Sea Glass Wreath A How To
I attended the 2017 Sea Glass festival in Lewes, DE, for the first time and became infatuated with sea glass wreaths. Sea glass is precisely what the name suggests, glass that was discarded or dropped in the ocean. It has a certain mysterious quality to it because we can wonder about the conditions surrounding how the glass arrived from point…
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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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Beware Of Large Holes On The Beach
We have an issue with large holes on the drive on beaches. I was at 3Rs yesterday fishing and when I drove on, as usual on a weekday there was hardly anyone out there, so you can take your time to look at the cuts and the ocean while you drive the beach. Luckily I was paying attention, because a small berm in front of the truck…
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ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Draft Amendment 3 for Public Comment
ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Draft Amendment 3 for Public Comment
Peanut bunker that washed up onto the beach
Alexandria, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board approved Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden for public comment. The…
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SUP Yoga Delaware
About the Author ... In addition to being an advocate for clean water, healthy ecosystems, and a defender of marine life, Stacey Chandler is a certified Pilates instructor, Yoga teacher, SUP Yoga & Stand Up Paddleboard instructor. She teaches and certifies SUP Yoga teachers. She is the only certifying SUP Yoga teacher in DE. Stacey lives…
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State Parks Go Retro With New Surf Tags
The old surf tags are back with the traditional Delaware State colors. Back in the day these were the generic tags that were offered and they were numbered. Now we have the white generic tag with the blue embossed image, and they are not numbered. Recently Kathy Keating received her new old tag and the reaction has been great. "We…
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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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Two Meteor Showers Put On A Summer Celestial Show
The Delta Aquariids are still going strong and the Perseids are starting to show up as well. Late at night after the moon sets is the best viewing time from midnight until dawn. The radiant point for the Delta Aquarid shower is near star Skat, or Delta Aquarii in the great square of the constellation Pegasus. The Deltas are not as bright as…
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Summer Nor’easter Update
Well ... it's raining ... again. The seas are angry today, but only a mild rage. Last night's rain was close to four inches for most of Sussex county. The winds today are not as bad as predicted. High tide is around 2:30 PM for the beaches, after that, around 5 to 6 PM I would check the beaches for treasures. There is a sink hole…
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Kendall Cleans While She Visits
Many of my friends who surf fish will clean the beach while we fish or upon our arrival. We can not stand seeing trash on the beach. The parks actually provide bags for people and remind them to carry in and carry out at all park entrances. Most of the trash on a beach does not come from tourists or beach goers. Most comes from…
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Liquid Board Shop’s New Fishing Shirts
Mike Ridings owner of Liquid Board Shop on route 1 has brought in a new line of short sleeved T shirts and long sleeved fishing shirts. "I wanted a unique shirt for anglers in the area, these were perfect. We will have more designs soon and are collaborating with a few different companies to expand our fishing shirt lines." The…
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DNREC Police Rescue Woman Thrown Overboard
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police rescue woman thrown overboard from her own boat into Rehoboth Bay
MILLSBORO (July 28, 2017) – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers rescued a 65-year-old Lewes woman from Rehoboth Bay Thursday after she was ejected from her fishing skiff and it continued to spin out of…
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Tying Terrestrials, Ken’s Crazy Ant
I said I’d come up with more on terrestrials and I’m making good on it. Of course, I'm a fisherman so it took a little longer than “over the weekend” as I’d promised.
The Boss was out of town so I spent some time in the basement and got crafty with a how-to tying video. I'm pretty excited about this first run at it and I even sent it to the…
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Slamming Snakeheads: A Tutorial for Catching an Invasive Species
Slamming Snakeheads: A Tutorial for Catching an Invasive Species
The Northern Snakehead is an invasive species from Asia that got its start in the United States as pets, sold in many aquarium stores. This fast-growing fish is shrouded in legend and myth, yet is extremely exciting to target and even more fun to catch. Catching it can…
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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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Extended Closure Of Delaware Bay For Recreational Shellfish Harvest
DNREC establishes 21-day timeframe for extended closure of Delaware Bay for recreational shellfish harvest after Kent County’s wastewater plant discharge returns to acceptable water quality levels
DOVER (July 26, 2017) – As reported this week to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Surface Water Discharges Section,…
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MV Twin Capes Ferry Will Be Sunk To Create A New Artificial Reef In 2018
DRBA to sell MV Twin Capes ferry to DNREC for reefing
Vessel will become part of Del-Jersey-Land Artificial Reef off the Delaware coast
(Cape May, NJ) Today, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that the ferry vessel, MV Twin Capes, will be sold to Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control…
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Clams Casino
Good Morning,With the heat of the summer upon us, outdoor activities can lead to long days. Maybe you are planning on fishing, relaxing on the bay, wondering what to do on your friends boat, or sitting in the AC wondering where your friend is with that boat. After being out all day, you are probably going to be a little burnt, a little…
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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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Coastal Flood Advisory Starts At 6 PM
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE FOR PA...NJ...DE...AND MD
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1045 AM EDT SAT JUL 22 2017
DEZ002>004-NJZ012>014-020>027-230400-
/O.NEW.KPHI.CF.Y.0014.170722T2200Z-170723T0400Z/
KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-
EASTERN MONMOUTH-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-
ATLANTIC…
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Fly Tying Demonstration Sunday
When summer really gets into swing, and the aquatic hatches start to thin out, terrestrials like ants and hoppers become important forage for trout. Tomorrow (Sunday July 23rd) the Orvis shop in Bethesda Maryland will be hosting me and we’ll be tying flies four a few hours beginning at noon. If you’ve decided it’s too hot to make the run over…
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Beach Cleanups Inspire Other Groups To Do Their Part
We have been hosting beach clean ups every Tuesday at eight in the morning for a month now and it has been very successful with turnouts and trash collected. We have averaged about five hundred pounds of trash and debris. One volunteer even found a casino chip from Las Vegas, we still are unsure of the value of the chip it is just a…
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What Makes A Good Fishing Spot
I am often asked “What makes a good fishing spot”… My reply is usually something like “Fish where the fish are, because you can’t catch what isn’t there”. I’m not being a jerk I’m telling the truth! Generally speaking, I want to see 3 things in a fishing spot. The first thing is a moving tide or current. The next thing I want to see is some…
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Smoking The Blues
