Abnormal warm weather helps fuel local fishing
"That's just the way it is, Capt. Jack." — Capt. Richard Greenly
The above quote by Capt. Richard Greenly was dropped on me many years ago when the sea conditions didn't match (it was a WHOLE lot rougher) the climatic conditions. I was holding on and marveling at the waves that just didn't make sense.
The same might be said for some of our current fisheries. The big blues that we used to catch all along the buoy line approaches to the Delaware Bay have taken up station out on the twenty fathom line. Despite what seems like an insignificant to us humans rise in water temperatures, important inshore species such as the summer flounder and black sea bass have been shifting their ranges north.
Even freshwater fisheries seem to be shifting, with shellcrackers and white perch showing in places and at times never seen before.
Another fishery that used to be the harbinger of another season of saltwater fishing in the Atlantic was the Boston mackerel. Back in the old days, virtually everything that was seaworthy enough for the ocean (and sometimes even some that weren't) would start fishing for the macks as early as Presidents Day weekend.
The fishing was often quite good, and anglers would bring garbage cans full of macks back to be eaten fresh, smoked, stripped into baits for bluefish, striped bass of flounder, or ground into chum. It was easy pickings when you got over the school and the perfect way to shake off the winter doldrums.
Regrettably the fish disappeared, at least inshore. Happily, in this era of doom and gloom on the local fishing scene, there are some rumblings of a resurgence of the fishery.
Reports out of Virginia Beach have a big shot of macks showing up down there well within range and providing steady action. Back in the good old days, we normally saw those fish after they moved north. It sure would be good to have that happen again!
Brackish water action has been good for a variety of panfish in a number of locales. As noted, we have seen an increasing amount of shellcrackers this season, seeming to verify the northward shift of a lot of species.
Known as "Georgia bream" throughout much of the south, the fish grow bigger and thicker than the more familiar bluegills. They wage a really sharp, head-shaking battle almost like a croaker. Their filets are thick and sweeter than bluegills as well. The shellcrackers can be caught on all the standard panfish offerings.
Crappie fishing has also been good in the Broadkill River and Broad Creek. One tip is to try after dark for the paper mouths. Using a lighted bobber can productive, or try and find a street light. Small jigs, either tipped with a grass shrimp or minnow or plain, have been productive.
Some abnormally warm weather has helped jump start things locally, so good luck and good fishing!
Reports, comments or questions to captjackrodgers@comcast.net
