Tautog season opened this week and despite inclement weather and dirty water, anglers have had success at Indian River Inlet. Bill's Sport Shop has all the rods, reels, rigs and baits needed to take advantage of the fishery. With the cooler temperatures and the movement of spot and mullet, we are looking forward to the arrival of stripers later in the month.
Here are some reports we have received since last week:
From Scaglione:
Mr.Dom and Russell were able to fish "B" Buoy area last week despite very rough sea conditions and had a good catch of croaker, some keeper sea bass and a 23" flounder.
There are a lot of fish but fishing is extremely difficult with the northeast wind blowing hard. A sea anchor drift control is almost mandatory.
Ron from Bill's went to IRI for opening day of tautog. There were quite a few tog caught with several keepers and a lot of throw-backs despite very dirty water. The "Park Patrol" was there checking licenses. Ron also said that anglers have been catching a few throw back stripers and black drum on fleas. Folks fishing cut mullet have been catching quite a few big conger eels, probably due to the dirty water.
A customer stopped by and reported that he was fishing the burned pilings at the Pier in a boat using mullet and had 2 trout over 18" and a keeper flounder.
At Massey's Landing, reports that sheepshead and black drum have been caught on clams.
From Sue Foster Oyster Bay Tackle
Water Temperature (WTMP): 68.2
What weather we had this past week! Fishing was almost impossible all week.
The last fishable day was Monday. Then most anglers had to wait until Saturday to be able to fish again. The wind blew and then the rain came. By Saturday, we had some fish back in the surf once again. Stripers bit from the Inlets and Rt. 50 Bridge. Flounder were caught in the bay and surf. And tautog fishing rebounded.
The last fishable day in the surf was last Monday. I ventured to 3 R's and caught some small bluefish, spot, and small flounder. It took 5 ounces to hold bottom. Then even that would not hold by the end of the day. All week long we had waves 6 to 12 feet! On Saturday, things returned to "close to" normal. Anglers still had to use 5 ounces, but we heard some snapper blues, spot, and short stripers were caught in the Delaware Seashore State Park.
Assateague surf saw some big red drum this weekend along with sharks, rays, flounder and snapper blues."
Indian River Inlet Bridge Design Unveiling
The state has awarded and signed a contract with Skanska Southeast. A revealing of the new design and introduction to the design build team will be at a press conference on Wednesday September 17th 1pm at the project site and all are welcome to attend. Expected completion is summer 2011. Any questions can be directed to Darrel W. Cole, director, Office of public relations DELDOT at 302 760-2080
The Division of Parks and Recreation announced that Cape Henlopen State Park Oceanside Beach is now open to pedestrians and surf-fishing vehicles. The bayside beach opened today, Oct. 1.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting in Rehoboth this year
Formed by the 15 Atlantic coast states in 1942 in recognition that fish do not adhere to political boundaries. The Commission serves as a deliberative body, coordinating the conservation and management of the states shared near shore fishery resources - marine, shell, and anadromous - for sustainable use Healthy, self-sustaining populations for all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.
ASMFC 67th Annual Meeting, October 19 - 23: Atlantic Sands Hotel and Conference Center, 101 North Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; 800/422-0600.
Upcoming tournaments and events
Roctober Tournament has been canceled for this year. Tournament directors say that they may run it again next year but due to the cost of fuel and the economy they have decided to postpone the tournament for this year.
2nd Annual DMS Invitational Surf fishing Tournament
October 11-12, 2008- Applications are available at Bill's Sport Shop
Hertrich of Milford is donating a 08 Ford F-150 Crew Cab 4×4 pick up for the angler that catches a state record blue fish in the tournament. Oct. 27, 1980, Bill Thoroughgood landed a 21lb, 5oz bluefish at Rehoboth Beach, setting the current state record.
Captain Bill's Radio Fishing Report
Captain Bill Baker broadcasts his daily fishing report on WGMD–92.7FM. Captain Bill's report airs daily at 7am and 5pm after the news. If at any time you miss this report, you can catch it on our home page, www.billssportshop.com and click on Bill's Daily Radio Report, on the internet! and you can now view pictures of the latest fish caught that we are reporting by going to our home page and click on Updated Fishing Pictures.
Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament
The Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament is a popular program that provides recognition patches and citations to anglers whose catch exceeds certain weight minimums for each eligible species. A companion program provides recognition patches for catch and release entries that exceed certain length minimums. For more information on the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, please call 302-739-9914 or visit www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries.htm and click on "Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament." Citations are again being issued and fish may be weighed in at Bill's Sport Shop.
General Fishing License
The Delaware State Legislature has passed and the Governor has signed into law the General Fishing License has gone into effect. With a few exceptions–this will mean that anybody fishing, clamming and crabbing in ANY Delaware waters will be required to purchase a GFL(General Fishing License). We have all the various types of licenses available in the store, and full information on the GFL on our home page www.billssportshop.com.
*****FALL HOURS*****
Mon. thru Thurs. - 6am. - 8pm.
Fri. - 6am. - 10pm.
Sat. - 5am. - 9pm.
Sun. - 5am. - 7pm.
Bill's Sport Shop
Lewes, DE
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