We had another great bluefish run again this spring, the big gators are one of my favorite fish to catch. They are super aggressive blowing up top waters and fight hard. I was lucky enough to land over a dozen fish this spring all over ten pounds, including a 37" 16 pound bluefish on a popper that earned me a citation. I released most of the…
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Fishing The Millpond Weeds
Summer time fishing in the millponds around Delaware and Eastern Shore of Maryland means one thing: Weeds! A place where you were nailing staging, pre-spawn bass on a suspending jerkbait with two treble hooks in the Spring becomes choked with weeds come mid-July. Hydrilla up growth, floating weed mats, Lily pads…you name it. The area millponds…
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Maryland’s New Off-Road Vehicle Trail Opens in Garrett County
Maryland’s New Off-Road Vehicle Trail Opens in Garrett County
July 20, 2017
Reservations Now Being Accepted for the St. John’s Rock ORV Trail and Campground
Off-road vehicle enthusiasts can get ready to take on a new trail as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources opens St. John’s Rock ORV Trail and Campground in Garrett County.…
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Wounds From Fish Can Be Deadly
Dialogue from the Facebook post ... "My friend’s grandfather was gutting a trigger fish in OCMD and cut his finger. He went to the hospital, was given an oral antibiotic and discharged. Overnight he developed a high fever and his hand looks like this now. They are admitting him and infectious disease specialists are on their way to…
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DNREC Closes Recreational Shellfish Harvest In North Delaware Bay Due To Undertreated Wastewater
DNREC closes recreational shellfish harvest in north Delaware Bay due to undertreated wastewater from Kent County treatment plant
DOVER (July 18, 2017) – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today directed the Kent County wastewater treatment plant to take immediate action to correct an ongoing…
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increased the retention limit for the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management groups
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has increased the retention limit for the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management groups (Appendix 1) for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 3 to 36 LCS (other than sandbar sharks) per vessel per trip effective July…
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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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Paradise Marina’s Second Annual Bay Flounder Tournament
Yesterday was the Paradise Marina's second annual Bay Flounder tournament. Two Hundred and seventy-four anglers fished for first place worth five thousand dollars. Anglers showed up at the marina to sign in at seven in the morning. Five dollars of every entry fee was donated to the Boys and Girls club in Oak Orchard. The tournament raised one…
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Kayak Fishing The Pier
Any day fishing is a good day in my book. I get excited every time, waking up early, getting all my gear ready. My name is Jason Schuster and I grew up and still live in Newark, Delaware. I've been fishing, crabbing, and hunting all my life. The plan for today was to head down to the Cape Henlopen fishing pier and meet up with my buddy Gage. I…
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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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Tarpon Off The Jersey Coast
Tarpons were caught in bunker nets off the New Jersey Coastline
When the Gulf stream moves north all kinds of fish that we never normally see in our waters comes with it. We have seen tarpon before in older pictures and hear rumors of some caught here and there. Last year a barracuda was caught in the Delaware bay by a buddy of mine, I have…
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Taylor Needs Skates And Dogfish For Research
Here is your chance to do something with all those skates and dogfish you are catching and help in some research. Taylor Deemer who works at Lighthouse View Bait and Tackle, the shop at the Cape Henlopen fishing pier, needs our help. This is limited to people who fish in the Lewes and Cape Henlopen State Park area so it is easier…
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Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament’s New Youth Division
DOVER – Fishing offers an outstanding opportunity to enjoy Delaware’s great outdoors and spend quality time with family. To add to the experience for anglers age 15 and under, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife today announced a new youth division of the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament with smaller qualifying sizes for trophy fish than…
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Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce the Modern Fish Act
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce the Modern Fish Act
Recreational Fishermen Laud Wicker, Nelson and Colleagues
July 10, 2017 (Washington, DC) - Today, the recreational fishing and boating community praised the Senate introduction of the Modern Fish Act by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Brian…
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Bass Fishing The Chester River Headwaters
(Oct. 2016) A couple of weeks ago I got that call we all like to get. William Van Sant of Lachwood Fishing Adventures in Maryland called. "Hey are you free this week, I want to get you out on the river for some crack of dawn bass fishing" Well you don't have to ask me twice, just tell me when you want to go, and I will make the…
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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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Summer Striped Bass Slot Season
Summer striped bass slot season started July first, and will last until August thirty first. You can keep striped bass or rockfish in the size range of twenty to twenty five inches. Personally they are my favorite size to eat, they are all male fish so you are not hurting the population or eating a heavily polluted fish. This slot…
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Delaware’s Budget Is Set
Budget Deal Reached, Grants-in-Aid Restored
(Dover) Two days after missing a deadline to have a state spending plan in place, Delaware legislators and Gov. John Carney reached a consensus on a new balanced budget.
To avoid any interruption of state services, the government has been operating under a limited three-day spending bill to…
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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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Third Annual Kids Catch All Tournament
The third Annual Kids Catch All Tournament was last weekend and it was big success to raise money for the Lymes Disease Association of Delmarva. This event is held annually at the Indian River Inlet marina and was a great time. Despite the rough weather and water the first day, a lot of fish came to the scales Sunday. Triggerfish,…
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Crab Pot Thieves Caught In Herring Creek
DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife officers make arrests for crabbing violations and crab pot thefts
DOVER (June 27, 2017) – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested two New Castle County men June 24, following an investigation into multiple crabbing and crab pot theft violations that occurred on Herring Creek…
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Beach Plum Island State Park Beach Is Clean
Five of us met at Beach Plum Island State Park today and cleaned the beach, in the rain. That was a bit unexpected and wet. We filled six trash bags with over two hundred pounds of trash. That is the cleanest I have ever seen that beach, we figured there would be three times the trash we collected. I think the most numerous items…
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Water Water Everywhere
Water water everywhere
It's been a wet spring. From the beaches to the trout streams there seems to be no shortage of runoff. While I couldn't join the crew on the beach in the last week I was lucky enough to be guiding up on The Big Gunpowder Falls.
