Delaware Bay Striper
With last weekend’s forecast looking as good as it could possibly get and reports of big Striped Bass abounding, the Delaware Bay and Indian River Inlet were laden with heavy boat traffic. It seemed that everyone had the same idea in mind and that was getting hooked up with big linesiders and enjoying a picture perfect day on the water. The Lewes ramp was full by 4:30a.m. and many parked their rigs along the Pilot Town roadside when all else failed.
All depending who you talked to and the locations they fished reports varied. The one thing all agreed upon was that boat traffic was heavy and paying attention to your fellow boater was at a premium. A few customers we talked to this week said they encountered sticky situations at the Indian River Inlet. Real-estate was at a minimum and getting into close quarters was not uncommon. I received a few complaints from customers here at Eastern about larger charter boats almost swamping them upon returning to the inlet. I tried to explain that the captains of these vessels have to be committed when navigating the inlet. It’s not that they are trying to purposely endanger anyone. Backing down off the throttle is just as potentially dangerous for them. Combine excessive boat traffic with the second swiftest current on the east coast and you can see the recipe for disaster. So keep your eyes open your wits and where withal about you! It’s similar to arriving at a crowded eatery; if there is an extended waiting line find another place to dine for the meantime.
As I said earlier reports were sketchy all depending who you talked to. Norman Buczik and brother Mike fished the 8’s and had good success trolling stretch 25’s. Norman had one fish that taped out to 50 inches and weighed 31 lbs. The other fish Norman and Mike boated were in the 15-20 lb range. Norman said everything was going their way until the rest of the fleet showed up and he ran out of room to troll. Norman said most who showed up at the 8’s were drifting and on the chunk, which made it impossible to troll effectively. Charles Hodgson fished the Cape May rips on Tuesday and also did well. Charles was drifting eels and managed 2 Stripers. His largest fish was 18 lbs 4 oz and 38 inches in length. Hodgson also crossed the eyes of a dandy 9lb Bluefish that was 28 inches long. Good job Charles and good luck in the future.
With the arrival of Ida fresh water information has been sparse, however there were a few highlights for the week. Shane Barrett of Newark Delaware went on a fishing excursion to Lum’s Pond with father Kenny. Shane was fishing a large shiner under a bobber when he connected with an impressive Largemouth Bass. Shane and Kenny drove over to us folks here at Eastern Marine after they finished their day of fishing to see exactly how heavy Shane’s bass was. Remember we are an official Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament weigh station here at Eastern. When I saw Shane’s bass I was positive we were going to be filling out some paper work. Shane dropped his girthy Largemouth on to our scale and she was 5 lb 8 oz and taped out at 21-1/4 inches, good enough for Shane’s first state citation, and I am sure it won’t be the last. Shane’s father Kenny Barrett has schooled Shane well and we look forward to citing more fish from Shane in the future. Oh by the way… Shane wanted everybody to know that he bought his shiners here at Eastern Marine and they are the liveliest he has ever used. Congrats again Shane and Kenny. Until next time try to stay dry and with plummeting water temps be careful out on the water.
Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine
Halloween has traditionally been the kick-off to fall Striper season in the Delaware Bay and surrounding area. It’s from this time forward that anglers start to gear up for the schools of Striped Bass and Bluefish returning from their summer migrations to the New England States. Both varieties of fish inhabit the Delaware Bay and seashore around this time of the year. The arrival date is determined by water temperature, water clarity, wind direction and available food sources. Whether your drifting the bay or hitting the beach for a day of surf fishing, this is a prime time of the year to get tangled up with some of those big girls we only see now and in the spring time of the year.
I myself would have thought that we had a couple of more weeks before we started to get solid reports of big Striped Bass and Slammer Bluefish with consistency. Boy, was I wrong! Here at Eastern Marine we have been receiving information on catches of Striped Bass and Bluefish since October 22nd. I know it’s hard to speculate but I would have to say that old double whammy Nor’easter put these fish here just a little bit earlier than usual. So lets take advantage of our target species early arrival and get hooked up on some quality fish.
