Broadkill, what it didn't mention is they were all of 10 inches long and mixed in with the perch and short bass. The again…
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Lot Of Fish Being Caught And More On The Way
Water temperatures in Masseys Ditch have been increasing a couple degrees a day with the recent warm up. Topping out at nearly 60 degrees.
Fishing this spring has been getting better and better. Location and tide has been important in some cases, but for the most part if you get out and fish you will more than likely catch. There is…
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Spring fishing Is On Point
The weather is amazing, if you aren't out fishing you should be all weekend. Anglers are finding more and more fish and the water temperatures are rising steadily. Despite the nightly temperature drops it is really warming up nice. It is literally hot out today.
Short bass in the surf all day long cast after cast on lures
…
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Bloodworm Packaging Carries Invasive Species
Throw the bait package and algae into the garbage not the water
From John Ewart,Aquaculture and Fisheries SpecialistDelaware Aquaculture Resource CenterSea Grant Marine Advisory ServiceCollege of Earth, Ocean and EnvironmentUniversity of Delaware This is an excerpt from the brochure Protect our Fisheries, you can also visit the project…
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Look What I found
Resident striped bass have been schooling up now ever since the water started warming up. Usually when the white perch start feeding heavily the striped bass are mixed in as well. For a couple of weeks the fishing has been sporadic, but if you know where to fish you can find short striped bass all day or night long. The fish are fat and…
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Here Fishy Fishy Fishy
Anyone ready to start doing this to get a fish on? The fishing has been decent to okay depending on where you are fishing. Bill McGee gets props for the first flounder of the year. "I put out a test crab pot and came up with this little fellow after soaking the pot for the night. Apparently the tiny summer flounder are here". Makes me…
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Post Heat Wave Fishing
The weather is back to hot, but at least not as hot as the first heat wave. Summer ain't over yet so be prepared for more hot days. Best to go fishing in the early morning and evenings when it is cooler, and the fish are more active. We have a lot of large dragonflies and cicadas everywhere, time to make some noise with top water action for…
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Overcast Weekend Could Be Good Fishing
Mother nature never ceases to amaze, it is now April in June. What is up with this crazy weather? I have no idea, but the water temperatures are holding at great levels. The cooling off is keeping the water temperatures below seventy degrees. The afternoon bite is much better than normal. Usually this time of year the morning and evening bites…
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Weekend Outlook For Fishing
Fishing has been good during the overcast days. Despite the crappy weather fish still have to eat. This weekend will be just as bad with the incoming weather. The surf has a variety of fish to catch: Flounder, Striped Bass, Bluefish, Northern puffers, Burrfish, Kingfish, and of course skates, rays, and sharks.
Catching has been good in the…
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Have A Safe And Fishful Memorial Day Weekend
One of the best parts about fish showing up late is you get to fish for them a little longer or so it seems. At least the rain is not as bad and we have Memorial Day weekend coming. Okay honestly I have no idea how the weather is in Delaware I am in Florida. I'm just watching my friends complain on the interweb so it must be true. Down here it is…
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The Bite Is Getting Better
Wacky weather, meteo tsunamis, and storm fronts are making for some rough fishing. I know one guy who had to beach his boat to avoid being blown across the Delaware Bay to New Jersey. Other than some heavy winds it wasn't so bad and the fishing has been decent.
Black Sea Bass season opened on Tuesday and several boats went out and loaded the…
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The Blues Are Biting But It is Random
This time last year we were slamming bluefish like it was going out of style. This year has been much different thanks to water temperatures. As soon as it looks like we are going to warm up mother nature takes a turn and cools down again. The fog that moved in last night really put a damper on the temperature. We figured last…
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Banging The Drum
Black drum fishing has really picked up this past week. Anglers from Fenwick Island to Slaughter beach are seeing decent catches. The surf has really picked up for the smaller sized drum. Assateague for the most part has quieted down a bit, but some are still being caught. Clam is the key for big drum, but sand fleas are also working and can be…
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Striped Bass Catching Is Picking Up
We saw a lot of short striped bass in the surf at the Chillaware Island Spring Surf Fishing Tournament, but not many keeper bass. Only one was landed on the beach at 3Rs. Not for lack of trying either, there was a buffet of food out there for any fish to dine on. Clams has been the ticket for bait this spring. Bloodworms work well too,but clam…
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Time For Some Fishing
Well it looks like mother nature kicked old man winter to the curb. The water temperatures are finally holding over fifty degrees and we have fish! It has been a long slow spring and the majority of fish are about three weeks late. There have been random catches but nothing like it was this time last year.
