Fishing report

By Acie Mankins
Special to the Coastal Point

Beverly at Cedar Creek Bait & Tackle said there was good flounder fishing in the anchorage between E and F buoys and also near the 14-foot light. Also, a few croaker have started to show up.

From Lewes Harbor Marina, Joe reported more flounder moving into the bay. Brown Shoal and near No. 19 buoy have been the more productive areas, but there are a lot of throwbacks.

Croaker were caught in The Shears, and a few big trout are being caught around structure. Brett Jackson of Lewes had a 10-pounder and Steve Carney of Seaford had one at 9.5 pounds.

In the Lewes canal, there are a lot of throwback flounder, but Bob Watson had a 6.08-pounder taken on squid/minnow combo.

Joel of Rick’s Bait and Tackle said flounder fishing in the Indian River Bay slowed down over the past week.

On the pier at Massey’s Ditch, Dona of Longneck had a 33-inch striper on a bucktail. On the pier at Cape Henlopen State Park, Jo reported better fishing in the early morning or just after dusk. A lot of flounder are being caught, but mostly throwbacks. Bluefish continue to be caught at night.

Clarke from Old Inlet reported a few trout at night on mirro-lures and rattle traps. Blues are still being taken on the incoming tide on metal or bucktails.

Along the jetty at Indian River Inlet, Frank Clarke of Frankford had a nice 37-inch, 14-pound striper taken on storm bait. Ray Halfen, Jesse Coulbourn and Travis Shockley had three stripers, up to 31 inches, and two blues up to 35 inches. All were taken on bucktails.

As for flounder, Larry Muthard of Reading, Penn., had two nice flatties, 19 and 26 inches, while losing three others, all larger than 25 inches. He was fishing near South Shore Marina.

Surf fishing remains good, even though the bigger blues are leaving due to water temperature.

Craig Davis of Dagsboro had an 11-pound, 11-ounce black drum taken on a mullet head at 3 R’s Road. Glenn Hudson of Bethany Beach had several short stripers and bluefish up to 20 inches. Rick Brach of Bowie, Md., had four short striper taken on bunker fillets.

We have also heard of a few kingfish and spot, but no great numbers.

Inshore fishing really improved this past week, with thrashers showing up between B and A buoys.

I don’t know how he did it, but Bill Hamilton took the day off to fish with Captain Jim O’Brian of Williamsport, Pa. They had three hookups southeast of B buoy, with the largest shark weighing in at 288 pounds and 12 feet, 7 inches in length. This fish took a bluefish bait and was the largest thrasher to be weighed in at Northside in the last couple years.

Bill Hughes of Rehoboth Beach had a 145-pound thrasher, taken on the Miss Kirstin with Captain Vince Keagy and weighed at Lewes Harbor Marina.

Captain Ben Bogden, Joan and Dick Oliver, and Bryant Hopkins on the Fun Chaser had bluefish at the Jackspot, up to 11 pounds.

As for tuna and dolphin, hopefully, it won’t be long.

Captain Buzz on the Judy V reported good seabass fishing, with a few flounder mixed in. Out of Fisherman’s Wharf, H. D. also reported good seabass fishing during the day, and the night boat is catching bluefish and croakers.

Until next week, good luck and see ya on the beach.

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