If you aren't familiar with the river it's one to put on the road-trip list. With flows…
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New Hunting And Trapping License Fees In Effect July 1
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters and trappers about new license fees in effect July 1
DOVER (June 20, 2017) – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reminds hunters and trappers that new hunting and trapping license fees will be in effect July 1.
New hunting and trapping license and related fees…
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Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to hold June 28 public hearing on draft amendment to tautog management plan in Lewes
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to hold June 28 public hearing on draft amendment to tautog management plan in Lewes
DOVER (June 26, 2017) – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will host an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) public hearing on a draft amendment to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan…
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Operation Dry Water June 30-July 2
Delaware promoting Operation Dry Water June 30-July 2 to help prevent boating under the influence and save lives on the water
DOVER (June 26, 2017) – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police today announced Delaware’s active participation in Operation Dry Water, an annual nationwide enforcement and education campaign aimed at…
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Paradise Marina’s Bay Flounder Tournament
Everyone ready for a warm up to the Flounder Pounder Open? Want to win five thousand dollars? The Paradise Grill Bay Flounder Tournament is on Saturday July 15th, rain or shine. This is a great way to get the kids involved and they could win up to five hundred dollars and are eligible to win prizes in the adult categories. Largest…
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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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2017 Flounder Pounder Open Rules And Regulations
Paradise Marina & Short’s Marine are excited to announce the details for the 2017 Flounder Pounder Open August 18th - 20th
This is a three day tournament, you choose the two days you are going to fish. This will be a flounder tournament only and you must fish from a registered watercraft.…
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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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Coastal Flood Advisory This Evening
Coastal Flood Advisory
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE FOR PA...NJ...DE...AND MD
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
331 AM EDT THU JUN 22 2017
DEZ003-004-NJZ012>014-020-022>027-222100-
/O.NEW.KPHI.CF.Y.0013.170622T2100Z-170623T0100Z/
INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-
EASTERN MONMOUTH-OCEAN-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-…
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Lionfish Invade Delaware
I want to send a huge shout out to Crooked Hammock and La Vida group for helping the Coast Watch Alliance, SEALEG, and Delaware Surf Fishing at the Lionfish World Championship during the Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day. Their donation fed all of the volunteers at this two-day event in Pensacola Florida. That's right Delaware…
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Weekly Beach Clean Ups Resume
Today was the first day of weekly beach clean ups in the Delaware State parks. These will all happen on Tuesdays and we will meet at a different park each week, there is a schedule below. Delaware Surf Fishing LLC in cooperation with Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter, Big Chill Beach Club and Liquid Board shops hosted today's…
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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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Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: May 29-June 4
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: May 29-June 4
Reminder for the week: Commercial horseshoe crab harvest occurring now
DOVER (June 9, 2017) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public…
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The Strawberry Rises
Junes full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon by the Algonquin tribes because it corresponded with the harvesting of many fruits including strawberries. In the month of June strawberries have a small harvesting season. It is also known as the Rose moon in Europe.
Should be a good weekend to enjoy fishing by the full moon and we will have…
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Swimming Advisory Issued For Dewey Beach
A swim advisory has been issued for Dewey Beach. This is from elevated levels of the Enterococcoi (Colonies/100ml) bacteria which is elevated beyond the "safe" levels. Officials stated this is from shorebirds feeding on horseshoe crab eggs. The warning has been issued for Swedes and Dagsworthy streets. Recent runoff from the rain…
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Delaware City and Augustine Beach boat ramps in New Castle County to close briefly this month for repairs
Delaware City and Augustine Beach boat ramps
in New Castle County to close briefly this month for repairs
DOVER (June 6, 2017) –The Delaware City Boat Ramp, located within Fort DuPont State Park, and the Augustine Beach Boat Ramp, located south of Port Penn, will each be closed temporarily this month to allow contractors to…
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New Conservation Access Pass For State Wildlife Areas Going On Sale July 1
New Conservation Access Pass for state wildlife areas
going on sale July 1, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife announces
DOVER (June 6, 2017) – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is launching Delaware’s new Conservation Access Pass July 1. Starting on that date, a Conservation Access Pass will be required for any registered…
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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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Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter Paddle Boards Are Vessels
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: May 22-28
Reminder for the week: Paddle boards are vessels – and boating regulations apply
DOVER (June 2, 2017) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and…
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ASMFC Finds New Jersey Out of Compliance with Addendum XXVIII to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP
ASMFC Finds New Jersey Out of Compliance with Addendum XXVIII to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP
Arlington, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has found the State of New Jersey out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained in Addendum XXVIII to the Interstate Fishery…
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Maryland’s Summer Rockfish Season Begins June 1
Summer Rockfish Season Begins June 1
May 31, 2017
Striped Bass Fishing Expands Baywide
Anglers wanting to get in on this year’s striped bass fishing season will have more areas to fish starting June 1.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the official opening of the summer/fall striped bass season with no exclusions…
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Sounding Rockets Will Light Up The Sky
Update from NASA Wallops flight facility ... Update 14:45 p.m., May 30 – The launch of a Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket testing a new deployment system to support space studies originally scheduled for May 31 has been delayed until June 1. The launch window remains 4:27 – 4:42 a.m. EDT. The launch has been delayed because of…
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Third Annual Fish And Boat Expo
This is the third annual fish and boat Expo at the American Legion on route 24. Last years was a great time and we had a lot of people drop by. This is a great chance to clean out that shed and get rid of old or extra gear.
