On the Water: Fishing still good as summer fades to fall
“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.” — Sylvia Plath
It's always hard to reconcile August.
As a kid August was always the time we left the beach as my dad coached football and practices would be starting. I remember tagging along to practices watching the men swinging their whistles on lanyards, the water carts and the plastic squeeze jugs and the sprinklers trying to keep up with the damage. The sprinklers would roll on wheels and an arm would interrupt the jet of water to spread it with a "tick, tick, tick." A dozen years later I had my own whistle and own team and field in central Pennsylvania and the sprinklers were faster and stronger with a "ticka ticka ticka." For many of us, just walking across that heavy grass of August has that smell of football practice coming on.
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August is many other things and one of them is, at least this year, home to some top flight summer flounder fishing. According to Capt. Rick Yakimowicz aboard the all-day headboat out of Fisherman's Wharf in Lewes, the time is now for fluke action.
"If you aren't catching flounder right now," Capt. Rick said, "you must not be fishing for them."
Now, outdoor writers must guard against excess optimism lest their craft be rejected as hyperbole, and with all apologies to Capt. Rick's ability to hoover up flounder from large areas of the bottom, I'll bet I can show him some water even he'd struggle in!
But the fact remains that the savvy skipper is correct — flounder are showing in several different areas. Artificial reef structures such as site four, eight, and nine have started to produce some pretty catches. Capt. Rick explained that he has had multiple limit catches around the boat on most days with some really pretty fish. Among the many patrons having limits were Brad Vickers, Gustavus A. Mcleod, Ray Morroni, Joe McNeal, Fred Robinson and Frank Dardzinski with limits of fish up to 5 pounds.
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Surf action is in full summertime mode with anglers picking at panfish such as pompano, small croakers, spot and kingfish. While there are not scads of pompano, there are a few as the water has been warm and clear. They love sand fleas and are normally, along with the kingfish, right in the wash. Bloodworms are also a fine choice for the kings.
Bay anglers have found more and more croakers around but the fish have been small. While there have been reports of fish in the 12-inch range, particularly from around rubble piles, I can't say that I have seen any of them. From the size of the fish I've seen, the best way to get 12 inches of croaker on the line is wait after the first one bites and hope for two that you can add together!
Plenty of hot action as the dog days of summer roll on. Good luck and good fishing!
Reports, questions or comments to captjackrodgers@comcast.net