Locations that produced Striped Bass were as far north as Ship John Light House to as far south as the Cape May Rips. The largest concentration of fish in the 40″-50″ length was reported in the 60′ slough just east of the 14 Foot Light House on the Jersey side of the channel. Anglers out of Port Norris New Jersey had a banner day at the 60′ on Thursday according to Eastern Marine patron Andrew McCoy. “Not just me, everybody that pulled up to the ramp was pulling fish out of their coolers that taped out to 48 inches. “It was unbelievable,” said McCoy! Live spot is of course the premium bait for Striped Bass, but with the limited supply of spot in the area fresh cut bunker and live eels have produced the majority of fish. Here at Eastern Marine we just received a shipment of Delaware River Eels and our tailor cut bunker chunks in an 8oz package are a perfect fix for the angler on the go!
According to George Long, Bluefish have made appearances at the Indian River Inlet and at 3R’s Road on the surf. George said they were the big Slammer Blues ranging 8-12 lbs and measuring to 30 inches. Bucktails and spoons on the retrieve worked at Indian River. Fresh frozen mullet from this fall’s run worked on the surf for those that had it. We have some of the prettiest fresh frozen fall run finger mullet here at Eastern Marine you will find, I promise you, come check us out!
The Tautog bite is also in high gear. Toggers have reported great trips to inshore wrecks, reef sites in the bay and the Outer Wall especially. Customers here at Eastern said they were able to cull through with the bite being so intense and average weights of keeper tog were in the 5-7 lb range. Many patrons I talked to say they were being conscious to target white chins (male tautog) as opposed to females due to the concerns about the stability of our tog fishery. Green Crabs and Sand Fleas as usual were the bait among toggers. Well the big linsided lady’s are here fellas, with some toothy Slammers and a pounding Tog bite thrown into the mix. Until next time tight lines and stay safe!
Chris Brown with nice catch-n-release Striper
The leaves are nearing their peak color for the season, the nights are getting cooler and the fish are schooling up. Fishing in the fall can be one of the most productive and rewarding times to spend the day on the water. With most anglers sitting comfortable at home, take advantage and spend some time fishing.
In the Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass are schooling up in anticipation of the cold winter months ahead. They try to fatten up as much as possible in a short period of time. For the last couple of weeks the Sassafras River has been producing some really nice fish. Most anglers have been targeting them later in the afternoon and just after dark. The fish are being caught on a number of different artificial lures. Rattletraps, Storm Lures, and Bass Assassins are just some of hot choices.
Another favorite target of Chesapeake Bay anglers in the fall are White Perch. These tasty pan fish can be found around structure, drop offs and channel edges. They seem to school up and can be an easy target with a good fish finder. Small jigs and jigging spoons seem to be the best method to target them.
In the Delaware Bay fall fishing is usually done to target Striped Bass and Tog. As the Stripers make their way down the coast some spend time in the Delaware Bay before moving to their wintering grounds in Virginia and North Carolina. Targeting fall Stripers on the Delaware Bay is usually done using two methods. Right now chunking seems to be the hot ticket. Bunker is in short supply in the bay and anglers are traveling to Maryland to find fresh bait. Those who do are being rewarded with some of the biggest fish of the season. In the next few weeks these fish will also start to become more prevalent in the rips at the mouth of the bay. This scenario usually has anglers drifting eels and chunks of bunker to entice the big ocean run fish into biting.
Fishing for Tog takes place around structure and over inshore wrecks. With the addition of the artificial reef sites, Delaware anglers have many places to target them. The most popular baits are Green Crabs and Sand Fleas. Remember to take plenty of rigs and sinkers as you may lose quite a few.
Safety is a particularly big issue for anglers fishing this time of year. With fewer boats on the water, help may be much further away if needed. Take extra time to make sure all of your safety equipment is up to date and working properly. Let your family or friends know exactly where you are going and an estimated time you plan to return. Make sure to dress for the occasion also. If you get a chance to get out and fish this fall you may experience some of the best fishing of the season. Stop by Eastern Marine in Newark Delaware for all of your fall fishing needs.
Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine
The annual Fall stocking of trout commenced Wednesday October 14th, 2009. As information is only available on the states website (www.Dnrec.Delaware.gov), Eastern Marine patrons were full of questions about the where, when and how many trout were actually being released. The fall stocking is a one-day stock and White Clay Creek is the only stream that will receive trout. The state has introduced four varieties of fish to White Clay Creek including Rainbows, Palominos (albino rainbows), Tigers and Brookies. With the count being somewhere around 2,200 fish it appeared to be a fairly substantial delivery. Prime locations included Thompson’s and Hopkin’s Bridges specifically. Now that’s information you can only get here at Eastern Marine. Anglers reporting back to Eastern said the stocked trout were 14″ plus and had nice girth to them. The Tiger Trout (a cross between a Brown Trout and a Brookie) were of special interest to most anglers with their unusual vertical stripes and reputation for extended hard fought battles, putting pressure on the angler and his tackle. I myself was a little concerned with the Nor’easter following on the heels of the stocking. The last thing we want to happen is for the creek to swell and have all of the trout end up in the Christina River, effectively putting an end to our fall trout fishery.
