The fall striped bass run is coming soon to Delaware

striped bass, rockfish, striper, Fenwick Island State park
Brandy Parker’s first striped bass ever from the surf, caught at Fenwick Island

The fishing has been excellent the last few days.  Yesterday on the incoming tide the Indian River Inlet heated up for bluefish, and shorty striped bass.  They were hitting flies, and bucktails with white or yellow plastics.  The shorties are getting larger, and increasing in numbers.  We all know what that means, the fish will be running soon.  There have been a few keepers pulled as well, and that number is increasing.  The bluefish showing up have keeper stripers under them.  Yesterday Brandy from Parker & Son HVAC hit her first striper at the beach in Fenwick Island State Park, and we are seeing more in the surf … ” Fresh mullet. My first in the surf ever. I’m stoked, outfished the guys. I caught 7 blues about 13-14″ also” … Good stuff there!  The bluefish have increased in size and numbers as well.  Spotted hake showing up now indicate the water is cool enough for the fall fish.   Yet, we still have warm water fish here, such as pompano and redfish.  Yesterday the temperature at Broadkill beach was between 69 and 70 degrees on my trusty pool thermometer, this is the Delaware bay.   My friends from Earn Your Stripes fishing in Brick, New Jersey say the spotted hake (ling) are thick in the surf, the blue fish are huge, and they are starting to see stripers.  Sandy Hook, NJ has been lighting up as well.   The fish are moving, get your gear ready gang.  You still have time, they are moving slowly, the boys in Montauk, are still hammering huge striped bass.  Jason Snead and his crew hit the inlet last night as well, catching blues and shorties.  Somekeepers came off the wall last night as well.  I am sure it will be packed this weekend, and every weekend after with anglers hitting the fall run.  Jodi Updegrove and her crew were catching stripers, bluefish, flounder, and trout at the inlet from a boat, they had a blast.

striped bass, rockfish, striper, Indian River Inlet, Delaware Seashore State park
Striped bass caught at the Indian River Inlet yesterday on a bucktail with a yellow plastic

The Point at Cape henlopen has been hot for small “snipper” bluefish.  You know … the ones that eat around the hook for your bait.  Largest have been upwards of 20 inches.  Alan Rosenberger, Nicole, and Cindy caught a wide variety of fish at the tournament last weekend … “Weekend and Fall Surf Classic over , talked to some friends not seen in a while , the four of us caught tons of fish but little in the way of scoring sized fish, striper, blues, trout, kingfish, pompano, shark, smooth doggies, and nic even got a speckled crab … great time with Ms. Cindy and Nicole”.   Good times are always had in the surf, when you have friends to enjoy it with, glad you had fun Alan.  Thank you and Nicole for representing DSF in the surf.  Last night, Jason Snead and his boys heated up the Cape Henlopen fishing pier, and surf.  They were hitting spot and croaker at the pier, puppy drum and blues in the surf.  That is the beauty of the “Cape”, you have very diverse fishing in one area.  Everyone have a good weekend, and be safe.  When you fish the Inlet, if it is packed, and you have not been here before, I suggest you observe first.  Fishing the rocks is an art, that some have down to a science.  You are not fishing the edge of a stream, or even a rocky river, this is the Indian River Inlet, and she eats gear.  She can chew up your bucktails, stomp your plastics, snag your fish, shred your lines, and drive your nerves to the edge of insanity.  So be mindful of your neighbor on the rail, and fish “with” everyone else.  That means … cast in the same direction, and watch what you are doing.  Together you are all fishing against the beast, we call the wall, and that is frustrating enough.  I have something DSF is going to announce for you later today, and it is very cool.  

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Tautog season opens tomorrow!  Let’s try to keep the trash down to a minimum this year please.  If you see someone leaving trash there, call a ranger, help us keep the Indian River Inlet clean, eventually that trash all goes into the sea.

Fish On!!

Rich King

 

 

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