Delaware Fishing Report 4-02-10

[Saltwater Fishing]

Delaware Fishing Report


Updated: April 2, 2010

By Eric Burnley Sr.*

DELAWARE BAY We suffered a small setback last weekend and early this week as bad weather shut down fishing in the lower bay. On the plus side, this weekend the weather looks great and the tog bite should be good on reefs and wrecks. I also expect to see some rockfish caught out of the lower bay as these fish move in for their spawning run.

The upper bay and lower Delaware River maintained some good rockfish and white perch action in spite of the weather. Several citation-size white perch were caught on bloodworms in the river and in tidal creeks. There were no reports of keeper rockfish, but some may have been taken. Bloodworms and cut herring were the two main baits. Fish were caught from Claymont to Woodland.

We also had reports of rockfish caught near Reef Site 2 by anglers bottom fishing with bloodworms and cut bunker. This fishery will continue to grow as the water warms and more rock move up the bay.

Be aware that the season on rockfish (striped bass) is closed until June 1 from the C&D Canal to the Pennsylvania state line. Anyone fishing in this area must use circle hooks and all rockfish must be released. The rockfish season in the Nanticoke River is also closed.

INSHORE OCEAN No one was able to fish the ocean last weekend due to the weather. The latest reports prior to the weekend indicated a slow bite on tog with one boat reporting a limit catch of rockfish. Both rock and tog should be available this weekend as the wind and seas calm down.

Late last week I had reports of rockfish working under birds close to the beach in Bethany. To the best of my knowledge, no one went out after them due to the nasty weather conditions.

INDIAN RIVER INLET Reports from the inlet indicate a few small rock and tog caught from the jetties. Once again the weather played a role in the poor fishing and that problem should be solved this weekend.

We continue to get reports of flounder caught out of the VFW Slough on live minnows and cut hearing. Look for more flounder and a lot more boats in this area over the weekend.

I would expect to see hickory shad make an appearance this weekend. These scrappy fighters also make a great cut bait for rockfish. If the shad do show, try fishing with a dark back swimming plug worked slow under the shad school. You just may catch a big rockfish.

SURF I for one, plan to fish the surf this weekend. I will be looking for rockfish and will be happy with anything that I can catch. Fresh bunker was available last weekend and several tackle shops said they expect to have a steady supply all spring.

Last spring I caught a nice rock on fresh clam. The tackle shops I spoke with said they can get chowder clams pretty easily, but the big surf clams are more difficult to come by. You can order a bushel ahead and if they are available the shop will have them waiting when you want to go fishing. I expect surf clams to become more available when the black drum run begins in Delaware Bay.

FRESHWATER The reports I have indicate herring are in the spillway below Records Pond in Laurel. Nothing yet from the spillway in Milton, but that could change anytime. Remember, you may only keep 10 herring. Small shad darts and spoons will take herring as well as any shad that may pass by.

White perch and crappie are showing up in spillways up and down the state. A shad dart or crappie jig sweetened with a small minnow will take both species.

Bass, pickerel, sunfish and crappie have all been caught from ponds in Delaware. I suspect most ponds are quite high and the bass may be further up in the flooded structure. I remember catching bass around picnic tables in a flooded park along a lake in North Carolina. Interesting experience.

Delaware upstate stream trout season will open on Saturday at 7 a.m. I would expect every stocked stream to be lined with hopeful anglers trying to fill their limit. I fished White Clay Creek and Wilson Run in Brandywine Creek State Park for many years when my boys were young. We fished in warm sunshine and cold rain. One year it snowed. The weather won’t be a problem this year and all should have a great time.

SPRING SURF Back in the 1960s and early 70s I would always begin my surf fishing season on Good Friday soaking bloodworms along the beach south of Indian River Inlet. There were a half-dozen of us who fished together and this was long before any of us had 4WD vehicles or boats. We would camp in tents pretty much anywhere we wanted until the state built the park. Then we stayed on camping lots close to the inlet. In truth I don’t remember catching any rockfish on Good Friday, but we were out for the first trip of the year and we had a great time.

On one memorable Good Friday all of us young bucks were trying to impress each other with our long distance casting prowess. As each cast sailed further towards the coast of Europe a young boy with a freshwater outfit who could only cast into the wash hauled out a 10-pound rockfish. It was the only fish caught all day.

Today the rockfish are available, but not any easier to catch. Conditions have to be right to bring rock close to the beach and you have to be there when they show. I probably fished for rock a dozen times last spring. I had one good bite and caught one rockfish. One day I caught dog sharks on every cast and on another day it was clear-nosed skates.

All I can say is be on the beach as much as possible, keep fresh bait in the water and if you are also real lucky you just may catch a rockfish this spring. See you out there.

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.


http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries...ingReport.aspx