Fishing report

By Acie Mankins
Special to the Coastal Point

George at Cedar Creek Bait & Tackle said flounder action in the Delaware Bay picked up over the last week. The more productive areas are near F buoy near the Lower Middle Shoal, at reef site 7 and near the 14-foot light. The ratio is about seven hookups to one keeper.

As for the black drum on the Coral Beds, it’s a slow pick. Trout are in tight on the beach at Fowlers and Broadkill Beach.

At Lewes Harbor Marina, Joe said good tog catches are coming from the outer wall and there is fair-to-good flounder fishing in the canal. Roger Herr of Lewes had two nice flounder, weighing in at 6.75 pounds and 5.25 pounds.

Along the Lewes beach, some small trout are being taken on chicken chunks or peeler crab. A few bigger trout have been taken on soft plastics near the ferry jetties. Malcom McNewght of Lewes had an impressive 11.84-pound trout on a fly rod while wading near the Cape Henlopen Pier. On the pier at Cape Henlopen State Park, Josh reported flounder, blues and trout.

Rick of Rick’s Bait and Tackle in Long Neck said the tog bite at Massey’s Ditch is a little better. Also, some blues and some short stripers are being taken from the pier. Dale Glatfelter of York, Pa., caught a nice 10-pound trout in Massey’s Ditch while casting a white bucktail with a 6-inch white worm.

Clarke at Old Inlet reported good tog fishing along the jetties at Indian River Inlet. Also, bluefish are being caught on the incoming tide with metal, gotcha plugs or bucktails.

Trout are starting to show, but in no great numbers. Tom Cheeseman of Ocean View had a 9.53-pounder taken on a bucktail, and Paul Baker of Georgetown had a 9.25-pounder, also taken on a bucktail.

David McPherson of Pittsburgh, Pa., had a nice 34-inch, 14-pound, 7-ounce striper, and Stan Beach of Harrisburg, Pa., had a 22-pound striper, taken on the north-side jetty.

Most of the stripers are being taken on storm baits, tsunami lures or bombers.

Back in the bay, flounder fishing is holding its own with mostly throwbacks. Molly Ann Frach of Nazareth, Pa., had a 7-pound, 23-inch flattie, taken on the old minnow/squid combo. The best areas are still between No. 19 and No. 20 markers and in front of Holt’s Landing. John Klink of Frankford had two nice flounder: 22.5 inches and 19.5 inches, both taken on squid and minnow.

Surf fishing remains very good. The big blues just won’t leave, and that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s due to the 55-degree water temperature. Who knows?

Ed Raymond of Wilmington caught more than 10 big blues on whole mullet, the largest being 10 pounds, 14 ounces. Mike Feidler of Maryland had six blues — the largest weighing in at 9 pounds, 10 ounces — also taken on whole mullet. Cole Espino of Silver Spring, Md., had a nice 7-pound blue.

The Fenwick Island state park beach and 3 R’s Road seem to be the hot spots, with whole mullet or cut bunker working well. Kingfish and blowfish are also in our surf, mostly hitting on bloodworms or squid.

As for stripers, we have seen a few this past week, mostly caught on bloodworms or bunker. Old Inlet did check in a nice striper taken from 3 R’s. Mike Bush of Wilmington had an impressive 27-pound, 8-ounce striper taken on cut bait.

Inshore bottom fishing is “fine as kind,” as Captain Monty would say. Seabass fishing is good on pretty much any structure, natural or artificial. Seabass weighing more than 5 pounds are being taken to the docks. Captain John Nedelka has had fish for three weeks in a row, some heavier than 5 pounds.

Now, don’t get me wrong. They’re not all that big, but there are nice seabass to be had.

Captain H.D. Parson out of Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes reported a good number of anglers returning with their limit of seabass on their full day boat, with a few flounder mixed in. The night fishing is doing well on big blues according to H.D. Judy from the Judy V out of Indian River also reported good sea bass action with a few flounder mixed in.

Bluefish are hitting between B and A buoys, trolling Pony Tails, Brumby’s or Spoons. Some of these fish are up to 12 pounds.

And for you shark fishermen: get ready, because thrasher sharks should soon invade the area around B buoy, just as in years past. Some of these sharks weigh up to 300 pounds.

Offshore is still in slow mode. We’ve heard of a few makos over the past week. The mako fishing is only going to get better — hopefully by this weekend, for the Mako Mania Tournament. Good luck to all the anglers, captains and mates.

Until next week, good luck and great fishing. See ya on the beach.

Acie Mankins is the manager at B&R Bait and Tackle.