Just a reminder we are still issuing Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament Citations for trout 2 lbs and over. So if you think your catch is close to the 2 lb mark come over to Eastern Marine and if so we will draw up your citation papers on the spot. Our bait & tackle department is fully stocked with everything for the trout fishing enthusiast. Berkley 3″ trout worms, Berkley Power Bait, Rooster Tails Spinners and Joe’s Flies just to name a few. Those who ventured out over the weekend said that although the water was stained it was still fairly clear and was not running to hard to fish. Limits of mixed bags were not uncommon and I was informed that Fish and Game officials were issuing tickets to those over the 6 fish limit. So, if it’s not a fishable day in the bay or the ocean there is always your local trout stream to take the edge off and what better than a fresh trout dinner to wrap up a nice day out. Until next time tight lines and don’t cheap date the bait.
Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine
With a weekend weather report forecasting howling winds and high seas, most anglers’ hopes were squashed on getting one last trip in before the closure of our Black Sea Bass fishery. For those unaware of what has developed in the last 2 weeks, NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has put a 180-day closure on fishing for Black Sea Bass in all federal waters north of Cape Hatters North Carolina starting Monday Oct 5th 2009. Even with 25 mph gusts and seas projected at 4-6 feet a few brave souls ventured out to off-shore wrecks for one last stab at some Black Wills. Anglers reported a mixed bag of Trigger Fish, chunky Sea Bass to 12 plus inches, and limits of keeper Flounder to 24”. The most productive baits were strips of squid and sand fleas fished on top-n-bottom rigs. Some boaters decided to stay inside the bay and anchored up over site 6 with good results. Keeper Sea Bass and an impressive Croaker bite were to be had according to Gill Kirk and Matty Long. Kirk said that his Sea Bass catch to throw back ratio was about 4/1 and Croakers were eclipsing the 15 inch mark. Kirk and Long also boated quite a few throw back Flounder in the process. The duo was using a variety of offerings that included squid, Bullhead Minnows, Berkley Gulp, Fish Bites and frozen sand fleas.
Even with the inclement weather some still made the trip out to the canyons. The Washington Canyon is still giving up a mixed bag of White Marlin, Dolphin and Wahoo. Trolled Ballyhoo dressed and naked teamed with Boone Bird daisy chains teased up multiple Whites according to Joe Parker, who said it was well worth the trip considering the conditions. Parker said the Dolphin bite has slowed considerably and the stature of the fish has gone from gaffer to peanut. Joe said the Wahoo bite was a little slower than last week but the two he had hooked-up were enormous. Joe said “those critters never seem to hit my wire rigged baits, it’s always the mono they pick on”. Parker says Wahoo can deplete your offshore bag with a quickness and that gets a little expensive.
While most of us are waiting for the Stripers to show themselves, some decided to travel and try their luck with Striper season opening in Virginia on Sunday Oct 4th. Johnny Lenenbecker, native of Richmond V.A. and resident of Bear Delaware, had good results. Lenenbecker fished the James River and reported a mixed bag of Stripers to 26 inches, Flounder to 24 and some 23″ Red Puppy’s to cap off the day. A little closer to home the Sassafras River has given up some 20-24 inch Stripers but the bite has been passive and the window of opportunity is short. Many fishermen said their fish finders were lit-up with Stripers but they were unable to coax the finicky bass to commit to anything. Anglers tried everything from jigging Stingsilvers and Crippled Herrings to casting Rat-L-Traps and Bass Assassins, usually sure fire baits at this time of the year. The only thing I can think of is that the Stripers are keying in on Gizzard Shad and it’s hard to divert their attention too much else. Good info is still coming from Rock Hall where residents are saying a consistent Rockfish bite has been in effect for about 10 days now. Rock are being caught from shore in the mornings and evenings on top-water plugs and poppers at Huntington, Swan and Love Points. Catches are being tapped to 30 inches and with a slot limit fish filling your daily quota has been a walk in the park. Further up in the bay an excellent Largemouth bite is in high gear. Anglers fishing the grass beds on the Susquehanna Flats have had great success. Dave McCarter said Booyah Spinner Baits and Buzz Baits in white and chartreuse color schemes have produced consistently. With cooling water temperatures and an abundant presence of baitfish, Largemouth are holding the beds for a combination of cover and food.