Flounder started showing up a…
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Fishing Report For What It’s Worth
The weather is crazy, what is up with Mother Nature? Hot , cold, rain, wind ... it is like three seasons in one day. The fishing is all messed up the inland bays are hitting about fifty-six at low tide, and dropping to fifty-three at high tide. The surf is just above fifty degrees,and so is the Delaware bay. That is good news for…
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Fishing Has Finally Picked Up
This weekend I wouldn't say it went off, but people have been catching fish and this is just the fringes of the action to come. From Jersey to Assateague the action has picked up. First and foremost, trophy striped bass season didn't start out so well for many anglers. The catches were low this year for opening day. Either due to lack of fish…
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Flounder And Bluefish Arriving
Saturday was a good day on the water for a few folks. The wind was vicious, I'm missing three layers of skin after the sand blasting we got at the beach. We moved behind the great dune Saturday after Corby tried Herring point and said it was just way too much wind. We were set up with bloodworms hoping for some short bass, the water was…
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Fish Marks The Spot
We are just driving along the beach at Fenwick Island looking at cuts and rips. "where do you want to fish?" "Up to you dude we have three good choices we can see with the binoculars." Chris ..."Let's go down there to that big cut."
We head down and not long after we get there, an osprey drops this bunker near us. Thanks to…
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Rats In The Surf And Blues On The Way
One day it'snot andthe next day it's hot, yesterday was hot. The water temperatures in the surf are around forty-six degrees. It is going to be windy this weekend, but you should tough it out and hit the water. Small craft advisory into Saturday. This warm up is helping that creep up slowly. Masseys Landing is fluctuating between…
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Striped Bass Are On The Move
Over the last few days striped bass have been moving up the Delaware Bay into the Delaware River. These are most likely resident fish, but they are females full of eggs, and big. No one has seen any sea lice on them which is a good sign to identify ocean striped bass. The Nanticoke river is seeing the same activity, with spawning females heading…
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Lot of Food In The Water
We have been on the beach the past few days fishing and exploring the tidelines. That is where you find some of the best evidence of fish in the surf. Yesterday I found a bunch of crab claws and one or two spider crab molts. That is always a good sign if they are molting.
Today I found a sea robin minnow that was still alive. I…
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Have You Dropped Your Crab Pots Yet? Bunker Are Here!
Crabs are emerging around the inland bays just in the past week or so. The water is still really chilly, but some crabs have been seen and caught. Masseys Landing jumped up six degrees in two days and is now peaking at forty-eight degrees. Captain Terry Murray dropped his commercial pots a few days ago and had a good haul for the…
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Good Weekend Fishing
This time last year we were rat wrangling in the surf. Which is catching small short bass one after another in the surf, it is fun and we coined the term one afternoon. Because when we all start joking in the surf you never know what is going to come out of our mouth.
You can use surf rods down to small bass rods for catching shorts. The…
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When Are The Fish Getting Here?
This is my favorite question. Because you can't predict the exact time you can only go by what has happened the past few years and hope that holds true for the coming season. The best example are the spring drum and now blue fish runs. Times change every year due to previous water and weather conditions.
The past three years…
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Fishing Is Picking Up Even In The Bad Weather
Fishing, well actually catching is and has been picking up for resident striped bass. That February warm up got them all excited. Once that happens they tend to not slow down or stop, kind of like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.
Anglers are catching short striped bass in all the tidal creeks and along the Delaware bay…
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Got Shrimp?
