Fishing from the Point: All quiet on the Eastern Shore

Cool weather slightly dampened the fishing last week as anglers waited for the weather to clear and turn colder.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter
Aptly-named angler Marlin Zehner of Pennsylvania casts a line toward the Bethany Beach dawn.

Big blues and rockfish have not reached the surf yet, but a variety is key right now. Some nice bluefish and croaker have nipped at mullet in Bethany Beach, while kings, pompano, sharks, tog, red drum and spot have all been reported.

The Indian River Inlet is still home to a few keeper flounders, which are biting on spot and Gulp. The big ones may be game for one last feeding frenzy before moving out to sea. A few big blues are making the rounds, but stripers are still a bit small. They’ll swim south for the winter as soon as the weather turns cooler.

Sheepshead have lightened up along the rocks, but tog and puppy drum are still floating, always lured to crab and sand fleas.

Nearly 290 people participated in the 6th Annual DMS (Delaware Mobile Surf-fishermen) Invitational Surf-Fishing Tournament. Winners included: Gary Born, Mike Walker and Bob Zak for the overall division; Paula Gallagher, Allison Stuart and Lynn Downs for the women’s division; Mason Fluharty, Jordon Buckm and Kenneth Latch Jr. for the youth division; Joshua Pashaus for largest bluefish; and Ana Cotter and Steve Petkus for largest fish.

Anglers who set their sights to the ocean inshore are finding some triggerfish and bigger sea bass, often to the boat limits, at inshore wrecks. Even a few pollock were caught there.

True to its name, Croaker Canyon to B Buoy has been a hotspot for croaker. Clams and mullet will nab the croaker and some trout.

Offshore, the canyons have been relatively quiet. There are reports of some white marlin, wahoo, yellowfin tuna and mahi at Poor Man’s Canyon. Some yellowfin in the north should move southward toward Delmarva’s waiting boats in the next week or two, according to Eric Burnley Sr. of the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Sea bass season closes briefly from Oct. 15 to Oct. 1. Flounder closes Oct. 24 to Dec. 31.

Fish know no state boundaries, so Ocean City, Md., boasts the same surf fish, while offering a variety of fishing spots. Sue Foster reported that the Oceanic Pier hosts some flounder, blues, trout and shad, but people don’t need a fishing license to try their luck on the pier. Meanwhile, tautog are being reeled in at the bulkhead and jetties, with some help from sand fleas. The Route 50 Bridge is home to some puppy drum, sea trout and flounder.

Wherever you fish on Delmarva, enjoy the sport, and, if the catch is right, enjoy dinner!