Delaware ponds provided good fishing action throughout the week despite the blustery blow. Al DelPizzo did well at Beck’s Pond with 3 Largemouth to 12″, 1 Bass to 13″ and another stocky 14 incher. Al also had 3 yellow neds that measured 12″ each. Al said all his fish came on live shiners fished under a bobber right in the heart of lily pads. Noxingtown Pond is still giving up good Largemouth and Crappie action according to Pete Fechter. Small shiners, Fathead Minnows and small jigs tipped with soft plastic grubs were all effective. Garrisons Lake was a hot spot for Crappie and Largemouth as well. Small Fathead minnows, Grass Shrimp and small jigs floated under a bobber were all a play.
The Delaware Surf is still a little slow but most surfcasters are reporting plenty of tailor blues to be had. The Point at Cape Henlopen, Three R’s Road and Haven Road were locations all mentioned by customers here at Eastern Marine. Whole or fillets of fresh Finger Mullet have been the most productive baits. The occasional small Striper is also to be had in the wash with Bloodworms. In just a couple of weeks things will start to improve on the surf as Stripers and big Slammer Blues return from their summer vacations in New England. At this time of the year all of us surf bums are on edge with anticipation of the Fall run of lengthy Linsiders and bodacious Bluefish.
For those that are still in the crabbing mode, good reports are to be had from a few different locations. Reggie May crabbed the Elk River and had two of the most impressive bushels I have seen all year. Reggie’s crabs pointed out to 8-1/4″ and the majority of the crabs were over 7 inches. Rock Hall and the Chester River are still giving up big black back Jimmies in the Shipyard, Langford Creek and above Chestertown in Morgan Creek and Peachtree Point. Reports of enormous Sooks to over 7 inches have also been common in these areas as well. Although Sooks are off limits its a good sign with the slower than usual start of the season. So, don’t put your trotlines and baskets away just yet, the big boys are still on the prowl and there is still plenty of good crabbing still to come.
Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine
After a few hot muggy days last week we returned to some cooling temperatures, high pressure with sunny skies and a building breeze. Most would argue that these are not the most perfect conditions to induce a good days fishing. It is beyond any shadow of a doubt and surveys have proven that the vast majority of fishermen say the wind is their biggest enemy on the water. Although, the combination of falling water temps and increased wind speeds are very beneficial to anglers, provided they no how to use them to their advantage. Two weeks ago I said we were going to talk about Largemouth Bass and how they relate to structure when water temperatures fall and the autumn breeze becomes steady.
As ponds start their cooling trend Largemouth Bass will relate to structure whatever it is in their respective bodies of water, much like Crappie or other panfish schooling around a brush pile or deep hole. Although Largemouth don’t necessarily school on structure, they do maintain a territory in the most prime location they can secure. This is dictated by size and aggression as larger fish typically hold the most productive areas. In the state of Delaware this whittles down the acreage due to the fact our ponds on average are only about 4-5 feet deep and there are no great expanses of deep water to take into consideration. So what do our Bass relate to as far as structure goes? You guessed it, WOOD! Something just about ever pond, river or stream in the state has a lot of.
In the present or similar conditions Largemouth will move up on wood (submerged stumps, blow downs, stationary drift and brush piles.) This can help eliminate unproductive water, narrow down target areas and save anglers precious time with dwindling daylight hours on our horizon. All these Bass tendencies help to keep us in the strike zone longer and increase our productivity, so take advantage of this fortuitous time. The question of what baits to use is broad. This is another advantage for the angler as it’s not winter and we are not relegated to fishing “low and slow” with a jig-n-pig. Suspending jerk baits, slow rolled spinner baits, soft plastics and jigs are all in play as the cooling water sends Bass into a feeding frenzy.
