Fishing Report

By Acie Mankins
Special to the Coastal Point

Tom from Cedar Creek Bait & Tackle said flounder are being caught between F and G buoys or around D buoy. Some anglers have had their limit of keepers. Small trout are being taken in the Broadkill Slough, and also good numbers of croaker are coming from the slough and the Beachball area.

From the docks of Lewes, Joe at Lewes Harbor Marina reported good croaker near the ferry wall, the Star Site Reef and Broadkill Slough. As for flounder over the past week, Brown Shoal seems to be producing some nice flatties. Shane Wiest of Pennsylvania had a 6.5-pound sheepshead while fishing the Broadkill reef. In the canal, there are still a lot of undersized flounder.

For those of you who haven’t seen Joe’s new shop, stop by and check it out. It’s really nice.

On the pier at Cape Henlopen State Park, Jo said it slowed up a little – a few flounder, but mostly spot and croaker are providing the action. There were also some snapper blues caught, mostly in the early morning.

Rick of Rick’s Bait & Tackle said Massey’s Ditch is producing small tog, blues and short stripers. Over the past week, he saw a lot of flounder ranging 2 to 5 pounds, taken in Indian River Bay. Bob Nonnamaker of Pennsylvania had a nice 7.5-pound flounder taken in Rehoboth Bay.

Indian River Inlet turned on this past week, with big trout and stripers.

Frank Clark of Frankford had an impressive 30-pound, 4-ounce striper taken on a live eel. Ed Monte of Pottstown, Pa., had a 19-pound, 7-ounce striper on a bucktail while fishing the north jetty. Dan and Joe Slautterback of Mifflintown, Pa., had a great week: two stripers up to 21 pounds, 14 ounces, taken on live eels, and trout up to 10 pounds, 6 ounces, taken on a bucktail. Trent Allguier of Lancaster, Pa., caught a 33-inch, 9-pound, 6-ounce trout on a live eel while striper fishing.

Incoming tide seems to be the best tide this past week. Bluefish continue to be caught on the incoming tide on gotcha plugs, bucktail or any metal. Most of the stripers this past week were taken on live or rigged eels while fishing late night.

Surf-fishing remains very good, with spot and kingfish providing most of the action, using bloodworms or fishbites. A few small trout, sand perch and croaker are also being taken from the surf. The big key is little hooks, size 8, and fish close to the beach, just beyond the breakers. Some big bull rays are also providing some pole-bending action along the surf.

Inshore fishing is pretty good for flounder between B and A buoys, in about 80 feet of water. As for seabass, the anglers are reporting a slow pick.

Offshore action continues to heat up. Just north of The Hotdog, it’s a mixed bag of bluefin and yellowfin tuna with a few dolphin mixed in.

Bill Doherty of Wilmington, aboard the Undertaker, had four bluefin up to 44 pounds and dolphin up to 22 pounds. Captain Dennis Lord on the Tuna Time had two bluefin and one 18-pound dolphin.

We’ve heard reports of bigger bluefin starting to show up at The Hotdog and farther south. And, yes, there are still a lot of bluefish around if that’s what you want.

As for our local headboats, the fleet out of Fisherman’s Wharf in Lewes and the Judy V out of Indian River Inlet both reported good fishing.

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

Acie Mankins is the manager at B & R Bait & Tackle in South Bethany.