Holiday gift for anglers: Stripers on the line

‘’...no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused!’’ — Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol"

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”  — Roy L. Smith

And now, a gift for the holidays!

Just in time to offer a respite from the rigors of holiday shopping, some rockfish have miraculously showed … and inside the line! Finally!

Capt. Rick Yakimowicz reports that stripers are being tallied by anglers trolling the rips, the 8’s and down off Indian River inlet. 

Reports show that some really nice fish are being caught — some that are too big, as a matter of fact — and some limit catches are being landed. For those that are really lucky, the fish will push the bait up close to the top attracting acres of birds.

The pinwheeling ‘bird plays” will result in some heavy fishing for those fishermen tossing jigs or plugs. Capt. Carey Evans on the Lewes charterboat Grizzly also passed along reports of good striper fishing showing up just in time for the holidays.

Some stripers are also being tallied by jetty jockeys along Indian River Inlet as well. Tossing plugs in the North Pocket and bucktails in the inlet itself has tallied a few fish.

Striper fishing has not been the only fishery to pick up since the last report. 

Tog action has really improved. Some limit catches have been coming over the rails, with some really quality fish to boot. Wreck fishing with crab baits has been the ticket for the tog. 

Capt. Rick Yakimowicz revealed that the Wharf will be running by reservation for tog and sea bass trips. That allows anglers to get “bunched up” enough for the trips to sail.

Best wishes to all for a fun and safe holiday season!  Good luck and good fishing.

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Reports, comments or questions to captjackrodgers@comcast.net