I know some of you are saying okay, but what about that remedy for the wind you mentioned earlier and how is it supposed to be advantageous for me? Well, there is no remedy for solving the wind problem. I can tell you this though, in every publication I have ever read, through my own experiences and from professional Bass fishermen around the country they all have the same tip. As uncomfortable and as CRAZY as it sounds, always cast into the wind. Your cast is sometimes only a quarter of the distance as usual but it does pay off. I reluctantly tried this technique myself many years ago, knowing that windy days are usually the toughest. It has paid off in dividends over the years. We’ll until next week, concentrate your efforts on wood structure and don’t be afraid to stare that wind down until it pays off.
Many of our local customer base that shop here at Eastern Marine go on fishing excursions abroad. Upon returning they are usually full of excitement, information and pictures. The old expression a picture is worth a thousand words pertains to fishermen to the 10th power. After all “seein is believin”. And when we receive news like this we try to do our best to share our customer’s experiences. Over the past week Wendell Clendening, long time friend and customer of Eastern Marine took a trip to the Finger Lakes. Just as luck would have it, before he left for New York, Wendell hooked up with another long time Eastern customer, Gary Rule. Gary is the proprietor and captain of ‘Reel Sportsman Fishing Charters’ on Lake Owasco, New York.
Gary specializes in catching monster Lake, Brown and Rainbow Trout on Lake Owasco. Owasco is located just south of Auburn in upper New York State about 4-1/2 hours drive from Newark Delaware. Clendenning was vacationing on Lake Seneca, another of the Finger Lakes about 1-1/2 hours west of Owasco, and made the trip over to meet Gary and wife Bonni. The Rules have a beautiful cabin overlooking Owasco, so on arrival everything is conveniently situated. After introductions, it’s onto the day’s business of slaying monster trout. For Gary it’s second nature as he sets up a downrigger spread of Sawbellies and Moon Eyes fit for the King of Lakers. It’s no walk in the park trying to entice these finicky deep dwellers to commit to your offering, especially when you’re operating in deep crystal clear water conditions. Tackle set-ups are light and Berkley Vanish in 8 lb test is essential according to Rule.
Gary wished he and Wendell would have had a north or south wind to drift the lakes center and stay in the deep, keeping them in the strike zone for the entire drift. But even with not so perfect conditions Rules expertise put Clendenning on 6 trout (4 Lakers and 2 Rainbows) ranging from 8-15 lbs. Wendell said he could not have been happier with his results and the manner in which Rule conducts himself and his operation. Anyone interested in taking a trip with Gary can call ‘Reel Sportsman Fishing Charters’ at (610)-996-6663. I would advise looking into one of Gary’s Owasco fishing packages, their affordable, close by, and Gary is a consummate professional. He has my stamp of approval.
Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine
What a difference a week makes! As low pressure and higher temperatures entered the area things started to improve on both sides of the coin. Both sweet and salt water reports were abound at Eastern Marine this week. On the fresh water side of things positive information keeps coming from the Delaware River. Most anglers have had success in the C&D Canal, St. Jones River and areas around Augustine Beach. Ceba Gogy Bobby fished Battery Park and nailed small schoolie Stripers, big Channel Catfish and jumbo White Perch. Bobby said Bloodworms and Peanut Bunker were the go to baits. John Schaffer fished the St. Jones River and also stated that jumbo whites were on the move and far up into river tributaries. Shaffer was adamant about his choice of bait and said “if its not grass shrimp, it just wont play”. Big whites seem to be dialed in on the autumn harvest of Grass Shrimp that are abundant along creek and riverbanks where any green vegetation is standing.
The Delaware Bay is still producing Flounder on the saltwater side of things. Although most have reported plenty of throw backs a certain few still can put those couple of keepers in to the ice chest. Flounder taken at Indian River were taped to 21+” and the deep water bite was on at sites 10 and 11. Many anglers said Berkley Gulp in the 4″ swimming mullet was the go to bait in both Pearl White and Chartreuses. You know fellas, at this point in the year I’m a live bait fisherman, but when an artificial food source bait produces like this, it’s tough to argue with the results. Big Croakers are still in the Delaware Bay. According to Dave Singles while drifting for flatty’s in the Brown Shoal area, he hooked up with Croak’s in the 14-15″ range. Dave also said that his Berkley Gulp offerings were more effective than squid and minnow combo’s on Flounder and Croakers. Dropping for Sea Bass improved over the past week also. Patrons of Eastern Marine said Capt. Rick and crew of the ‘Thelma Dale’ put them on nice Sea Bass and the action was non-stop.
