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



By Eric Burnley Sr.*

Updated: Feb. 10, 2011

DELAWARE BAY The lower bay is not producing much and there are few if any anglers fishing this area. There are reports of catfish and perch caught from Augustine Beach and the pier at Woodland Beach. Frozen bunker is working on the cats while bloodworms, earthworms and grass shrimp are taking the perch. The occasional short rockfish is mixed in the catch.

INDIAN RIVER INLET The outgoing current is producing a few keeper rockfish. The water is a bit warmer on the outgoing and this can trigger the fish to bite.

Bubblegum Beach has been one of the better locations with flies fished behind a sinker the most productive offering. Shads, bucktails and small plastic lures have also worked.

INSHORE OCEAN The tog bite was off a bit over the weekend as strong currents caused by the full moon made holding bottom difficult. Most boats reported catching 4 to 5 fish per person. The current should slack and the fishing should improve this weekend.

Trolling for rockfish has been very good for those in the right place at the right time. On Wednesday the bite was off of Bethany Beach and on Thursday it had moved to the Old Coast Guard Station. Plugs, spoons, bucktails and umbrella rigs all produced fish in the 20-pound range.

FRESHWATER Fishing is pretty good in the ponds and tidal rivers. Sunfish, crappie, bass and pickerel are active in ponds and the upper reaches of the tidal rivers and creeks. Live minnows and shiners remain the top bait followed by earthworms, jigs and plastics.
A few crappie over a pound were checked in last week. The Bethel Hole on the Nanticoke River and Noxentown Pond were two locations mentioned in the reports.

The tidal creeks are beginning to see more perch activity with both yellow and white varieties available at times. This fishery will continue to improve as we move towards spring.

NEW REGULATIONS Beginning February 11 tog regulations in Delaware will change. The bag limit will go down from 10 to 5 per person and the size limit will increase to 16 inches. The winter season will end on March 31 and the spring season will begin on April 1. From then until May 11 the bag limit will decrease to 3 fish while the size limit remains at 16 inches.

Tog season will close from May 11 to July 17. From then until August 31 the size limit will stay at 16 inches and the bag limit will go back to 5 fish. The fall season will begin on September 29 and continue until December 31 with the same 5-fish bag and 16-inch minimum size.
Herring are now off limits to Delaware fishermen. Not many people still catch herring for food, but they are an important source of bait for spring rockfish. This year we will have to go with something else.

This ban will include hooking a herring then live-lining it for big rock. This is a possession law and when you live-line a herring you do indeed have possession.

*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.