If you are looking for a great bait, then grass shrimp is on menu. The tidal creeks, especially at low tide are loaded with shrimp and the fish are going nuts for them. This warm up has really gotten mother nature stirred up, even the peeper frogs are out again, in February. White perch and all the usual freshwater suspects are…
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February Spring Fishing
The recent warm ups and rain storms are waking up the fish. We had three days of sixty degree rainy weather and this caused the water temperatures to jump up a full eight degrees in several area tidal creeks and rivers. The constant cold and freezing dropped the water temperatures to thirty-eight degrees and lower. Last week's warm…
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Gettin That Christmas Bass
We may not have a white Christmas, but there will be black and white stripes for some. The short striped bass action has been great in the back bays, especially around structure like the marinas in the creeks that feed into the inland bays. Under the lights at night you can catch short bass after short bass, it is a lot of fun and…
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Striped Bass Showing Up In Delaware Waters
Most of the bass pictures we keep seeing are Jersey bass, like this fifty pounder Jimmy Young caught the other day. It was only a matter of time and in this case days, for someone to finally start catching migratory striped bass in Delaware waters. The past couple of weeks we have been sent reports of a random keeper bass caught…
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Getting That Jersey Bass
Well the bass action is the hottest off the Jersey coast. Anglers are either going over there and hiring charters or making a forty to eighty mile run up the coast out of Lewes, even farther out of Indian River Inlet. Virginia is seeing huge striped bass now as well, upwards of fifty-one inch fish being brought to the scales. Once…
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Where Are All The Striped Bass?
That is pretty much a daily question this time of year. Another warm and cold beginning to winter. The water temperatures are dropping from the colder nights, but the sixty degree days are keeping them from dropping too fast. The water is right in the sweet spot for striped bass, they prefer the below fifty and above forty water temperatures.…
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Happy Thanksfishing
Well it got cold fast after that front came through, water temperatures really dropped in some areas,and we have more cold fronts headed this way. Frost on everything this morning and yesterday, but the fish are chewing. Hope everyone had a happy thanksgiving, today is a good day to go fishing with the family, or go fishing to…
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Time For Fall To Winter Fishing
Here comes winter, and all at once this weekend. This cold snap will change-up fishing for sure. For the fish and the anglers that do not like to fish the colder days. Time to trade in the shorts and flops for long pants and boots. Insulated waders on the beaches for surf fishing. The weather may get cold but the fall fishing we all…
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Fall Fishing Is Picking Up
Brrrrrrrr, it is as cold in Florida as it is in Delaware, go figure. At least the water is warm! We are hunting lionfish and getting ready for DEMA, the Dive Equipment Manufacturing Association convention. Meanwhile you all are seeing some decent fish up north. Bluefish are still hitting like mad in the surf, but in some areas…
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Albies In The Surf To The Table
My favorite fish to catch from land are albies, falsies, or false albacore and they are in thick right now. Now I just have to blow off this demolition job and get out there. The weather today is no good for this fishing so we will wait for tomorrow. The other day and for the last few days Gage Tayler and Tyler Graden have been…
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Sea Bass Season Has Started
Sunday was the first day of sea bass season which will last until December thirty-first. there is decent flounder ad sea bass action off shore on the wrecks and reef sites. Charters went out on Sunday and loaded up for the first day of the season. Not too many were skunked and a lot of keeper flounder in the mix. Triggers and…
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Fall Weekend Fishing
And Poof! Just like that we are into fall weather. Mother nature didn't waste anytime reminding us what time of year it is and the weather we are supposed to experience. Last year at this time we had these temperatures and nor'easters hitting us hard. Then it would warm up for a week or so, which will happen again this year. This weekend will…
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A Whale OF A Time At The Beach
I think October is the new September, the weather has been phenomenal for this time of year. Last year it was colder with a lot more heavy storms. The Chillaware Surf Fishing tournament is this Saturday, there is still time to sign up but not much. Packets canbepicked up at Liquid Board shop today ad Friday from 11 am to 5 PM and then 5:30…
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Fishing Report And Beach Conditions
The water temperatures are slowly climbing back up thanks to the warm days and cool nights. Nothing like we had a couple of weeks ago, that was some unusually cool weather. Masseys Ditch is topping out at seventy degrees and dropping to sixty-eight degrees. Mid week the water was only hitting sixty-eight and dropping as low as…
