Bill's Sport Shop 2009 Flounder Tournament May 1st to June 12th
It's just a week until our flounder tournament begins. Interest is building as the date gets closer. This will be a fun and potentially profitable time for the folks who enter. Anglers can fish from land or boats on any of Delaware's waters from bays and rivers to the Atlantic Ocean. Don't miss out!!! Open to all. One thousand dollars first prize - prizes awarded for 10 heaviest flounder. Entry forms and information available on the web site or in the store. http://www.billssportshop.com/
Fishing News
Rich Gehman reports from Wachapreague that there are flounder in large numbers being caught using minnows. Out of 50 flatties boated, only 2 keepers at 20" and 19 3/4" hit the cooler.
A monster striper was caught at Woodland Beach Pier on light tackle by big Jerr.
Capt. Rick Yakimowicz, of the Thelma Dale V, reports a fairly decent catch of nice sized tautog on each trip. Hearty anglers wound up catching a limit of tog, biggest of which was nearly nine pounds by day's end with the average fish weighing in around three to four pounds. Captain Rick reported surface temperatures as warm as 49.7 degrees over the weekend. They are still hovering around 46.5 degrees out in the ocean. There is still no good word on the mackerel.
Herman Rotsch stopped at Cannary Creek after church and using a bucktail came away with a 20" flounder.
Fishing Indian River Bay with shiners and squid, Jerrod Birddell and Ray brought home 3 flounder measuring 19 1/2, 21 1/2and a 22".
John had 2 keeper flounder at Indian River on herring.
Charlene and Jim had blues up to 7lbs., 1 1/2 miles off IR using mullett. They also reportd 2 blues off the beach at IRI southside.
Chris Thurman, on the Skipjack, fished Delaware Bay on his 1st trip of 2009 and his anglers boated their limit of tau tog.
Capt Carey Evans aboard the Grizzley reports that tog fishing is in full swing! The striper fishing has slowed a bit lately but should pick up. The first drum has been caught in the bay. The first catches of seabass should occur by month's end as well.
Sue Foster from Oyster Bay Tackle, reports that Charlie Donohue of Philadelphia, PA caught a 3 3/4 pound flounder (22") at Rt 90 Bridge on Berkley Gulp . Also caught was a 19"- 2 1/2 pound flounder aboard his boat the "Lucky One". Other than that, there are sharks, skates and small bluefish on the beach. A few tautog and stripers have been reported at the end of Oceanic Pier, the bulkhead, and inlets.
Attention all Cub Scout leaders and parents!!!
A youth day camp will be held for ages 8 to 14. The following activities will be discussed: boating, waterfowl, archery, air rifles, building bird boxes and feeders, deer management and fishing. The program will be run by De. Fish and Wildlife officers.
When? Saturday, May 16- 9:00AM to 4:00pm- no drop offs but one scout leader or parent can bring a group.
Where ? Redden State Forrest Headquarters Tract.
It’s free and registration forms are available at Bill’s Sport Shop. They are recommended but not required. Lunch will be sold by the Frankford Fire Co.
Further info contact: Sr.Cpl Doug Messick at 302-855-1921
Shark Regulation Meeting Thursday Night
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the Division of Soil and Water Conservation building at the western end of Pilottown Road in Lewes, on proposed modifications to the state’s Tidal Finfish Regulations concerning Atlantic sharks and commercial fishing for spiny dogfish.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE FISH FUNDING MEETING
The cape Henlopen State Park Pier is now being repaired and the first phase will be completed by Memorial day. The pilings are being jacketed and epoxy fiberglass poured in to strengthen the pilings. This procedure is expected to last for up to thirty years. The first phase will take it past the first break at which time they will be able to continue the repairs possibly out to the T. The funds given to Parks and Recreation from license matching monies was $500,000 and the bid for the first phase was lower than expected leaving more money for additional repairs possibly way out to the T.
Also the Lewes boat launch ramp, Faulkner’s Pier at Bowers Beach and Mulberry Landing on Assawoman Bay is completed.
Scheduled for 2009 is the Augustine boat launch ramp dredging to relieve the accumulation of sediment. This action will make the ramp usable.
