Jeff Taviano's Delaware Regional Fishing Report

• Up until the strong winds, and freezing temperatures hit Delaware, the sea bass were biting in big numbers at the Del-Jersey-Land Reef site.
• Strong winds have made it difficult to search for rockfish.
• White perch action hasn’t been slowed by the weather as the fish have been hitting bloodworms in the Delaware River from Battery Park to Augustine Beach.
• Patty at Captain Bones Bait & Tackle reported decent bass action at Garrisons Lake with stick baits.

OCEAN

Up until the strong winds and freezing temperatures hit Delaware, the sea bass were biting in big numbers at the Del-Jersey-Land Reef site, however, most boaters are keeping off the water until the wind dies down. The fall run of stripers are beginning to pour into the Indian River Inlet on the incoming tide as they chase the bunker and mullet. The catch isn’t consistent, but it is beginning to pick up. Anglers were doing well near the Coast Guard Station using shad darts and bucktails. Michael Toomey pulled in a rockfish measuring just over 28 inches in Lewes. The main bulk of stripers are still lingering in New Jersey. Chris M. caught a 23-pound, 2-ounce rockfish on bunker in Beach Haven, New Jersey. In Brigantine, New Jersey, Ed Janda Sr. landed a 32-pounder on bunker. Shawn Thomas hooked up with a 47-inch, 39-pound striper in the Absecon Inlet while drifting a live eel. Albert Giannotti connected with a 14-pounder on clams at Spray Beach. Tog are being caught at the Indian River Inlet on green crabs. The surf report hasn’t yielded the results anglers have been hoping for. Most fish caught in the surf were skates and bluefish.

DELAWARE BAY

Strong winds have made it difficult to search for rockfish, however, a few reports of keeper from the upper bay were reported on the edge of the shipping channel at Collins Beach. Anglers fishing Woodland Beach are still catching white perch on bloodworms and catfish on bunker. Anglers searching for tog will have their best bet at the Outer Wall and the Ice Breakers with just about any type of crab bait.

RIVERS

White perch action hasn’t been slowed by the weather as the fish have been hitting bloodworms in the Delaware River from Battery Park to Augustine Beach. Stripers are being caught in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, and the Broadkill River, but none of the fish reported were keeper size. Most anglers were using live eels. For anglers looking to avoid the wind, but still catch fish ... White Clay Creek is the answer. There are still plenty of trout being caught in White Clay from the Pennsylvania line to the University of Delaware campus. Minnows have been the top bait.

PONDS

Patty at Captain Bones Bait & Tackle reported decent bass action at Garrisons Lake with stick baits. Crappie are also biting on minnows and jigs.

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