The surf actually came alive with a nice run of Snapper Blues up to 18 inches. Bethany, 3R’s and Haven Roads all had reports of Bluefish up the 18″ mark. The other encouraging report was from an Eastern Marine customer who claimed that Weakfish (Sea Trout) were being taken at 3R’s Road in the 6 to 9 lb range on fresh peeler crabs. Thursday and Friday night walk on’s were up and down the beach area as it didn’t take long for word to spread.
The most impressive reports as far as variety and numbers were from off shore trips. A distinct break in water temps riding along the 50-fathom line was key in the diversity of offshore species brought to the boat. Bill Jaegers was trolling the Washington Canyon and went 3 for 5 on White Marlin, zero for 2 on smoker Wahoo and 34 Mahi-Mahi that weighed to 28 lb’s. Bill Jaegers said a mixture of medium and horse Ballyhoo trolled naked fared better than Bally’s dressed or with skirts. Mason McMullen of Middletown Delaware, while fishing on the ‘Rhondas Osprey’ out of Sunset Marina, dragged Bally’s across the 50-fathom line in the Baltimore Canyon and dialed up a 101 lb Wahoo. Nice job Mason on your fine catch! Hey folks, Mason is just a youngster, and I bet this is just one of many to be recorded for Mason. The Hot Dog gave up Yellow Fin and Wahoo to 90 lbs. The bottom of The Elephant Trunk produced Bull Gaffer Dolphin in huge numbers along with Wahoo to 50 lbs. A combination of White Marlin, Yellow Fin Tuna, Wahoo and gaffer Bull Dolphin were all to be had at the Poor Mans Canyon. Some Captains reported water temps to 80 degrees.
Finally, the Blue Claw counts have started to top-off. The best reports have come from the Elk and Chester Rivers. Crabbers are harvesting good numbers of big black back crabs at Welch Point on the Elk and at the Shipyard in the Chester. Crabs measuring 8 plus inches have been common. The other key many crabbers have exclaimed is their crabbing in 4-6′ of water, trot line or drop pots. Well until next week keep your trotline tight and don’t cheap date the bait!
Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine
Two of the past three fishing reports I have given you fellas started off with the mention of rain and the proverbial wrench it was throwing into the gear box of our fishing machine. Well it was the case again this week with most of the state receiving a thorough drenching. Lower Slower Delaware recorded 4″ for most of the Sussex County area and the upper 2/3’s of the state didn’t fair much better. With little fishing activity this week information was at a minimum but there are always a few die-hards that we can count on to fish in almost any condition and give us the low-down. Actually until 10 minutes ago I was trying to figure out how to present this report until I reviewed my notes. I noticed that all three anglers who reported here to Eastern Marine all fished Beck’s, Noxingtown, and Lum’s Ponds respectively through the course of the week. I also noticed all had a different story to tell.
Al DelPizzo caught a skunk at Lum’s and Noxingtown. Beck’s on the other hand was far more generous to Al, yielding 2 fifteen inch Large Mouth, 2 Yellow Perch, 1 Pickerel and 1 Catfish. Al was floating Shiners under a bobber. You can’t go wrong with live bait but what happened at Lum’s and Noxingtown? Angler number two, Pete Fecther, reported Crappie at Noxingtown that were over 2 lbs. When Pete first hooked up with these enormous crappies he thought for sure they were Largemouth on the other end of his line. Pete was also using live bait, Rosey Red minnows that can be purchased here at Eastern Marine. We sell them by the dozen and they are killers on big panfish. Beck’s and Lum’s Ponds did not produce for Pete which was the opposite of Al DelPizzo’s luck. Finally angler number three, Timmy Maruzschak said the bite at Lum’s Pond was on fire. Timmy was using a variety of jerk baits, jigs and top-water baits to bring fish to the boat. It seemed funny how three different anglers fished the same bodies of water, all with different results in one of the three ponds.
Shannon Cockerell and Noah Robita fished for Flat Head Catfish on the Susquehanna River and had great results. The duo caught as many as 2 dozen Flat Heads to 34 lbs and Cockrell said at one point all 4 rods were lit-up with the hard running, hard fighting monsters. Pictures can be seen here at Eastern Marine on our wall of fame for Cockrell and Robita’s catch. Good job everyone, congrats on your fine catches, and thanks for the info.