Other projects include Cedar Creek access area repairs, Bowers Beach bulkhead in front of the CG station, Scotton Landing, Garrison Lake, Rosedale Beach boat ramp, Collins Beach, Fort DuPont and Port Mahon.
Your license money is working for you. The next meeting is scheduled for September at which time we will know the amount of revenues available and decide on any additional new projects. Your suggestions are welcome. Send them to me at billsss@comcast.net
Updated 2009 Regulations
The new flounder regulations of 4/day @ 18.5" will become effective May 11.
Size requirement for black sea bass has increased from the 12 " to 12.5". Black sea bass length measurement does not include the filament on top of the tail. This will also be effective May 11.
Tau tog fishing is closed from May 12 to June 30 and from Sep 1 to Sep 28. A reminder that tautog regulations are 3 fish a day at 15" from April 1st til May 11.
Center for the Inland Bays Report
The Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) is holding its annual bay clean up on June 13th. DNREC F&W officers will provide hot dogs and sodas for all volunteers on that day at the Massey’s Landing boat launch facility at the end of Long Neck Rd. Volunteers with trash bags will be dropped off a various points around the bay and picked up later. Pontoon boats are needed as well as volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering either with a pontoon boat or just for clean up, please contact Buzz Henefin at buzbet1@verizon.net or call the CIB office at 302-228-8954.
The Gardening for the Bays Native Plant Sale is on May 16th. This event has been a huge success featuring plants for sale that are indigenous to our inland bays watershed. Hot dogs and soda are available with many interesting displays to see.
The CIB-managed James Farm Ecological Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset, 365 days-a-year. The public is invited to visit James Farm any day from sunrise to sundown, free of charge. The park is located on Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View. Pets are invited but must be leashed. The James Farm Ecological Preserve is an oasis of wild land on Indian River Bay. From the sandy beach at low tide, you can walk through seven distinctive habitats including salty flats, high marshlands, maritime forrests, hardwood forrests, and meadows that were all once farm fields before restoration. For more information about the James Farm Ecological Preserve, please contact the office of the CIB at 302.226-8105 or E-mail restoration@inlandbays.org
Upcoming Events
May 3rd. Blessing of the fleet in Lewes
May 1-June 12 Bill’s Sport Shop Flounder Tournament
May 16th Plant Sale at the James Farm
May22-25. IRBA Bluefish Tournament
June 13th CIB Bay Cleanup
June 27-July 4 IRBA Tuna Tournament
August 3-7 White Marlin Open
August 13-15: Poor Girls Open
August 16-21: Mid Atlantic 500,000
September 4-6: IRBA Fishing Tournament
November 21-28 IRBA Striper Tournament
Fin number for 2009 and General Fishing License
The new FIN number requirement for all anglers 16 years of age or older is now available at http://www.delaware-fin.com or via the phone (not the preferred method) 800-432-9228. Note that as of January 1, 2009, this requirement is required of all anglers, exempt or otherwise, participants on a boat that has a boat license, and those anglers that participate on head boats or charter boats. This free number must be kept on the person by the angler. For those that have a license there is now a place for the FIN number.
To qualify for exempt status with the National Marine Fisheries, the registry of Delaware’s saltwater anglers must also include those who are not legally required to have a recreational fishing license. Because of this requirement, resident senior citizens age 65 and older and unlicensed anglers who fish from a licensed vessel will also need to obtain a Delaware F.I.N. number.
The new 2009 fishing licenses are now available at Bill's. The boat fishing licenses are also available at Bill’s; the sticker will be mailed within one week.
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) and acquire a F.I.N. number. We have all the various types of licenses available in the store, and full information on the GFL is available on our home page www.billssportshop.com.
Bill's Radio Fishing Report
Captain Bill Baker's fishing report on WGMD, 92.7, has resumed as of April 1, 2009, after the 7 am news and again after the 5 pm news.
*****SPRING HOURS *****
Mon-Fri. 7:00am to 6:00pm
Sat. 6:00am to 6:00 pm
Sun 6:00am to 4:00pm
Call ahead for verification as hours will increase
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Bill's Sport SHop Fishing Report 4/22/09
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