Fishing Report

It's hard to believe 2012 is coming to a close. Fishing activity has been slim over the Christmas Holiday due to family obligations and less than favorable weather. Water temps are around 45 degrees, and stripers should still be available along the coast and in Indian River Inlet. Striped bass catches for the Fall were a little disappointing overall. Hurricane Sandy came at a bad time, and the string of northeast storms following her definitely affected water quality in Delaware Bay, likely keeping many migratory bass away. A bright spot was a new Delaware State Record striped bass taken from the surf. Congratulations to Ben Smith from Bryn Mawr, PA who landed the 52 pound trophy on December 8th. The former 51 pound 8 ounce State Record striper was caught by Betty Rosen from the Indian River south jetty in 1978. Surf and jetty anglers were also surprised by the large numbers of red drum around this year. It was unusual to see so many puppies, but it would be great if they return next season. Tog action had started to pick up on Ocean Reefs and wrecks, and that should continue through the winter. Delaware officials announced that the State sea bass season will open January 1, to coincide with the opening of sea bass season in Federal waters from January 1 through February 28. Most of the effort takes place well offshore, but this will offer another cold weather fishery for anglers hardy enough to brave the chilly elements. This past summer offered up some of the best flounder fishing in quite awhile, and that's certainly something to look forward to next year. More boaters are learning how to work reefsite and wreck structure for flatties, and their efforts are paying off. Some guys are really dialed in and finished the year with impressive totals. Captain Brent on Katydid ended up with over 800 keeper fluke. It was encouraging to have more weakfish around too. There was a spread of spike trout along Broadkill Beach in the Spring, reminiscent of years back. Trout continued to come from Roosevelt Inlet and Bay structure throughout the Summer and Fall, hopefully indicative of a resurgence of the popular gamefish. Amanda and I will be leaving for our winter vacation in the Florida Keys January 1, when we'll finally get to do some fishing ourselves. The store will be open on Saturdays from January through March, with Mac McNaught behind the counter. The Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware meet at the shop for tying sessions each Saturday until the end of March to learn new patterns, compare techniques and swap stories over coffee and donuts. It's a great treatment for cold weather cabin fever. Many thanks to all our customers and friends for a great season. We're taking a side trip to Guatemala in February for Pacific Sailfish and marlin. We'll post pictures of our Keys fish and those from our Buena Vista Sportfishing Lodge adventure in the website Photo Gallery, so be on the lookout. Wishing you the best of success, much prosperity, bent rods and smooth drags in the New Year! Joe.

Tautog action started to shape up over the past week. Captain Carey on the Grizzly reported plenty of quality blackfish on recent trips to the rubble of Reef Site 11 in the Ocean. Sunday's excursion resulted in a 40 fish limit that included an 11.25 pounder for John Mattson, a 9.5 pounder for Frand Irwin, plus two others over 7 pounds. The Monday trip produced even more impressive results. Among that limit was a 12.25 pound brute for Mo Wilson, an 11.25 pounder for Don Johnson, and a pair scaling 10.75 and 10.25 for Maurice Wilson. In addition, the group put 5 other tog over 8 pounds in the box. Captain Brent's toggers on Katydid also had some good catching, returning Saturday with 20 keepers, including a 7.7 pounder for Bob Wilson, and a 9.2 pounder for Brent. Sunday's guys brought back 25 blackfish. Steve Kiibler checked in a 13.9 pound bruiser tog he captured while togging on the Bandit. Ocean water temperature remains near 50 degrees, and the tog bite should hold up in the Site 11 area, and on wrecks and other hard structure between 60 and 100 foot depths. Bottom boucers will be glad to hear that the sea bass season will reopen January 1, 2013 and last until the end of February. A daily creel limit has been set at 15 fish per person with a 12.5 inch minimum size. Winter sea bassing is primarily an offshore fishery, and boaters concentrate on wrecks and hard bottom in 30 to 40 fathoms. It hasn't been made known if there will be any sea bass season during the summer or fall of 2013, so we'll just keep our fingers crossed. Stripers were still available at the mouth of Delaware Bay. Trollers pulling Stretch 25+, Bomber CD25 and Rapala Clackin' Magnum plugs continued to hook bass at Overfalls. Bright color patterns with hues of chartreuse or pink were effective. Most of the fish were shorts, but crews who worked rips during the best parts of the tides did end up with a few keepers. A handful of rockfish were also reported by boaters anchored and baiting with cut bunker in 60 Foot Slough, Tussey's Slough and Blake's Channel. Some customers traveled to Virginia to take advantage of the striper action taking place there. Bubba Hastings weighed in a 35.2 pound linesider he landed while floating an eel under a bobber off Cape Charles. Indian River has been yielding numerous stripers. John Hazzard and a buddy had 4 keepers and 11 throwbacks Monday. The next day, John took two more quick keepers to 15 pounds while drifting live spot in the Inlet during morning flood tide.

