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



By Eric Burnley Sr.*

Updated: Dec. 10, 2010

DELAWARE BAY The cold and wind have cut down on the number of fishing trips with most anglers waiting for better conditions. We did have a report from one boat that braved the wind and waves to fish the rips at the mouth of the bay. They had an easy limit of rockfish and released many more while drifting live eels. This bodes well for the weekend when weather conditions are forecasted to be good.

Tog fishing has held up and continues to provide limit or near limit catches for those fishing the reef sites in the bay. Green crab is still the most popular bait, but any type of crab should attract a tog. It has been way too rough to fish the Walls and the Ice Breakers, but this weekend should see plenty of boats in both locations.

The last report we had from the upper bay indicated big rockfish still available on bunker chunks. With the nasty weather, these fish could move further south and could show up at Brown Shoal or the rips at the mouth of the bay.

INSHORE OCEAN I did have a report from one boat that fished Site 10 on Saturday. The captain said it was rough, but the party did manage to make a catch of tog.

This weekend the weather should allow boats to fish further offshore where tog and sea bass will be caught. Don’t be surprised to find a few cod in the mix.

Trollers hugging the coast from Hen and Chicken Shoal to Bethany Beach are catching rockfish. Stretch 25s and 30s have been the most popular offerings, but I suspect big spoons will also produce.

INDIAN RIVER INLET Slow was the report from here. A few keeper rockfish and some small tog were caught over the past week, but dirty water and high winds made any fishing difficult.

I would not give up just yet. If the weather does settle down this weekend fishing could improve.

SURF FISHING In spite of very unfavorable conditions, a few anglers have fished the surf and caught keeper rockfish. Cut bunker has been the top bait.

I recently came into possession of a book written in 1950. It described rockfishing in the surf during January and February. One angler had over 150 rock during that period so it is possible we could be in for more good action.

FRESHWATER Bass have moved to deeper water and will take a live shad or minnow fished near structure. Small crankbaits worked deep and slow have also accounted for some bass.

Crappie are still the top pick for anglers working the ponds and spillways. A small minnow on a jig is the best bait for these fish. Only and few people braved the weather to fish for perch and catfish in the tidal creeks and the C&D Canal. Bloodworms worked on the perch and cut bait was the choice for catfish.

WINTER ROCKFISH As the water cools rockfish will become a bit slower on the uptake. While they will still hit a lure or an eel it is important to move the bait as slowly as possible. The fish will not want to expend much energy to catch a meal as he might have when the water was warmer.

When trolling, run the boat as slow as it will go. I am often asked at seminars the correct trolling speed for rockfish and my answer is always the same; slow. There are some anglers fishing the mouth of the bay by trolling plugs in the rips. These guys work from a 17-foot Whaler and hold the boat in place with the plug hanging in the current behind the boat. They drop back until the lure is in the rip and hold it there. I have done a similar thing by running parallel to the rip while the current pulls the plug or spoon into the strike zone. This technique only works if all boats in the area are doing the same thing. In the Delaware Bay you normally have eel drifters, plug trollers and an assortment of others who have no idea what they are doing, all running in different directions at different speeds, so trying to run parallel to the rip can be problematic.
When drifting eels, try dropping one or two straight off the boat. Use a 5- to 6-foot 50-pound mono leader tied to a circle hook. Secure a torpedo or trolling sinker to the tag end of the leader before snapping the rig to the running line. Use a sinker that is heavy enough to keep the rig from drifting too far past the boat. Some anglers use a float to set the depth while others believe the float causes too many missed strikes.
A rockfish will hit the eel like a freight train and the circle hook should be set by the time you pick up the rod. Because of this, the first sign of a strike is when the rod bends over and the reel begins to scream.

I know I sound like a broken record always harping about safety, but cold weather and cold water can kill you very quickly. When going out during the winter take every precaution from filing a float plan to always wearing your PFD.

*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.