On June 10th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a fishing and boating expo at the American Legion post 28 on route…
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Anglers Invited To Fish For Free In Delaware Waters June 3 And 4
Anglers invited to fish for free in Delaware waters June 3 and 4
DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police to host 31st Annual Youth Fishing Tournament June 3
DOVER (May 30, 2017) – To celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week, June 3-11, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife invites you to fish, crab and clam in…
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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 kinds of stray…
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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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Third Annual Kids Catch-All Fishing Tournament At the Indian River Marina, June 23 – 25
Delaware Surf Fishing is a proud sponsor of this tournament, looking forward to helping raise money for the Lyme Disease Association of Delmarva, Inc. There is still time to become a sponsor of this event.
Third Annual Kids Catch-All Fishing Tournament At the Indian River Marina, June 23 - 25
Rehoboth Beach, DE – The staff at…
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DNREC’s 31st Annual Youth Fishing Tournament June 3
DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police to host 31st Annual Youth Fishing Tournament June 3
Tournament marks the start of National Fishing & Boating Week June 3-11; entry forms online
DOVER (May 25, 2017) – As part of activities for National Fishing and Boating Week, June 3-11, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife…
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Great Whites Visit Delaware For The Holiday
Not just tourists are here in full force this weekend. We have a couple more visitors that are making their way up the coastline, heading north. I would assume they are in search of the seal population that is getting bigger yearly in Delaware. Mary Lee is far off the coast of Delaware and Maryland. I wouldn't worry too much about her but if…
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Shark Fishing in Delaware … the rules clarified
Blue Shark caught by Clay Harrison and released
(May 26, 2017) ...THIS WAS WRITTEN THREE YEARS AGO IT STILL APPLIES. Know the rules! Old articles are open to the public.
Yesterday I was rewriting an article I did last year when I interviewed Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. Many people are catching prohibited sharks and…
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DNREC Secretary’s Order approves issuance of permits for construction and operation of City of Rehoboth Beach outfall
DNREC Secretary’s Order approves issuance of permits for
construction and operation of City of Rehoboth Beach outfall
DOVER (May 25, 2017) – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin today signed an order enabling the City of Rehoboth Beach to move forward with construction of an outfall that will…
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DNREC reports nine piping plover pairs incubating nests
DNREC reports nine piping plover pairs incubating nests at Cape Henlopen’s Point and Fowler Beach
LEWES (May 24, 2017) – With summer just around the corner, beachnesting birds are in full breeding mode, with piping plover and American oystercatcher nests increasing their Delaware numbers and least terns making nest scrapes, DNREC’s…
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Vehicle Fire On Savages Ditch
(November 2017) ... A vehicle caught on fire last night near Faithful Steward Drive (Savages Ditch) on surf fishing access in Delaware Seashore State Park. In the video below you can see it was fully involved by the time Dave Eastburn saw it on his way to do a little night fishing. Apparently the vehicle overheated when it was being driven…
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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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ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board Withdraws Draft Addendum V & Maintains Current Measures until Completion of 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment
ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board Withdraws Draft Addendum V & Maintains Current Measures until Completion of 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment
Alexandria, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board chose to not advance Draft Addendum V to Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan…
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The Tamaroa Was Sunk At The Del Jersey Land Reef Site
The Tamaroa sitting high in the water.
(May 10, 2017) ... Yesterday I was invited to watch the sinking of a piece of history. This was probably the best birthday present I have ever received, thank you to the state of Delaware for the invite. I was also covering this for Delaware State News. I arrived at the Delaware Bay Launch service in…
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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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Spring Break Ceviche
For the hunting and fishing types, this is typically the most non-eventful part of the year until the perch and shad start running and turkey season opens up. This is also about the only time of year a chef in these parts can take a break from work. This year I took my annual spring break trip down to Florida to see friends and…
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I Don’t Know If I’m Going Fishing Today
I remember saying that right before an empty can of something was thrown at me by my brother or one of the other mechanics working at the local garage. Back when I was 18, I would go on a work binge, and then take time off to loaf and enjoy being young. Mostly I fished.
What I didn't know back then was, telling a bunch of dudes who chose a…
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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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Hogs And Heroes Donates To The Ocean View Police Department
Hogs And Heroes is a non-profit organization founded in 2008, they are not a motorcycle club. They are a group of like-minded individuals that raise money for military, police, firefighters, and EMT personnel. They do this through fundraisers they host through out the year. Anything from benefits to raffling off large items, last…
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Whale Washes Up Near Rehoboth Beach
Earlier this morning a large whale washed up onto the beach at Henlopen Acres just above Rehoboth beach. Suzanne Thurman from MERR is on scene right now with DNREC trying to figure out how they can move it to the state park and do a necropsy. Suzanne said this is a humpback whale and because of that NOAA requires certain procedures…
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Restricted Beach Access Survey Results
Well it looks like the "beach coalition" is not going to take no for an answer and have turned up the heat. They are using a lawyer and a lobbyist to try and pressure the state of Delaware (Governor John Carney and DNREC secretary Shawn Garvin) into not allowing trucks to park in front of their houses and communities, which are located in…
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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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First Recipient Of Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament’s Elite Angler Award
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announces first recipient of Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament’s Elite Angler award
DOVER (April 26, 2017) – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife today announced the first recipient of the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament’s new Elite Angler award is Thomas Passwaters Sr., of Milford, a…
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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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One Last Chance To Stop The Rehoboth Waste Water Outfall Project
Well apparently we have one last shot at stopping the waste water outfall project. Rehoboth beach wants to pump their waste water out into the ocean, near the Hen and Chicken shoals. If you have been following this then I don't need to go into a lot of details, but I am not in favor of this project. In fact many are not in foavor…
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Update On Whale At Port Mahon
Yesterday a small whale washed up against the fishing pier at Port Mahon. Alex Tkachuk was there fishing and sent me a couple of pictures. Someone there called DNREC, and I called Suzanne Thurman at MERR. They sent a crew out there to decide what to do with it which most likely would be tow it off the pier out into the bay or even…
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Win A Charter Trip From The Delmarva Outdoors Expo
WIN A CHARTER TRIP!!! ... Delmarva Outdoors Expo weekend passes purchased before the event will only qualify for this giveaway. Order your weekend passes ahead of time to be entered to win a Charter trip with Fish Whisperer charters. You will also receive ten extra door prize tickets. Door prizes will be given away every 15 minutes all weekend.…
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Delmarva Outdoors Expo Has Something For Everyone
The first annual Delmarva Outdoors Expo will be held on April 28th to the 30th at the state fairgrounds in Harrington, Delaware. Darrell Meade wanted to organize an outdoors show in the area and he has hit a home run. "I wanted to do something on the scale of the Harrisburg show for this area, we have always needed a show like this. Delmarva…
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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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Spring Has Sprung!
