Fishing Report

Brrrr, well looks like we are going to jump right into cold weather and skip fall all together. The boats that are getting out these days are doing well on sea bass and catching some migrating flounder. The sea bass action is very productive when the weather and wind permit boats to get to the deeper wrecks and reef sites. Del-Jersey, site 11, and wrecks in 100-120ft of water are being most productive. Clam, squid and even sand fleas seem to be the baits of choice right now.

Over the last week or so, some of the local charter boats and head boats have been heading to the deeper waters in search of Tautog, but the fish haven't begun to show up in numbers yet, possibly due to the water temps still being very warm. Some keeper tog have been caught but mostly anglers have been weeding through the shorts to get a keeper. Hopefully now that we have had some very cold nights, the fish will begin to come out and start to fill their bellies.

The outer wall has had a lot of anglers start to fish for the tog there, but the reports haven't been good as far keepers to shorts. Anglers are reporting catches of 30-40 tog with maybe 1 keeper out of the lot. This cold weather should jump start the bigger fish into eating.

The pier out at Cape Henlopen state park is still giving up some snapper blues, and the occasional keeper flounder. The spot seems to have disappeared, but some triggers and sheepshead have been caught around the pilings on sand fleas, and Asian box crabs. The small stripers are still keeping it fun at the pier as well. I am still very optimistic that this could be the turn-around year for a very productive striper season. The bait fish are still loaded up all over the area. This is one key component to the big linesiders taking that left-hand turn to the bay or even off the beaches here in Delaware. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we will have a great striper season this year.

Until next week, stay warm and tightlines everyone, Tommy Serbin.

This past week the weather gave anglers a couple days to get out and get some fishing in at the wreck and reef sites. The flounder are still being picked over here and there but they seem to be making their way to deeper water. The sea bass action is still very good, and boats are having great days getting their boat limits. Some Tautog are now being caught on the wrecks and reef sites, but very few keepers. Reports from the captains are that there are a lot of shorts, but the keepers being caught are of good keeper size. As the water gets cooler the bites will get better.

The surf action is getting a little better with some snapper blue fish hanging around the point at Cape Henlopen state park. The pier fishing is still producing some spot, snapper blues and even the occasional keeper flounder. Some anglers have caught small stripers on blood worms or fresh mullet chunks. This weather change cooling the water down should bring the bigger blue fish and hopefully the big stripers.

We have had a leader board change for our Annual Tautog tournament, Joe Mcneal has taken the #1 spot as of yesterday with a very nice 4.95 lb. tog that he caught aboard the Katydid. That drops Fred Robinson to the #2 spot with his 4.87 lb. tog, and Daryl Mergonthaller brings up the #3 spot with his 4.47 lb. tog also caught aboard the Katydid. Anglers, remember or tog tournament is going on right now. Stop by and get in the tournament, you can pay by the day or pay for the month. The cost is $5 per day per angler, or $30 per angler for the rest of the month.

Tightlines Everyone, Tommy Serbin.

The temperatures have cooled down a bit, and the fishing seems to be getting better with each day. The Delaware bay is showing some small signs of life with catches of citation sheepshead, triggers and black drum being caught on sand fleas and clam. Small bluefish are still plentiful in the bay as well. Some keeper sea trout have been caught up in the bay as well.

The surf fishing is beginning to get a little better with snapper blues, kingfish, some pompano and some decent size stripers. The mullet are still hanging out and keeping the fish biting. Hopefully, this cool spell will cool the waters enough togged the menhaden migration moving and then the big stripers to follow. And with some extra luck we can get the big bluefish to come in as well. We are very optimistic about the fall fishing season this year.

Boats traveling out to do some inshore runs have had very good luck finding the black sea bass, flounder and even mahi-mahi still, even after the storm. The sea bass and flounder fishing seems to be steady and on the rise. We have seen some very nice founder and sea bass brought to the table from the local chartered head boats.

Tautog season is open, and has been since July 1st of this year.Though the waters were and still are a little warm to catch the big ones, I’m sure if you put the time in, you could catch some keeper tog. LHM sponsors a Tautog tournament annually, it is now going on. The fees are, $5 per day per angler, or $30 for the entire month. All fees are cash only, and you can register every day at the shop.

We have fresh mullet and sand fleas being delivered fresh every morning. We also have green crabs, asian box crabs, and fresh clams. Not to mention a full line of bait for whatever fishing you are planning on doing. Stop in and see us for all your fishing and boating needs. Stay tuned for info on LHM’s annual striper tournament coming in November.

Until next week everyone, Tightlines, Tommy Serbin.

It's been a while since anyone has been able to get a good day of fishing in, but some of the local charter and head boats have been out in the last couple of days. Although the conditions have not been the greatest they came back to the dock with decent catches of trigger fish, flounder, sea bass, and sheepshead. If you venture up into the Delaware bay and find some good structure on the bottom you will find some trigger fish and sheepshead. Anglers have also pulled up some nice puppy black drum along with some kingfish and even a weakfish or two.

The surf action is starting to pick up a little bit with snapper blues, seal stripers and even some rumors of pompano being pulled out of the suds. I have spoken to a few surf anglers that frequent the point at Cape Henlopen and they are reporting that the bluefish are there and ion good numbers. Hopefully, the fall will produce some striper action and some bog bluefish. There are still a lot of baitfish in the area. This is a good sign of things to come, we hope they hang around and get the big fish to come and snack for a while this fall.

We are still open 7 days a week, so stop by and get all your bait and tackle needs before you take to the water to catch the fish of a lifetime. We have fresh bait in stock and are always getting fresh bait every couple of days. And don't forget that we have an extensive selection of terminal tackle, rods and reels. Also, we have cold drinks, snacks, ice and bug spray or sun tan lotion. If you forgot your rain gear or your sweatshirt when you left the house, no worries we have plenty in stock for you to choose from, stop by and see us.

Tightines everyone, Tommy Serbin

Any angler knows right now that the fishing is slow, but if you are willing to put the time in and possibly cover a lot of ocean or bay, you will find fish. The water temperature is not doing us any favors at all. These next couple of days aside, I am hoping that the waters cool down some so the bite will turn back on.

The inshore bite is starting to get good with Mahi-mahi coming in very close in large numbers. There are rumors that some have been spotted and caught at site 11. I'm hearing reports that the dolphin are all over the place from the lightship to the lobster balls, and like i just said even reports from site 11. The flounder have been hiding on some deep-water structure and we have seen some big ones coming in the last couple of days. They aren't being caught in great numbers but being caught just the same. The sea bass action seems to be picking up for the boats willing to go deep. Some really big sea bass have been scooped up by the local charter boats and local head boats as well.

The offshore reports are mainly coming in about white and blue marlin. They are plentiful and seem to be just about everywhere. Some anglers are going after wahoo right now as well, I haven't seen any hit our dock yet but I'm pretty sure it’s just a matter of time before the heavy hitters start hooking up on the toothy critters. Some yellowfin tuna have still been mixed in, but not like it was a couple of weeks ago. Seems that the tuna have headed north in search of cooler waters to feed.

The Delaware Bay is still producing some croakers, kingfish and now snapper blues. Some flounder have been pulled off the reef sites but not like in years past, but there aren't many places producing fish like the old days be it ocean waters or up in the bay. But then again if it was called catching everyone would be doing it. Take your time, cover as much ground as possible, be patient, and it will more than likely payoff for you. Well till next Monday, stay cool, enjoy what’s left of the summer and Tightlines, Tommy Serbin.