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Come On In The Water Is FIne
We have a small craft advisory today until two this afternoon. The water is starting to clear, yesterday the wind was brutal and the Delaware bay looked like chocolate milk. The ocean beaches had a lot of sand in the waves stirred up by the surge from Maria. Other than that the water is starting to look better. The fall…
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Post Hurricane Jose Fishing And Here Comes Maria
Despite Hurricane Jose near the coast, the fishing was not too bad until the waves really picked up and then it shut down for about two days. Once the water calmed down the parks opened the beaches for vehicles. When they were closed you could walk on and fish, we tried for bluefish and hit a few small ones, but for the most part the waves…
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Fishing Hurricane Jose Before And After
With Hurricane Jose off the coast we were experiencing a lot of heavy wave action from storm surge and wind. The beaches took a pounding but they survived and usually do aside from one breach, and a lot of swales or tide pools. The water is still stirred up and the wave action has died down, but we are till seeing some fast waves just a lot…
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Weekend Is Looking Good For Fishing
The surf is nice and calm now but by the beginning of next week Jose is going to light us up a little bit if it takes the most popular projected path. You might want to get your fishing in this weekend. We had to cancel the Jet Ski Fishing tournament just in case that swell was here early. There were some heavy waves yesterday but…
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Redfish Are Showing Up All Over And Skate For Your Plate
I ran into some of the fish and wildlife officers yesterday at Representative Steve Smyk's coffeehouse meeting and chatted them up for a bit. Those folks have a tough job this time of year. In the summer it is all fishing and boating, but now they have to add hunting to the mix. So if you see some of these folks, also known as Mr…
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Great Day Surf Fishing With Friends
Fun day in the surf the air temperatures are nice and cool. Despite that wind today the catching was decent. Lots of little blues at the point today and farther south at Conquest and the Indian River Inlet. Short striped bass down there as well. We were tearing up blues on mullet, squid, fishbites, and spoons. Nothing like the…
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Locals Summer Has Started
Ryan Corr caught this speckled trout at the point on Sunday on a mullet rig.
Hope everyone had a great labor day weekend and summer. Now it is time for locals' summer and to do some serious fishing. It is much easier to fish weekends when the summer crowds die down. We will still see more people on the weekends but not like it has been. With…
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Wet Holiday Weekend Fishing
Well the storm surge calmed down more than we thought which is great. The beaches are still carved up and there are swales or tide pools on just about all of them. DO NOT DRIVE through these even when they are "dry" get out and make sure the sand is solid first. Water will still be just under the sand and it can rather "quick" and…
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Fishing Report
Sorry this took so long I am still trying to get caught up after a very long weekend with the Flounder Pounder Open and our eclipse fishing. Well I don't have to tell you how the flounder action is offshore, or do I? Thanks to the Flounder Pounder Open we know the summer flattie fishing was killer last weekend. Some people caught…
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Big Flounder Coming To The Scales
That will be the phrase we hear a lot this weekend at the Flounder Pounder Open 2017. The Walker boys went out yesterday and walloped a nice sized seven plus pound flattie at twenty-six and three-quarters of an inch. The Katydid, yesterday brought an eight plus pounder to the scales, and the Grizzly brought in a few big summer…
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How To Be A Valued Guest
I am a self-professed “Fish-Bum”. I manage to fish over a hundred days a year always on someone else’s boat. Over the years I have learned to be a good guest when fishing, whether on beach or boat being invited to fish with a crew requires some work on your part. My Friend J.R. Whitsell, a local lure maker (JIGGED UP CUSTOMS) and I were…
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Post Storm Fishing
Well the nor'easter was fun, saw a lot of storm tourists too. One guy was swept off the ocean city jetty when he got too close and the waves washed across. Swimmers on Sunday were getting pummeled by heavy waves. It is the ocean people it can get rough and when it does it is best to stay out of it completely. The beaches are…
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Late Summer Fish Are Early
One fish we normally don't see until mid to late august is pompano. One was caught over the weekend at Fenwick Island. It is strange to see these warmer water fish when the water temperatures are not as warm as year's past. Masseys landing is only topping out at seventy-six degrees and dropping to seventy-two degrees today. Even…
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Hot Summer Fishing