Just before my trip to fish with my brother and father last week I fished with Gene from Backwater Angler up on the Gunpowder. This was one of three trips in a row where I'd sat on the freeway in hours of traffic while watching the weather go from perfect to awful before I was even close to the river. Gene and I fished a stretch of water I'd…
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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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Additional closure needed to assist beachnesters at the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park
Additional closure needed to assist beachnesters at the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park
LEWES (April 13, 2017) – On March 1, the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park was closed for migratory and beach nesting shorebirds.The closed sections, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half mile along the bay shoreline, were marked…
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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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Allure Of The Shad
(April 2018) ... March - still winter, and it often feels like it here on Delmarva. Cold and windy, gray, maybe even a last snowstorm and a short freeze to come.Yet, there are also those warm days announcing the approach of spring - the sun is rising and setting a little farther to the nartherd (north) every day. The red-winged blackbird is…
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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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Lyrid Meteor Shower Has Started
April's shooting stars, the Lyrid meteors tend to be bright and often leave trails and are active each year from about April 16 to the 25th. You should be able to see about ten to twelve meteors per hour at the peak, which is on the morning of the 22nd and the 23rd. Sometimes a rare surge will increase during the peak viewing times and you…
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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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Icehouse Bait And Tackle Grand Opening
The Icehouse bait and tackle shop at 110 New Rd, Lewes, DE 19958 is now open again. Captain Les Clemmer of the Martha Marie charter services has reopened the shop. He is the new owner and is excited to get this business up and running again. Seriously if you want to talk about a man who has a real addiction and affinity for…
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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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Changing Plans On The Fly
Sometimes you tie flies late at night for weeks thinking you're going to go on a particular adventure and then everyone gets scared you're going to out-fish them and the plans change. Saturday was one of those days.
As it's not all trout at our house I always have the boot-foots and stripping basket in the truck when I head to the D. Even…
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Delmarva’s First Outdoors Expo to be held April 28 – 30th has something for everyone and the entire family
Delmarva’s First Outdoors Expo to be held April 28 – 30th has something for everyone and the entire family
Harrington, DE - Anglers, hunters, shooters, campers, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages: don’t miss the first annual Delmarva Outdoors Expo to be held April 28 - 30th at the Delaware State fairgrounds in…
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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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Orca Breaches in C&D canal
About an hour ago Chris Ragni and Brian Mack were cruising along in the work boat when they saw something breach in the canal. "It looked like a huge white dolphin so we moved in closer to get a better look. We were stunned when we saw it breach again and it was a killer whale." Now the boys are trying to figure out what to do…
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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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Route 24 Closed In Long Neck
Replacement of Crossroad Pipes Will Require a Portion of SR 24 to be Closed
Long Neck: The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) would like to alert motorists that the removal and replacement of multiple crossroad pipes will impact the following roadway:
7 a.m. on Monday, March 27 until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 7, pending…
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The Delaware Outdoor Expo Was A Huge Success
We had a great time at the Delaware Outdoor Expo on March 11 at the fairgrounds in Harrington. The turnout was overwhelming, with over three thousand people.
At one point there was a line at the door for a good hour and a half. Everyone had a great time, and the vendors were all very pleased.
For a first time annual…
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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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Delmarva Outdoors Expo Available Accommodations
Since this is a three-day event and we have a lot going on, many have been asking where can they stay. We have the campground on the fairground's property available. You can camp in an RV or a tent for $35 a night or $100 for a three-day package for a space. You can register on the fairgrounds website for a campsite or RV space. …
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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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Delmarva Outdoors Expo Sponsors
The Delmarva Outdoors Expo would like to thank our sponsors and if anyone is still interested in sponsoring this great event we would be happy to have you on board. Just get in touch we have many levels available. Meet some of the area businesses helping us right now ...
WBOC is a presenting sponsor. They are helping us immensely as a…
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Heads Up Susquehanna Flats Anglers This Could Be You
This is from my buddy Joe Yack and a warning to anyone fishing the Susquehanna flats this year. Seems DNR is targeting striped bass anglers heavier this year. People have gotten fines for taking pictures.
IF YOU FISH THE SUSQUEHANNA FLATS YOU MUST READ THIS!
This year (2017), there is an increased enforcement on the Susquehanna Flats catch…
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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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Interactive Shellfish Aquaculture Map For The Inland Bays
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife unveils interactive shellfish aquaculture map for the Inland Bays
DOVER (March 16, 2017) – The Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife’s shellfish aquaculture program has posted an interactive online map that provides site-specific information helpful for selecting shellfish aquaculture…
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Delaware’s recreational summer flounder size limit to increase to 17 inches effective April 1
Delaware’s recreational summer flounder size limit to increase to 17 inches effective April 1
Possession limit and season dates unchanged
DOVER (March 15, 2017) – Effective April 1, Delaware’s recreational minimum size limit for summer flounder will increase to 17 inches. DNREC Secretary David S. Small signed an Emergency…
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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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Survey On Proposed Drive On Beach Access Restrictions
This is the survey we put together to get the public's input about this proposed beach access restriction by the beach coalition group. We also added a few other things for you to answer to get your take on the crowded issues. One thing I do notice is the beach access coalition seems to be asking for the most extreme in hopes of getting the…
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Update On Storm Stella
Welcome to the new Delaware Surf Fishing, and by new, I mean we are now on the amazon servers so we can handle all of this traffic and the site will no longer time out. I want to thank everyone who has subscribed and continues to subscribe for supporting these efforts. Without all of you this would not have been possible. The…
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Coastal Flood Warning For Sussex and Kent County
Okay ... so if you haven't heard yet, Stella is getting her groove back by slamming us with a nor'easter. The last thing I would worry about is snow, but instead, concentrate on flooding. New Castle you're gonna probably get buried in snow and Kent will be a mix most likely. Sussex is going to get mostly wet, but that could change.…
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You Can Still Stop The Rehoboth Wastewater Outfall Project But Time Is Short
Press Release from Surfrider foundation. The T shirt is our design and will be out in 2 weeks.
