Delaware Fishing Report
When, Where, What and How They're Biting



By Eric Burnley Sr.*

Updated: Dec. 15, 2011

DELAWARE BAY The mouth of the bay saw better rockfish action this week as more fish moved down from New Jersey. This batch has more short fish in the mix, but they keep anglers occupied between keepers.

The Eights, the Valley and Overfalls Shoal all provided good numbers of fish for those who drifted eels, trolled plugs or jigged bucktails. Drifting eels in the Valley was very good on Tuesday.

Chunkers did better up the bay at 4L, 6L, Ship John, Miah Maull, Blake’s Channel, Site 4 and the 60-Foot Slough on the New Jersey side. There were numerous dog sharks around to pester eel drifters and menhaden chunkers.

Tog fishing is described as very good with limit catches made at bay reef sites, the Outer Wall, Ice Breakers and secret snags known only to the captain. Crab is always the top bait and depending on whom you speak with either blue, fiddler, white leggers or green is the best choice.

If you have already stowed your boat for the winter and still want a shot at tog or rockfish there are head and charter boats leaving every day from Lewes. If you are fishing alone or with a buddy, head boats offer an inexpensive choice while parties up to six or more may want to charter a boat.

INDIAN RIVER INLET Rockfish action here is not real good if you are to judge by our experience last Monday. Harry Aiken and I fished for several hours on the incoming water without so much as a hit. We did see two short rock caught from a boat fishing alongside us and using the same lure, a white bucktail and white rubber worm.That’s a real confidence builder.

Jetty jockeys are finding a few more fish after dark with a mix of small rock and shad. Speck rigs and bucktails have been the top offerings.
Tog fishing remains good from the rocks. It does take a certain resourcefulness to fish for long periods of time from the rocks or sidewalk during the winter. My hat is off to those who can accomplish this feat.

SURF FISHING The occasional rockfish is hauled from the waves, but the overall action is beyond slow. The few that have been caught are taken on cut bunker. We need some east wind to move the rockfish closer to shore and if we continue to get a steady diet of west wind the surf fishermen will have a very bad fall.

INSHORE OCEAN We are getting reports of big sea bass, cod and the occasional big bluefish taken in the deep water beyond 20 fathoms. I would not recommend taking a small boat out that far in the winter, but head and charter boats are available from Lewes or Indian River. It is possible, given some good weather, that larger boats may try deep dropping for tilefish and grouper during the winter. I have yet to have that experience and hope to give it try in 2012.

Tog were caught on wrecks and reefs closer to shore. Ling have been caught on the reef sites.

Still waiting for schools of big rockfish working under birds inside the 3-Mile Limit. We did have reports of this activity several miles off the beach.

FRESHWATER The ponds are seeing more activity than usual for this time of year. Bass, crappie and pickerel have been caught on live bait, plugs and plastics. A live shiner or minnow will attract all three species with the smaller baits better for crappie. Larger shiners have accounted for big bass and pickerel.

The tidal creeks and the lower Delaware River hold good numbers of white perch and catfish.The perch will hit bloodworms while the catfish are taking cut bunker or bloodworms. With many anglers searching for rockfish in these same waters, perch and catfish are often a bycatch.

The Nanticoke River and Broad Creek hold bass with the best bite on a falling tide. The dropping water drives bass out of heavy cover close to shore and puts them on structure where fishermen can reach them. Crankbaits and plastics are the top lures while live shiners make the best bait.

Crappie have made an appearance at the Bethel Hole where live minnows have accounted for good catches. I expect the spillway by the Nanticoke Hospital in Seaford will soon see similar action.

The Brandywine River holds smallmouth bass. Live minnows or crawfish have been the top baits.

White Clay Creek is still producing trout for those willing to wade in cold water. This fishery will last all winter. Try earth or meal worms for bait. Fly fishermen will have a ball finding exactly what will tempt these trout into striking.

FIND THE TIME I know everyone is busy this time of year with all the holiday celebrations, but try to find some time to fish. Right now we are blessed with very good rockfish action in the bay; tog fishing is excellent there and in the ocean and big bass, pickerel and crappie are biting in the freshwater ponds, creeks and rivers.

I know it is colder than it is in the summer, but with the proper clothing it is possible to fish for several hours in relative comfort. Head and charter boats will run all winter out of Lewes and Indian River and if you choose this option you can come in from the cold on a regular basis.

Freshwater anglers can fish from shore or boat in the ponds or tidal creeks. I don’t think the surf fishing season is over as I recently read a surf report from 1959 where one man had over 50 rockfish from the surf in January.

We should be thankful for the mild weather so far and if it continues we should have good fishing for another month or more. We always wear our PFD summer and winter and highly recommend you do as well.

*Eric Burnley Sr. is a native Delawarean who has fished the waters of his home state for more than 60 years. He has been a full-time outdoor writer since 1978, with articles appearing in most national magazines as well as many regional publications. He has authored two books, Surf Fishing The Atlantic Coast and The Ultimate Guide To Catching Striped Bass.