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



By Eric Burnley Sr.*

Updated: Sept. 9, 2011

DELAWARE BAY Between the tropical storm and two hurricanes it has been difficult to gather any reliable fishing reports because not very many people have been fishing. The Delaware Bay was pretty much unfishable after the first hurricane, came back a bit over the weekend and then went south again as the heavy rain from the tropical storm dirtied the water.

Flounder were caught over hard structure at the reef sites and around the Outer Wall, but most were shorts. One notable keeper was landed from the beach in Lewes on a jig sweetened with Gulp! The Lewes and Rehoboth Canal and the Broadkill River are still seeing short flounder with the occasional keeper.

The best croaker fishing was at the mouth of the bay where fish to 15 inches were caught. This is normal for the early fall season as croaker begin to move into the ocean to spawn.

In the lower Delaware River and upper bay catfish have been caught on a variety of baits with peeler crab a good choice. The white perch bite has continued wherever you can find access to a tidal creek or in the C&D Canal. Bloodworms are always a favorite.
Spot fishing from the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier has been good. The Lewes and Rehoboth Canal has also produced spot with bloodworms and small hooks the hot setup.

INDIAN RIVER INLET Incoming water has been the most productive time to fish the inlet during both day and night tides. Even then, the flounder and rockfish action has been slow.
With the mullet run underway, fishing should improve along with the weather.

SURF FISHING Bluefish were caught on fresh mullet at Herring Point and Three Rs Road during moderate sea conditions between the storms. The mullet run is underway and blues should feed on them for another month. These will generally be small fish to 3 pounds. The larger blues will follow the bunker schools in October.

INSHORE OCEAN Croaker invaded the ocean after the first hurricane and were caught in good number and size until the second hurricane made the waves too high for safe boating. I would expect them to still be there once the seas settle down. The action extended from the mouth of the bay to the Buoy Line and the Old Grounds. Croaker are not picky eaters, but cut bait will entice the larger ones to bite.

Sea bass fishing was better between the storms with more keepers. The fish were on open bottom as well as the wrecks and reefs. Squid, cut bait and crab all make excellent sea bass bait.

The warm, blue water at the Buoy Line attracted dolphin while the cold water on the bottom held flounder, sea bass and ling. This is a somewhat unusual situation and it will be interesting to see if these conditions return after the storms pass. I fished out of Virginia Beach on Saturday and found these same conditions about 20 miles offshore.

OFFSHORE OCEAN To no one's great surprise, the marlin bite was good between hurricanes. The Baltimore and the Poorman’s were hot from 50 fathoms on out to the deep.

Yellowfin tuna also moved into the canyon area and were caught along with the marlin. Large numbers of dolphin were bailed from under floating debris and big wahoo were caught on the troll. With no cold weather in sight I would expect the good fishing out here to return with better sea conditions.

Bottom fishermen working deep drop rigs scored with tilefish and swordfish. Here too the action should continue for at least another month.

FRESHWATER Bass fishing was fair in ponds and tidal rivers before the flooding rains of the past week. The ponds should clear before the rivers and the bass will be feeding hard to get ready for winter.

Smallmouth fishing was good in the Brandywine, but recent heavy rains have raised the level of the river to a dangerous height. Even small feeder streams can become very dangerous very quickly so take precautions and stay away from the water until the levels drop.

BUNKER Bunker or menhaden have been more numerous this year than in any other year I can remember. I have seen huge schools of these fish from the middle part of the Delaware Bay to the Buoy Line out in the ocean.

Right now the only animals preying on these bunker are dolphins and sharks. Both should be fat and happy.

Even in Virginia, where bunker boats scoop up millions of tons of these fish for the rendering plant in Reedville, I saw large schools out in the ocean last Saturday. Down there cobia, king mackerel and jacks feed on bunker.

We certainly hope the prevailing east winds we have had most of the late summer continue to blow and move the offshore bunker schools into the beach. If this happens the big blues and rockfish will follow and we poor, neglected surf fishermen can have a decent fall.

Bunker should also be on the menu for blues and rock in Delaware Bay. Every year the largest rockfish are taken by bunker chunkers and this demonstrates the power of these fish.

The process of chunking for bunker begins with at least a bushel of fresh bunker and someone to chop them into chunks. Once this process is accomplished deploy a few chunks at a time behind the anchored boat while dropping a fine, fresh bunker chunk or head to the bottom.

One problem with chunking bunker is the chunks attract a few less than desirable fish. I have found once the dog sharks move in it is best to relocate the operation. Another option is to troll with Stretch plugs since dogs seldom attack this bait.

Unless we get another good run of sand eels, I expect bunker to remain the primary bait this fall. Keep this in mind as you plan your fall fishing trips.

*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.