From our Friends at MERR:
Dear Members,
It has come to our attention that there is a rapid push to get the DNREC permits approved for the Rehoboth Outfall before acting Secretary Small steps down -this action is expected to occur within the…
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Delaware Outdoor Expo Food Trucks And Program Book
This Saturday is the day, come ready to enjoy some great presentations, and meet all kinds of outdoor vendors. Also come hungry!! We have a bunch of food trucks to satisfy any craving. I'm not going to mention my favorite because they all are, I'm gonna need to diet after Saturday that much I can "guaruntee". Might have to enter…
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Delaware Outdoor Expo Sponsor, Vendors, And Demonstration Schedule
Saturday March 11th is the first annual Delaware Outdoors Expo brought to you by Delaware State News. Located at the state fairgrounds in Harrington, the expo will start at 8 a.m.and last until 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the event and online with a bonus for early bird ticket buyers, two additional door prize tickets. Door prizes include a…
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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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The Storm Of 62 Was 54 Years Ago
Now 55 years ago today March 6, 2107 ... This was written in 2016 not long after Storm Jonas hammered the coastline
It was forecast as a normal winter storm. Tides were predicted at 2 to 5 feet higher than normal with flooding in low lying areas. Gale force winds from a storm moving across the country that would head offshore. A typical…
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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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Osprey Have Arrived In Delmarva
Usually the osprey don't start showing up until Saint Patrick's Day weekend. So far this year they have been seen as early as the last week of February. Like any migratory species, we even have some holdovers that stay year round. These birds are my favorite fish finders. Especially at the beach, when they are in close above the…
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The 2017 Flounder Pounder Open
THIS COMPNANY HAS OWED DSF A $1,000 FOR OVER 6 YEARS. Never work with Paradise they do no pay their bills. If you do work with them get it in writing and get paid up front. As soon as you are done with your "agreement" they decide to renegotiate your payment. They do this to every vendor and it is a nightmare trying to get your money.…
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The Fly Fishing Show in NJ and Boot Foot Waders
The Fly Fishing Show in NJ and Boot Foot Waders
Don’t panic. If you missed “The Big Show” in Somerset New Jersey, you can catch the same crew up in Lancaster PA March 4th and 5th. I sat it out last year (I had dues to pay at home) but got to be a part of the zoo again this year. I was there tying a few flies and telling all my best fishing…
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Canadian Cheesesteak
Canadian Cheesesteak
Winter is here, and fishing has slowed to a crawl. If you are fortunate enough to have a seafaring vessel, tog season is about the most action you’ll find. For many fishermen, this time of year ushers in a foreboding sense of cabin fever in anticipation of a long winter season. If you’re like me, now is the time to put down…
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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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Fee Season Now In Effect In Delaware State Parks
Fee season now in effect in Delaware State Parks
DOVER (March 1, 2017) – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation reminds visitors to Delaware’s state parks that entrance fees are back in effect, being collected through Nov. 30, 2017.
Revenue generated from park entrance fees is used to manage 16 state parks and more than 26,000 acres…
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State Parks Say No To Restricted Beach Access
The article title speaks for itself. I want to thank all of you for sending in emails, the phone calls, letters, and those who sent up smoke signals to let the folks at the state know your support to say no to restricted beach access. Within forty-eight hours the governor and parks officials have received a great deal of support for…
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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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The Point At Cape Henlopen State Park To Close For 2017 Beachnesting Season
The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park to close for 2017 beachnesting season
(DNREC) ... LEWES (Feb. 27, 2017) – The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half mile along the bay shoreline, will close beginning Wednesday, March 1, for the benefit of threatened and endangered beachnesters…
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Delaware Prepares New Summer Flounder Creel Limit For 2017
As you probably know the ASMFC Addendum XXVIII is requiring all east coast states reduce summer flounder catches by thirty percent and due to last years catch totals we also have to add eleven percent. So essentially we have to comply with a forty-one percent reduction for the 2017 summer flounder fishing season. There has been and…
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DNREC Spring 2017 Trout Stocking And Opening For Downstate Ponds
DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife announces spring 2017 trout stocking and opening for downstate ponds
Trout anglers encouraged to check requirements before fishing
DOVER (Feb. 17, 2017) – The Division of Fish & Wildlife today announced that Delaware’s spring 2017 downstate trout season will begin Saturday, March 4 with…
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Save Your Beach Access On Delaware State Park Beaches
(February 2017) ...You might know this, but for the most part not many people do or ever hear about it. For the past two years a small group of wealthy people that are landlords and homeowners, mostly landlords, petition the state parks to stop surf fishing vehicles from parking in front of their rental properties in Fenwick Island State park and…
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MAFMC & ASMFC Set Black Sea Bass Specifications for 2017 and 2018
MAFMC & ASMFC Set Black Sea Bass Specifications for 2017 and 2018
Benchmark Assessment Finds Resource Not Overfished & Overfishing Not Occurring
Kitty Hawk, NC – The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) have approved revised specifications for…
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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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Oceanic Pier Gets A Good Cleaning
It was a beautiful weekend, the beach towns were packed like a typical summer weekday. The traffic that piled up on Friday was reminiscent of summer. A three day weekend will do that when the temperature is predicted to hit seventy degrees. The boardwalks were packed and the line at Thrashers was insane. I spent Friday afternoon…
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The 2017 Delaware Outdoor Expo Update
The 2017 Annual Delaware Outdoor Expo is at the state fairgrounds in Harrington on March 11th at 8 AM. This is going to be a great event. Tickets now on sale online, get them in advance for more chances to win great door prizes. Our sponsor is Baker’s Power & Turf/Husqvarna Group from Millsboro, Delaware. We will have more than seventy…
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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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The 2017 Annual Delmarva Outdoors Expo Attractions Update
We have a lot of great attractions going on within the Delmarva Outdoors Expo. The Dock Dogs will be holding a three-day competition. The First State Retriever Club will do a few demonstrations. The Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware will be teaching fly casting. Delaware Surf Fishing (Rich King) with Harry Aiken will be…
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Red Drum Stock Assessment Indicates Overfishing Not Occurring
Red Drum Stock Assessment Indicates Overfishing Not Occurring
Alexandria, VA – The 2017 Red Drum Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report indicate overfishing is not occurring for red drum in either the northern (North Carolina-New Jersey) or southern (South Carolina-Florida) stocks. The assessment was unable to determine an overfished/not…
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Free Park Access Proposed For Delawareans Who Already Have Free Park Access
Every so often this gets proposed to parks as an incentive to get people outdoors more. A proposal to allow Delawareans only, free park access, except we already have free access to all Delaware state parks. The legislators look at the entrance passes and for some reason get this confused as an access pass, because it is called an…
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So Why Fly Fishing?
