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



By Eric Burnley Sr.*

Updated: November 5, 2010

DELAWARE BAY Rockfish to 40 pounds were caught along Blake’s Channel and the 60-Foot Slough by anglers chunking bunker. Fresh bunker is always best for this application, but frozen will work and may be necessary when fresh is not available.

Trollers have caught rockfish at Overfalls Shoal on Stretch 25s. A few of these fish have exceeded the 20-pound mark, but most are in the 10 to 15-pound range.

As is always the case, the weather has been a problem. Consistent 15 to 20-knot winds are stirring up the bay and making fishing difficult and uncomfortable. The water temperature is in the upper 50-degree to low 60s range and with the predicted weather pattern it should remain in that range for quite a while.

Fishermen toggled to the Outer Wall and Ice Breakers have caught good numbers of tog. A few big sheepshead have been taken by these anglers as well. Green crabs and sand fleas remain the top baits for both sheepshead and tog.

Croaker are still available as far up the bay as Blake’s Channel. Head boats out of Bowers Beach reported catching them last weekend. To have good numbers of croaker available this late in the season is quite remarkable. Several years ago I caught a 2-pounder in December from the surf at Cape Henlopen and it looks like that could be a possibility again this year.

White perch are still being caught in large numbers and size from all the tidal creeks. Crabs were still potting as of last weekend.

The Delaware River and upper bay between Battery Park and Woodland Beach saw a few keeper rockfish caught on bunker and bloodworms.

INSHORE OCEAN In spite of the reopening of the sea bass season, not many boats have ventured out due to the weather. Once things calm down we should have good fishing for sea bass and tog over ocean wrecks and reefs. I expect to see croaker and porgies taken from the same locations.

Trollers and casters may encounter false albacore anywhere from just off the beach to the 20-Fathom Line. Big bluefish could be in with the albies.

INDIAN RIVER INLET The last report we had from here indicated fishing for both rock and tog had slowed. Exactly why this has occurred is a mystery, but I do not believe we have seen the last of either one. The best of the rockfish bite is usually in late November into December so we still have awhile to go.

SURF FISHING Nothing to get excited about here. No rock or blues as yet, but those of us who are addicted to the beach continue to believe we will see good fishing sometime this month or next.

FRESHWATER I am sure there are plenty of bass fishermen using the mill ponds, but in my travels around Sussex County I don’t see many out on the water. I did see one boat on Wagamons Pond on Election Day and he seemed to be having a better time than some of the candidates.

Big bass to 6 pounds have been caught out of the ponds along with crappie. I don’t hear much about pickerel, but they should be feeding as well. Crankbaits and Senkos have been productive.

Crappie have been caught out of Broad Creek at Laurel and the Nanticoke River at Seaford. Bass are taken from both bodies of water on falling tides.

Big catfish and white perch were caught from the creeks and rivers in New Castle County. This fishery will be available until early winter.

FISHING MANNERS Bunker chunking is not the most difficult technique to master. You simply cut up fresh bunker into chinks, toss some overboard as chum and bait your hook with what’s left.

The tricky part to bunker chunking is choosing a location where the chunks are likely to attract rockfish. Generally, this will be the edge of a drop off at Blake’s Channel, the 60-Foot Slough or any other area where deep water joins a shallow shelf.

Once on station, anchor so the stern of the boat is on the edge and begin tossing chunks into the current. With the luck, the chunks will spread their come hither call to the rockfish who will then inhale your baited hook.

Your hook should be a circle tied to 50-pound leader and held to the bottom by a sinker. Some anglers prefer a fish-finder rig while others choose a three-way swivel rig.

The fish-finder will allow the rock to carry off the bait against the free spool until the angler can engage the reel and set the hook. The three-way eliminates the need to free spool the reel and the hook will set when the line comes tight.

It is also possible to catch rock that are not feeding on the bottom. Suspend one or two baited hooks below a float and set them out behind the boat. I would start with one hook 10 to 15 feet deep and the other 5 to 10 feet down. Set the deeper one further behind the boat and the shallow one closer to the stern.

The most serious problem with bunker chunking is the always popular, always hungry spiny dog shark. Once they show up the only cure is to move. If you can’t get away from them it is time to break out the trolling gear.

*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.