SPORTS

Delaware Regional Fishing Report

Jeffrey Taviano
The News Journal

OCEAN

There was good flounder action this past week in the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. Lots of sea bass are being caught at site 11. The Indian River Inlet is still producing striper and bluefish. The south jetty has been the most productive side with bucktails and shad darts being the best lures. Old Inlet Bait & Tackle reported decent sized stripers being caught at the Indian River Inlet. Sam Caltagirone pulled in a 36- and 31-inch striper night fishing at the Inlet. Leopaldo A. Carcon-Aguilar of Frankford brought in a 32-pound, 8-ounce striper into Old Inlet Bait & Tackle that he caught using a swim shad at the Inlet. Joe Everingham pulled in a 42.5-inch striper caught on the beach north of the Inlet. Bluefish and stripers are being caught from the shore at Herring Point down to Fenwick Island with bunker as the best bait, however, anglers that have used bloodworms reported catching kingfish and blowfish. Brandon Jaskewich landed a 41-inch striper from the surf on bunker. Chuck McKenzie weighed in a 15-pound, 8-ounce bluefish at Old Inlet Bait & Tackle that he caught from the surf on fresh bunker. Jim Ruback landed a 37-inch striper north of the Indian River Inlet on live sand fleas. Justin Lynch caught a 39-inch striper surf fishing at Fenwick Island with bunker.

DELAWARE BAY

The Cape Henlopen pier opened Wednesday. I will be heading down to the pier on Friday to catch some bluefish. Big bluefish are being caught from Lewes Beach to the Cape Henlopen flats on bunker, along with a few keeper striper. Bill Licato and Frank Danner fly fished the Henlopen flats and landed several bluefish along with a 24-inch flounder. Fishing action on keeper striper in the upper bay isn’t slowing down with many anglers still getting fish in the 30-pound range. From Collins Beach to Augustine Beach the striper are hitting very well on bunker and bloodworms. Woodland Beach is seeing good catfish and white perch action on bloodworms. I had a semi successful day drum fishing at Broadkill. I had a few big ones on the line, and got one up to the surface, however, was unable to get the fish on the boat. With my net in hand, the fish decided to make one last dive snapping my line in the process. Many boats were out, and big black drum reports are plentiful at Bowers Beach, Mispillion River, Lewes Beach, Slaughter Beach, and Broadkill Beach. I was using clams for the Drum I had on the line. Michael Dixon brought in a 56-pound, 7-ounce black drum to Captain Bones Bait & Tackle that he caught at Broadkill Beach while using surf clams.

RIVERS

Big catfish are being caught in the Delaware River at Reedy Point, and in the C&D Canal on bunker, bloodworms, and chicken liver. White perch are also hitting on bloodworms at Reedy Point and in the Canal. Trout are still being caught at designated trout streams in New Castle County. The best baits have been worms, grubs, and minnows as the fish have wised up to jigs, and rooster tails. The Nanticoke River, Broad Creek, Laurel Spillway, and Phillips Landing have been hot spots for bass fishing, crappie, and blue catfish, along with short rockfish. Phillip Williams brought in a 1-pound, 1-ounce crappie into Captain Bones Bait & Tackle that he caught at Blackbird Landing on a spinner.

PONDS

Good catches of bass and crappie are coming from Delaware ponds. Shiners have worked well on the bass, while jigs and minnows are catching crappie. Barb and Mike Trexler had a successful day white perch fishing at McGinnis Pond hauling in four white perch around two pounds on minnows along with several smaller perch. Taylored Tackle in Seaford reported good bass fishing at Chipmans Pond, and Horseys Pond in Laurel.

Email your fishing info and fishing photos to jtaviano@delawareonline.com or tweet @JeffreyTaviano.