I’m often asked what the appeal of fly fishing is, or what drew me to fly fishing, or – often – “isn’t it boring?” That last one gets me fired up and I end up taking the inquirer down a long path where I try to enlighten them on the subtleties of fly fishing.
This topic itself has come up in my head as I think about “where does…
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Russian Spy Ship Off Delaware Coast
Okay, everyone keeps asking me where this Russian spy ship is off our coast. Since Delaware is such a small coastline, I doubt it is really off our coast anymore at this point, but earlier this morning it was out there ... about seventy miles out there. I don't know what they are doing, but I doubt they are fishing or headed to the…
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Pickerel On The Fly
Despite the rain on Sunday, Matt Dammeyer managed to get out and fish. He is a member of the Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware club and an avid fly angler. He also is the brother of our fly fishing writer Micah Dammeyer from Knee Deep Fly Fishing guide service. Matt has been preparing for a few days tying flies, perch flies. Not…
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Seals On The Beaches What You Need To Know
Seals migrate to Delaware every winter and their numbers are increasing. The past couple weeks seals have been seen on the beaches of Delaware and Ocean City, MD. When seals pull up on the docks around the inland bays, for the most part they are just resting and chilling. When they pull up on beaches that is usually the same…
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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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Punkin Chunkin Press Release
For over three decades, we have planted the seed of “Who can Chunk a Pumpkin the Furthest” . Each year a champion is crowned with nothing more than bragging rights that they are King and/or Queen of this unique World Championship event. Punkin Chunkin has attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators to Delaware since 1986. We are a Delaware…
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Beach Combing Was Killer Today
Usually we find a lot of sea glass and the recent beach replenishment has really added some treasures to the beaches. I dropped by Dewey Beach today to see if the alien was still lurking in the dune access. The alien wasn't there, but as I was about to leave, Matt Adams sends me a picture on messenger. "Check this out!!!" I look…
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The Martians Have Landed In Dewey Beach
Beach combing went next level in Dewey Beach a few days ago. Is anyone missing this alien? This might explain a few crop circles on a Deldot map I saw recently for the bypass proposal.
Do you recognize this martian??!! From a Town of Dewey Beach email:
"The Martians have landed in Dewey Beach--or at least one of them! This wooden…
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Wounded Heroes Hunting Camp (WHHC)
I recently met Chris Rupp, he was asking me about helping him set up some trips for veterans to take them surf fishing. I said I would be delighted and honored to help. I always help organizations that help our veterans whom we owe so much. Chris Rupp as it turns out runs the 501(c)(3) Wounded Heroes Hunting Camp (WHHC). I always…
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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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The Alpha Centaurid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight
The Alpha Centaurids is named after the constellation Centuarus. This meteor shower appears to radiate from Centaurus which is one of the largest constellations in the night sky, containing two of the ten brightest stars, including Alpha Centari. Which is the closest star to our Sun. The radiant's center for this meteor shower is four…
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An Eclipsed Full Snow Moon And A Comet
We are going to get a treat Friday night. The full snow moon is February's moon, some tribes called it the full hunger moon because the winter weather made for harsh hunting conditions. You wouldn't be able to tell that this week since it is going to hit the high sixties today. So much for the harshest month for snow, which …
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Kent County Sewage Spill Suspends Delaware Bay Shellfish Harvest
Kent County sewage spill suspends Delaware Bay shellfish harvest,
prompts DNREC caution for recreational use of St. Jones River
Public advised to avoid length of river from Dover to Bowers until wastewater spill dispersed
DOVER (Feb. 7, 2017) – DNREC Secretary David Small issued an emergency order today suspending commercial and…
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2017 Delaware Fishing Guide And Rulers
The new 2017 Delaware fishing guide is out and will be available in most shops this week. The shops that are closed for the season will have them once they open. The new fishing rulers are also ready and all will be delivered at the same time. The new Delaware fishing guide has a couple of new features. The new additions to the…
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The 26th Annual Special Olympics Delaware Lewes Polar Bear Plunge
The 2017 annual Lewes Polar Plunge as usual was on Superbowl Sunday. Rehoboth Beach hosts the event for the Special Olympics of Delaware. There are activities all weekend, including chili contests, a 5k run, and other events. This is the one time of the year in the off-season that Rehoboth Beach is as crowded as the Fourth of…
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Learn To Fish In Long Neck
Every winter at the Long Neck Elementary school in the cafeteria by Dan Hellman and Larry Grimm. They have six classes every year, on Tuesday nights at 6 PM and charge $10 for the series of classes to help pay for the cafeteria access. I have been meaning to check these out for the last two years and finally made it last week. Dan…
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26th annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Delaware
26th annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Delaware
Event Date: Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 (with Plunge activities also taking place Feb. 4)
Event Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Rehoboth Beach, Del.