The saltwater scene was much slower. Water conditions were dirty and the ocean was churning. The inlet and surf was not a good play this past week. Up in the Delaware Bay Dan Reel said the Flounder bite was still in gear but just about every fish was a throw back. Cobia were also a topic of discussion. Anglers reported Cobia at the mouth of the Delaware Bay and some as far north as the Brandywine Light. I myself lived in south Florida for 6 years where there is no shortage of Cobia. I can attest these fish are tough competitors and good table fare. With the increase of Cobia catches in the recent past I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a fairly strong Cobia fishery in the next 10 years.
Finally, crabs have come on and good reports were had from the Chester, Elk and Gun Powder River. 3/4 to 2 bushel reports have been common. On the Chester, crabbers were ecstatic to see the big black backs coming up on trotlines and in the bottom of their hand pots. It seems like the Labor Day weekend was a success for all those who didn’t give up and were determined to have crabs to end the summer season.
Well the Stripers should be heading south here in a few weeks and I can’t wait for the surf and inlet to heat up with big fish of the linesider variety. Until next time, keep your trotline tight, those crabs are still running and don’t cheap date the bait.
Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine
With the onset of Labor Day and the official end of the summer season pending, many Eastern Marine customers took advantage of the long weekend and geared up for what might be the finale of another fishing year. Whether folks were traveling, day tripping or staying in the local area, fishing and crabbing was on everybody’s agenda. There was a steady stream of customer traffic coming through the door. Some just needing a last minute item like a pack of Jimmy clips or a couple of replacement Foxy-Mate 66 crab traps. Where as others loaded up like it was beginning of the season. Two to three cases of Topless Foxy-Mate crab traps per customer were not uncommon. Trot line supplies were also a popular item as many replaced missing items as well as building entirely new set ups, all in an effort to insure a gangbuster catch of our favorite Labor Day table fare. I’m sure most of you already know but for those of you who don’t, we here at Eastern Marine have undoubtedly the largest selection of equipment for catching the Atlantic Blue Claw Crab in the region. You can view our offerings online if you wish on this very website, so check it out!
On the freshwater scene anglers reported improved conditions and much better success. Local area ponds: Beck’s, Lum’s, Noxintown, and Canal pond all produced a variety of species for a number of individuals. Most anglers I talked to reported a mixed bag of fish and numbers of them. Some pan fish that their captors were unable to identify accompanied the usual Largemouth Pickerel, Crappie and Bluegills. This is the kind of activity that is exhibited when fish are getting ready to school and are going on the feed before that long winters nap. Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that but I’m sure you have also noticed our slightly cooler nights as well. Remember though this is not a bad thing, as the bite will intensify over the next few weeks with falling temps and shorter daylight hours. Don’t forget what we talked about in last weeks blog about the top-water bite coming on and next week we are going to talk about how Largemouth Bass relate to structure as the temperatures drop. Sue Wagner fished Red Clay Creek and caught a variety of pan fish, bas, and Catfish between live and artificials. Sue said that a Berkley 3″ Trout Worm in stark white was the real killer for her and caught as many fish as live bait offerings did without all the live bait rigging. Sue says this saves valuable time when an artificial works so effectively. Small schoolie stripers have also been reported from the Christina and Delaware Rivers in the New Castle County area. Bloodworms, Night crawlers and a number of small spinners and spoons all seem to be doing the job. Shannon Cockerell and friend When Ming fished the Susquehanna River and annihilated Monster Flat Head Catfish to 34 lbs on live Bluegills. Pictures are here to view on our Eastern Marines wall of fame.
On the briny side of things reports were down a little from previous weeks. Some throw back Flounder, Croakers and small Blues were about all that was to be had. Eastern Marine customers claimed the Spot seemed to vanish from local haunts, keeper Flounder were scarce but Snapper Blues are abundant. Rockfish in the keeper range have been stuck at Indian River at night from the rocks.
As we spoke earlier crabbing is starting pick-up and crabbers are in full swing to take advantage of the late summer run into the upper Chesapeake Bay. Elk and Chester Rivers have come on strong with bushel plus reports. Crabs measuring 8-1/2″ are common with most in the 6-8″ range. Indian River below the power plant has been productive and in our own back yard outside of Delaware City, crabs have been caught on Trot Line and in traps at Governor Bacon in 4-5 feet of water. Crabs measured 5 1/2 -7 1/2″s. Well until next week keep your trotline tight and don’t cheap date the bait.