Definitely the dead of summer, despite the heat,you can tell by the traffic. Wow is all I can say. Stay hydrated out there too it's gonna be a hot one today. The fishing is decent for the most part depending on what you are trying to catch. The offshore anglers are hit or miss on tuna. There are enough boats in the Indian River…
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Summer Tautog Season Starts Off With A Bang
Today was the first day of summer's tautog season, which is July seventeenth to August thirty first with a creel of five fish at fifteen inches or better. Several boaters fished the outer and inner walls, haystacks and wrecks off the coast in the Delaware Bay. Some had great luck with keepers, and others came up donuts for tautog,…
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Back On The Trigger
The rain last night was heavy for some and nonexistent for others. The light show was fun for sure, unless you were one of the people running away at the Rehoboth boardwalk. Despite the down pour, the water today is pretty clear at the Cape Henlopen pier. The boys are back at it trying for more trigger and so far they have struck out, but had a…
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Late Summer Fish Arriving Early
One of the best parts of my job is helping people fish or guiding them so to speak. My favorite is to see the kids out catching. School has been out for a while now and a lot of kids are hitting the water. These days to see kids enjoying the outdoors is a rarity thanks to video games. I know a lot of parents that make the kids get outside…
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Pulling Triggers And Trout
The weather is crazy with all the storms, lot of flash flooding which will dirty up the water for a day or so, and at least a couple of tides. The water temperatures despite the heat are holding nicely. Inland bays at Masseys landing is bouncing between sixty-eight and seventy-nine degrees between tides. The Delaware Bay is in the…
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Floundering In The Heat
Hello…
My name is Joe Yack. This is the first of many articles I hope to write for DSF, I hope you like it!
Not a day goes by that I don’t wake up and think…”If I could, where would I fish today?” It has been that way for years. In years past when I was still working as a carpenter/superintendent my career got in the way and now…
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Fourth Of July Weekend Fishing
well as far as I am concerned this is the halfway point for the summer season, fourth of July weekend. The madness gets a little crazier, and eventually we hit August and then the summer season is over. It seems a lot more crowded this year, which is good for area businesses. Summer hibernation is in full effect. That is when the…
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Friday Fishing And Night Is Right On
Yup, more rain for the weekend. Had a little this morning too, tomorrow should only last to about a little after noon. Either way it is crowded this weekend, lot of traffic today and early too which was weird, but no worries it picked right back up after it slacked off. The water temperatures are bouncing from sixty six degrees to…
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Weekend Fishing Outlook
Well the wind finally dies down but that will change up Friday into Saturday with rain and more wind. Yesterday's storm was nothing short of an epic amount of rain. Then again neither was the one a few days ago. We have had some serious rain showers. Then there is the wind, seriously it can stop blowing anytime now. The few days…
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Fishing Is Heating Up
Hot Hot Hot! Now we are into the heatwaves of summer and she came in strong. The water temperatures are still in the mid sixties in the Delaware bay and the surf. The inland bays have shot up to seventy eight degrees in just a few days and dropping to seventy degrees. The fluctuating tides really move the temperatures around in the back bays.…
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Weekend Outlook
Its gonna be a scorcher this weekend, and rather crowded based on the traffic we are seeing this afternoon. The winter June weather we had the last few days was an interesting surprise. Now we are headed into full blown summer temperatures. The southwest wind will be fun for the flies at the beach with mid eighty temperatures. …
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Beautiful Weekend Back Into The Rain For the Week
Finally a break from rain and wind. The weather over the weekend was perfect for fishing and just being outdoors. Not too hot and not too chilly, now we have a week of rain ahead at least until Thursday. We had some killer sunsets to enjoy while we ended our days of fishing over the weekend. The water temperatures held pretty well despite…
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First Northern Snakehead Record Set For Delaware
This year Delaware added the northern snakehead to its sport fishing tournament. Now anglers can get a citation and possibly a state record for a northern snakehead. These fish are an invasive species and most likely are here to stay. Some anglers prefer to catch these fish over any freshwater species. The fight they put up is…
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Memorable Fishing On Memorial Day Weekend
Great weekend despite the weather. We had some first catches at the docks and another interesting catch many have ever seen before. The fish were biting in the surf more than the flies which is always a good thing the DFM was around a two most of the time, the crazy a full on twelve. Beaches were crowded and so were the waterways.…
