INDIAN RIVER INLET FISHING REPORT
March 8th, 2011

With the weather getting warmer many people are starting to get the fishing fever. The water is still a bit cool - 41 degrees in the Indian River Inlet and 44 degrees in the Delaware Bay.

The magic number in the Inlet is 45 degrees before the stripers start to bite with any regularity. If it does not freeze at night and gets good and warm during the day with lots of sunshine to heat the bay, we should see stripers start to bite within the next two weeks.

According to our records, the first flounder of the season was caught March 21 last year.

We should see the first osprey any day now. Rumor is that one has been spotted up at Cape Henlopen.

The first bluefish will hit the beach in late April/early May.

The beach ramps north of the Inlet have all been opened for the season. The Savages Ditch air station is operational.

For those that want to hit the beach for stripers this month, we will have bloodworms this coming weekend.

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Two proposed options for 2011 flounder season

Option 1 - 18.5 inches, 4 fish open year round

Option 2 - 18 inches, 4 fish, season closes October 13

The public hearing is scheduled for March 24 at the DNREC Auditorium in Dover. 6pm. The seabass hearing will be held at the same time. A provision to allow for state by state management will be discussed for sea bass. Should be interesting.

Public comment will be accepted on flounder and seabass through March 31. Please email lisa.vest@state.de.us your comments.

For the record, Old Inlet and the Delaware Fisherman's Alliance support the option allowing for no closed season because it treats local and out of state flounder anglers equally. And the larger minimum size lessens the likelihood of overfishing the stock which would require more stringent regulations in the future.

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Notice:

The area at the Inlet commonly referred to as Bubble Gum beach (immediately west of the Coast Guard Station) will be restricted/closed while the Army Corp of Engineers completes the bulk head project at the Coast Guard Station. Tentative reopening of the area will occur in May/June.

Winter Store Hours 8am-4pm Seven Days a Week

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle
Highway One, Po Box 129
Rehoboth Beach, De 19971
302-227-7974 fax 302-227-1490
http://oldinlet.com/