Matt Borelli showed up at Eastern Marine with two impressive Black Drum tethered to the console of his Carolina Skiff, one 55 pounder and the other an outstanding 88 pound boomer. Matt and family spent the night out on the Coral Beds cracking Quahogs and it sure did pay off. Congratulations to Matt and family on their success, citation honors for their Boomer, and continued good luck in the future. A solid Striper bite is still to be had at the Indian River Inlet at night off the jetty and along the rocks. Anglers throwing bucktails with strips of fresh cut bait (herring, shad, bunker) have done extremely well. Storm Lures, Tsunami center post baits, and Bomber Long A plugs have also produced limit catches of Stripers. Further up the bay good reports are coming from buoy R”6L” where Striped Bass have been stacked up. Customers here at Eastern have been leaving Collins Beach and anchoring up in the section of 20ft water just off the buoy. Fresh Bunker has been the ticket, and not much else has seemed to grab their attention but limit catches of fish have been fast and furious.

On the fresh water scene Michael Schenck of Wilmington Delaware fished over the Memorial Day weekend. Upon arriving at Eastern, Michael hoisted an enormous 6 pound 4oz Largemouth Bass on to the scale. With a length of 20 inches and a girth of 15 ½ inches Michaels bass was a real chunk to say the least. Schenck received citation honors for his fish, congratulations on your fine catch Mike.

Fishing Reports by Mike B. at Eastern Marine

On the days that were fishable, anglers had some encouraging news to share. On the fresh water scene Brad Waltman hooked into an enormous 7 lb Largemouth Bass that taped out at 22-3/4 inches. Waltman was fishing at Beck’s Pond and declined to tell the Eastern Marine staff what the big bass fell for. Dave Jordan fished Noxontown Pond and showed up with a hefty White Crappie that tipped the scales at 2 lbs. Dave was fishing with shiners he purchased here at Eastern Marine. Matthew Crawford decided to try his luck at Old Post Farms and brought a nice 1 lb 12oz White Crappie that earned him citation honors. Matt was fishing with Fat Head Minnows under a bobber.

Trout fishing still remained productive throughout the month as stocking continued threw the 23rd of April. Larry Holcomb tried his luck at Rittenhouse Park and nailed an impressive 2lb 4oz Rainbow. William Brittingham fished White Clay Creek and fooled a 2lb 4oz Brown Trout with a Rooster Tail. Perry Swecker and friend Russell Smith waded the Trolly Car and both put on citation Brown Trout. Sweckers trout weighed in at 2lb even and Smiths Brownie was 2lb 4oz. All of the Brown Trout Perry and Russell caught were taken on small Fat Head Minnows.

Striper fishing was at the top of most anglers list. As we flow into mid April the Striper run intensifies and so does the bite. Derek Fagan an employee here at Eastern Marine fished The Pipes, just south of Reedy Point and scored a lovely 24lb 6oz Striper, Derek was using fresh herring cut baits. Vinnie Forte brought a 39” Striper to the scales that was 22 lbs and good enough for citation honors. Vinnie was fishing the skinny water down at Sam Green’s Beach. Don Lane and son Josh fished an undisclosed area that father Don said was south of Augustine Beach. Don and Josh were chunking fresh bunker and managed a beautiful Striped Bass that pushed our scale capacity to the limit. Don’s Striper weighed 27 lbs 4oz, while Josh earned citation honors for an enormous Channel Catfish that taped out to 23-1/2 inches and weighed 7 lb 10oz. Clifford Ray Lewis followed suite with his own citation Channel Cat that was 24 inches and was 7lb 7oz. Shawn May fished Augustine Beach and brought a 39 inch Striper to the boat that received citation accolades at a weight of 22 lbs 8oz’s. Shawn said the big Striper just couldn’t resist a whole offering of Eastern Marine’s JUMBO BLOODWORMS. Well let’s hope the weather report for this weekend holds up better than previous weeks of April and we get a chance to get out on the water and enjoy ourselves. Remember that Eastern Marine is your one stop shopping outlet for the fishing and crabbing enthusiast.

Don’t worry! I didn’t forget you salt water guys! We stock the full line of Berkley Gulp Alive buckets (4” swimming mullet, new penny shrimp, molting crab and the new belly strip.) These are becoming the most popular artificials for salt water and a must have for Delaware Bay Flounder fishermen. For the angler that has to throw that special confidence bait, or nothing else will work! Berkley has developed scented spray attractants, Berkley Gulp Alive Spray. Now any soft plastic or hard lure can be enhanced with the great taste of Gulp! Again don’t forget we have the largest, freshest live bait selection around. Bloodworms are in stock and this year we are selling a regular and JUMBO size worm, they are priced at $8.99 for regs and $15.99 for our 10” inch plus JUMBO. With our report from last week being favorable on the Striper bite in the upper Delaware River and 60 degree plus days in store what are you waiting for! Let’s go fishing!

Yong Anderson was fishing Reedy Point and received citation honors for a dandy 1# lb White Perch he weighed in here at Eastern Marine. Yong was fishing Bloodworms on a top and bottom rig. You can see Yong’s picture here on our website.

Shannon Cockrell was at the top of the fresh water scene again this week with a nice bucket of White Crappie. Cockrell said he was fishing a shad dart tipped with night crawler at Smalley’s Dam on the Christiana Creek. Unfortunately Shannon missed receiving citation honors for his crappie by 1/8th of an once.