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Osprey Catch And Release
Safely removing a bird from your fishing line is a chore
(May 2017) ... Osprey are my favorite flying anglers, they always let you know there are fish around. They can even let you know when there aren't any fish around. They don't fly a mile off shore if there are fish close to the surf. Shorebirds can get caught up in all…
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Memorial Day Weekend Fishing Outlook
I keep getting messages, been all day with the same question. What can I expect this weekend, where do we go, what is biting? Well based on the traffic the entire planet is coming here this weekend. Now what can you expect? A lot of wind, possibly some rain. Pretty much what we have been dealing with for the past two weeks or more. The…
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Weekend Outlook Fishing In Delaware
The weather is getting hot this week and the waters will warm up a little more, but the fish are hitting like crazy. Masseys Landing is spiking to sixty-nine degrees at low tide and dropping to sixty-two degrees at high tide. The Delaware Bay is about sixty degrees as well as the surf, the upper bay is sixty-four degrees. There was an epic…
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Foul Weather Fishing
Lovely weather we are having today, but the fish don't care. The water temperatures at Masseys landing are bouncing between fifty-nine and sixty-one degrees. The Delaware bay and surf are around sixty-one degrees. The temperatures are great for these big bluefish and striped bass. The big blues have schooled up and are now being…
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Sunday Funday Shenanigans
It has been a great weekend, and the fishing was good too, well except for today. When I get together with a group of friends you just never know how the day is going to turn out. Friday we fished the inlet and beaches pretty hard. It wasn't too bad, we caught a few twenty to thirty plus inch bluefish in the surf, with the…
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Water Temperatures, Beach Conditions And Illinois Whammies The Skunk
Well this is a lovely day, it is raining so hard the man cavern sounds like a freight train, and you can't see out the windows. Metal buildings are very loud with heavy rain, the thunder is a nice added attraction. We are cleaning up the gear and getting ready for the weekend. My buddy Chris from Illinois has been out for two days…
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Inland Bays Got The Blues
We had a great weekend for weather the Delmarva Outdoors Expo was a blast. Thank you to all who attended, vended, and supported the event. Next year is going to be even better and bigger, we are already planning. Fishing was great over the weekend, I had to watch all my friends fish and torture me with pictures they kept sending to me. Thanks…
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Fishing For Blues Is Off The Hook
The weather this weekend is going to be beautiful, you need to go to the Delmarva Outdoors Expo! Fishing will be awful, I promise.
I'm kidding! Fishing is off the hook, especially for bluefish. Seriously they are all over the place. Even in areas we don't usually see them. The last couple of days including today the tide has…
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Bent Poles And Straight Hooks
Two years ago today was roughly the beginning of this yearly bluefish run. Since then I have had to keep pliers with me just to re-bend my hooks.
You have to love the fight of these gator bluefish. We have been having a lot of fun chasing them up and down the coast. When and where is the question on everyone's mind. We have been finding…
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The Stories Of The Catch Are Just As Fun
The best part of fishing are the stories, you just never know what madness will ensue during a normal day of fishing. Today the reel friend surf fishing crew are fishing at Cape Henlopen today. Sue Sokira text, call me you get a chance you have to hear this story. I call, she answers the phone ... "So Jason Duncan is reeling in a skate and…
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Good And Bay Day Of Fishing
We all have those days. One day is hot as hell and the next is a total skunk, today was that day, the skunk and it felt like hell. We went back to the Cape Henlopen Fishing pier beach and it was a total wash out. It happens. For all of you complaining of the "spot burn" get over it, the tackle shop, Lighthouse Bait and Tackle are…
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Rats To Blues We Saw A Lot Of New Fish Today
The alarm is set for five in the morning, but you are already up contemplating where to go and what to use, the excitement keeps you awake. Then the alarm goes off while you're in the shower. This is everyday for me this time of year. Where do we go, what do we try for etc.etc. Today was no exception aside from the fact I knew…
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Keeper Stripers In The Surf And Those Bluefish
Hope everyone had a great Easter, some anglers had a fantastic Easter. There have been some decent catches up and down the coast. The water temperatures are good for the fish and not so much for my feet. I just got feeling back in my toes this morning. I saw people swimming this weekend, ya'll are nuts! The weather was perfect…
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Booooooofish!!