REHOBOTH BEACH — Sunday, February 5, at 1:00 p.m. is the date and time for one of Delaware’s largest fundraising events…
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Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Jan. 23-29
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Jan. 23-29
Reminder for the week: Conservation Order allows snow goose harvest
DOVER (Feb. 3, 2017) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, Fish &…
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Delmarva Outdoors Expo Advance Tickets Now On Sale With A Bonus
The Delmarva Outdoors Expo advanced tickets are now on sale. The event is April 28th 29th, and 30th at the state fairgrounds in Harrington, Delaware. Daily and weekend passes will also be available at the event everyday. Daily tickets are $5 and weekend passes are $10. If you purchase tickets online in advance you will receive a…
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Fly Tie Saturdays With The Club
Every Saturday the Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware Club meets at Lewes Harbor marina to tie flies, tell lies and eat donuts. They gather about nine in the morning rain or shine and set up on tables around the room. Everyone brings their tying gear, and set ups their vices to tie flies. You never know who is going to be there and…
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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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Winter Fishing Report
Almost seems like an oxymoron to some when you say winter fishing. No, we don't catch frozen fish, but in some cases we all but freeze ourselves. So far we have had some very nice, mild days and the water hasn't frozen over too much. Mostly a light ice coating here and there along the edges of the ponds that melts by mid morning in the sun.…
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Beach Combing Is Good
The beauty of a nor'easter are the treasures that are unveiled everyday. Beach glass has been easy to find this week and so are sand dollars. The hard part for some people is where to look for beach glass, if you know where to look beach glass is much easier to find. Honestly it can be anywhere at any given time, but there are a…
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Delaware Vintage Hunting & Fishing Memorabilia Show & Sale
Every year Mike Pusey puts on the the Delaware Vintage Hunting & Fishing Memorabilia Show & Sale. The show is located in the Reagan Watson Auction Building, 115 N. Washington St., Milford. The early bird entrance will start at 8 AM for $10 and have first crack at the collectibles, otherwise later entry is $4 starting at 9…
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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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Delaware’s 28th Annual Beach Grass Planting
Hello! We are planning the 28th Annual Beach Grass Planting. Our efforts this year will be focused on dunes that have bare areas that were not planted last year.
Each March since 1990, many dedicated volunteers have helped to build and protect Delaware’s sand dunes by planting Cape American beach grass on Delaware’s ocean and…
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Spring Trout Stocking Begins in Maryland Lakes and Streams
Press Release DNR ...
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has begun stocking about 338,000 brown, golden and rainbow trout throughout the state ahead of the 2017 fishing season.
“The trout stocking program raises several hundred thousand trout at our hatcheries, which are stocked for anglers of all ages and skill levels,” said…
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Frets 4 Vets Needs Your Help
The other night I met with Tom Baker the founder of Frets 4 Vets. I wanted to see how they are making out and they could really use our help. He and his board members have gotten a lot done with Frets 4 Vets, but they need the financial support from the community. I always hear I'd like to help the vets or see more done for them,…
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The Farmer, The Chef, & The Fisherman
The Farmer, The Chef, & The Fisherman
By Tom Deptula
I love to fish. I fish for anything that swims and eats. I love fishing saltwater, freshwater, creeks, rivers, branches, bays and bridges. I love the excitement of striper fishing the jetty at the inlet on a cold November night or stumbling into an action-packed perch or largemouth…
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Allen Harim Reaches Agreement with Artesian on Wastewater Company will no longer discharge wastewater into nearby creek
This is awesome news!!! I was at every meeting to fight the fact Allen Harim wanted to dump even more water into Beaverdam Creek, which drains into the Broadkill River, to the Roosevelt Inlet, and ultimately the Delaware Bay. Representative Steven Smyk and I spoke to representatives from Allen Harim and DNREC about why we didn't want this…
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Beach Access Upgrades For Delaware State Parks
The drive on beach accesses in some of the parks were filled in with debris and sand from the first nor'easter of 2017, which always happens. Parks have been clearing them out and for the most part they are all good to go now, I drove on all of them yesterday. The access at Fenwick Island state park, the middle surf fishing…
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Fly tying with Jello
Written in 2015, but thought we would share this again. Ever use Jello to dye feathers?
Yup, you read that correctly. Now I am sure you are thinking,
you can't even glue snot to Jello, much less tie it up or put it on a hook. So how do you tie flies with Jello? Shawn Rakes showed me a book this Saturday (2015) at the Saltwater Fly…
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Nothing Like A Crappie Day Of Winter Fishing
The Payton kids went fishing yesterday day with Pop pop. You have to love these stories, when the kids get all geared up and it is like a spring day outside in January. It was nearly sixty degrees a couple days after the nor'easter blasted Delmarva. The kids first went and caught grass shrimp in some local tidal creeks with Pop…
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The First Annual Delmarva Outdoors Expo
This April on the 28th, 29th, and 30th is the first annual Delmarva Outdoors Expo at the state fairgrounds in Harrington, Delaware. This event will feature many demonstrations and competitions. A dock dog competition all three days starting at four on Friday, competing for distance, height, and retrieval speed. We will have more details…
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Is Beach Replenishment A Waste Of Money And Natural Resources
(January 2017) ... Why Beach Replenishment (now referred to as beach nourishment) is a Waste of Money and Natural Resources: A look at why it’s necessary to begin embracing newer coastal engineering technology ... Written by Dennis A. Schirmer, II
The decision of the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to deny the Southern Delaware Beaches a…
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