Boaters are still catching stripers at the mouth of Delaware Bay, but keeper sized fish are hard to come by. Crews trolling Stretch plugs at Overfalls Shoal continue to hook rockfish, but most are between 20 and 26 inches. Trollers did manage some keepers there, and also on Hen and Chickens Shoal. Those drifting live spot and eels at 8B Buoy and in The Valley had a few fish too. Guys anchoring in 60 Foot Slough and Tussey's Slough caught stripers using bunker, but again, mostly undersized. Captain Brent on Katydid set up in the 60 last Thursday, kept 4 and released 11. Friday his bassers boxed 3 and put back 11. Toggers up the Bay on reef site 4 had some decent days. Capt. Dave's patrons on Miss Shyanne enjoyed good catches there over the weekend. Capt. Ricky Yakimowicz fished the Ocean Saturday and Sunday, and also had success with nice numbers of tautog to 7 pounds near Site 11. Surfcasters picked at striped bass along the beach. Dave McGirk stopped by with a brace of 15 pound bass he pulled from the wash at Herring Point while soaking bunker during the morning flood tide. Walt from West Marine used bunker in the North Pocket for a keeper rock and 2 shorts. Offshore bottom species didn't mind cooler weather. Bill Swords and his buddies dropped in Baltimore Canyon for a mix of Golden Tiles to 25 pounds, Blueline Tiles and Blackbelly Rosefish.

Tog catching has been slow in Delaware Bay the past few weeks, but recently, Ocean togging improved somewhat. Captain Brent on Katydid has been running 25 plus miles to find blackfish willing to bite, but the trips have paid off. On Saturday, his group brought home 37 tog to over 7 pounds. Sunday, toggers on Katydid took 22 keepers. Monday's charter returned with 40 tautog to 7.5 pounds. Tog fishermen on Top Fin put 17 in the box Sunday. Kevin Yim had citation tog of 7.25 and 7.5 pounds as part of 18 keepers aboard the Grizzly on Sunday. Surf fishing has produced some stripers in recent days. Jack Austin checked in a 36 inch striper and a 12.25 pound bluefish he beached at 3 R's Road. Dave McGirk used fresh bunker to tempt a brace of 15 pound bass from the wash at Herring Point during flood tide yesterday morning. Boaters have been finding rock too, but a lot of them are shorts. Trolling plugs at Overfalls and 8B Buoy has yielded decent numbers of fish, but the keeper ratio is low. Chunkers have had better success with legal sized linesiders. Captain Pete anchored Top Fin east of Brandywine Friday for 9 keepers, including a 24.9 pounder for Jeremy Bennett. His anglers released 13 others while baiting with bunker. Captain Vince Keagy finished off his season on Miss Kirstin Sunday with 5 quality keeper bass and 23 throwbacks from 60 Foot Slough. On Tuesday, bassers on Katydid captured 6 chunky rockfish from 14 to 18 pounds, and put back 24 others while using bunker in the Slough.