Happy Easter everyone. It is a great day in the surf and area waters. We have a lot of fish being caught. Trophy season for striped bass in Maryland has been fair to poor according to most, but some fish were caught. It isn't as good as it usually is and probably has to do with the Susquehanna flooded out from the heavy rains. …
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Fishing Is Off The Hook
We are now into some serious spring fishing action and it has really heated up since a few days ago. For a couple of weeks we have been slamming the short striped bass in the surf, back bays, the bridges around ocean city and the Oceanic Pier. We took Outdoors Delmarva fishing yesterday in the surf and the action was on fire. Lots…
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Blue Crabs Are Filling Pots
The inland bay temperatures are reaching close to sixty degrees and dropping to as low as fifty-four degrees at high tide. The fishing has been good the flounder are in and the short striped bass are all over the place. The shallower waters have seen the best action since the water is a bit warmer. All of the inland bays are…
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Flounder Action Has Started
Spring fishing is finally getting better. Anglers have been creaming rats in the surf on most of the beaches. The action has been hot too. Small striped bass are hitting just about anything we throw at them, bloodworms are working well, but we are doing just as good if not better throwing lures. Literally it is a catch every cast…
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The Drum Are On The Run
A few years ago, about mid March, a friend of mine caught a fat black drum off Broadkill beach on bloodworms. It was something we see, but not that often. Then about two years ago the big black drum started running the bay beaches from Beach Plum Island State park to Slaughter Beach. I'm not talking about the little twenty…
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A Whale Of A Time Fishing
You never know what you are going to see off the coast. It is not uncommon to see whales in our waters, even near the beach. Over the weekend while exploring different cuts to fish a friend of mine almost got a whale of a catch. "We were pulling onto herring point after trying south all day and decided to look for birds along the…
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Weekend Outlook For Fishing
The inland bays peaked to almost fifty-eight degrees during the week. This morning we are looking at forty-nine degrees and peaking to fifty-five degrees. This trend will continue for a few days and may drop a few degrees with today's rain and frontal system. The Delaware bay is holding around fifty degrees in Lewes, even up north…
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Striped Bass Spawning Season Starts Let The Big Girls Go
Before you got too excited, the fish in the picture was caught in April of 2014. However the Delaware Bay and river is coming alive with large migratory striped bass. This is the beginning of the next phase of the striped bass spring run, when the fish start moving into the spawning grounds. We already have tons of the small male…
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Surf Rats, Blues, Skates, and Dogs
Well the bite is seriously on and doesn't seem to slow down. Either it shuts down for a little while or we walk away leaving them chewing. There are a lot of small short bass in the surf,"rats" and the occasional keeper is landed. The fish are mostly hitting white colors for flies, swim shads and bucktails. Some days they will…
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Summer Flounder Are Here
The Henbit is flowering big time in the fields, those little purple flowers and that usually indicates it is time to start catching summer flounder. A few days ago the first summer flounder of the year was caught in Virginia. Usually by this time of year, someone catches at least one flounder in Delaware from the inland bays and the…
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From Stripes To Blues
Congrats to Mike Duncan for the first documented keeper striped bass of the season, and a huge thanks for the release. Over the weekend we did a lot of fishing in different areas with a lot of different gear and colors. Not much was hitting the colorful rigs, jigs, and bucktails. The bass all seemed to prefer white swim shads, and…
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Weekend Outlook For Fishing
If you haven't seen the weather though it is going to be windy, Saturday is going to be a nice day in the seventies, and Sunday is looking pretty good too. There is a slight chance of rain Sunday but it should still be a good day and the overcast skies will be perfect for striped bass fishing. Which by the way has been good in many…
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Striped Bass Are On The Move
Everyone is asking when is the spring run going to start. What everyone should be doing is fishing, seriously. The cherry blossoms are two weeks early, dogwoods are blooming already, and trees have huge buds. Spring was basically here the last week of February, and the fish started moving around. The Henbit in the fields are…
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Spring’s Winter Fishing
Happy St Paddy's day!
The water temperatures have plummeted heavily since this last winter blast. The Inland Bays and tidal creeks have dropped almost fourteen degrees. At the beginning of the week Masseys Landing was in the upper forties and today it is peaking to about thirty-six degrees, dropping as low as thirty-four degrees the last…
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Pending Delaware State Record Catfish Caught
Despite the bad weather and gnarly conditions. Some people got out and went fishing before storm Stella decided to try and get her groove back. The action wasn't bad for striped bass in the Broad Creek for anglers trying to catch large mouth bass. Nothing like the shock of a twenty pound striped bass on a crank bait with light gear. One…
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Winter Is Coming Back But The Fish Don’t Care
If you are waiting for fair weather to get out fishing, you might want to think again and just go fish. Lots of activity in all the area tidal waters and ponds. People are doing well in many of the usual spots you would find migratory bass on the move or schooling. The bait shops are all open for the 2017 season, some more so on…
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Cold Start To Pond Season For Trout
It was roughly twenty degrees when trout season opened for Newton and Tidbury ponds Saturday. That didn't stop about a hundred and fifty anglers from trying at Newton's pond though. The air was crisp and sharp to the nose when you breathed. nothing like going from spring February into the winter of march. Wizards of the long wands…
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Herring Are Running And Striped Bass Are Hitting
The warm weather has triggered a lot of fishing action. Crab pots are now legal to put in the water and in some shallow water areas you could actually catch some on the warmer days around the inland bays and tidal creeks. Snakeheads are hitting, but that may shut down with the coming colder weather. Friday and Saturday night's lows…
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February Spring Fishing And Flowers
Is February the new March? The trees in my woods are budding, dogwoods are popping flowers, daffodils are out, and the weeping willows are turning green with small leaves. If I didn't know better I would say spring has already started. There are other signs of an early spring wake up call from nature. Saturday there were a gazillion…
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Good Fishing On a Warm Weekend
The fishing over the weekend was great for many anglers. Bait hasn't been too much of an issue, you can either catch minnows or buy them at some local shops. Grass shrimp is a go to bait this time of year, but you have to catch them in tidal creeks. Another good spot to look is in canals and boat basins around the inland bays. …
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Indian Summer Weekend
Delaweather is in full effect, either hot or cold, just have to pick your day. This weekend is going to be beautiful with a slight chance of rain Saturday evening. Temperatures will hit close to seventy degrees in the mid sixties. High tide the Indian River Inlet is around noon. The water temperatures are sill in the low forties…
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Taugin In Love Creek, Wait. What?
I have caught tautog in some weird spots around the inland bays. Some of these spots you wouldn't think to find a tautog, like the jetties of Pot Nets. Other places you would think there should be tautog, but I haven't seen one caught there before, such as the Roosevelt inlet jetty. Not to say there aren't any there, we just…
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Winter Clamming Abides
Alicen Sharp holding a clam she raked up
The commercial clammers are always out there searching for clams around the inland bays. They have their favorite spots and are quite successful on most days. Wading in chest deep water to get to areas that this time of year which are much easier to access due to the lower winter tides.…
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Summer Flounder Regulations ASMFC Meeting Update
Today the ASMFC held their meeting to decide the regulations for the summer flounder, scup and black sea bass. I know you are all mainly concerned with summer flounder, and what the new regulations or creel limits will be for Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey. Once the votes are in the recommendation will be passed along to NOAA to…
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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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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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Pending World Record Tautog Caught in Maryland Today (2015)
This happened in 2015 in January. Haven't seen anything this close this year hit the scales.
When Ken Westerfeld from Queens New York, went on his annual taugtog fishing trip in Maryland today I am sure he hoped for a great day of fishing, even dreamed of catching a monster fish, but rarely does one get to experience catching a…
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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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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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