Flounder fishing is showing improvement

OCEAN

Flounder fishing is improving at the Old Grounds with minnows and squid working the best. Matt Garrison checked into the Lewes Harbour Marina with a 24 ½-inch flounder. He was using gulp shiners at the Old Grounds. Flounder fishing is also getting better at Massey’s Ditch. The Indian River Inlet has yielded a few triggerfish and sheepshead with sand fleas and clam working well. A few bluefish have been caught at the Inlet in the morning. Anglers trolling at Fenwick Island are catching bluefish up to three pounds on spoons. The surf report continues to be kingfish, small sharks, and skates, bloodworms have been the top bait. The tuna bite is still active. The Reel Chaotic ventured out to Massey’s Canyon and brought back a 55-pound yellowfin tuna. Mike Newsham, Mason Newsham, and Geoff Klopp traveled to the Hotdog and returned to port with five yellowfin weighing up to 60 pounds. Captain Mike Johnson, Hunter Culver, and Tanner Virden hauled in a 52-pounder at the Hotdog. The Surface Tension also fished the Hotdog and came back with three tuna up to 43 pounds and a mahi. Chunking with butterfish, and trolling with ballyhoo have been the best methods of catching yellowfin.

DELAWARE BAY

My neighbors tried their luck fishing for flounder at Site 8 and switching to pursue sharks at the Ice Breakers. Unfortunately, no fish were caught. We will be hitting the canyons this week. Callum Hazlet caught a 5-pound, 12-ounce flounder at Site 7 while using minnows and squid. He brought the fish into the Lewes Harbour Marina. The triggerfish and sheepshead bite at the Outer Wall has been good enough to make a trip. Susan Krepshaw pulled in a 15 ½-inch trigger at the Outer Wall. The top baits have been sand fleas, crab, bloodworms, clam, and squid. A few keeper flounder were caught at the Cape Henlopen fishing pier with live minnows working well. Triggerfish were also reported at the Cape Henlopen pier at slack tide. White perch and catfish are abundant at Port Mahon and Woodland Beach with bloodworms as the top bait for perch, and bunker for the catfish. Anglers are catching white perch, catfish and a few slot stripers at Augustine Beach.

RIVERS

Anglers continue to catch white perch and catfish at the C&D Canal with bloodworm, and bunker enticing most of the fish. July is a fun month to fish the Brandywine River. Anglers are catching musky, smallmouth bass and white perch. The musky and bass have been caught around the Market Street Bridge.

PONDS

Taylored Tackle reported good pickerel action at Hearns Pond in Laurel. Pickerel up to four pounds were caught this week along with largemouth bass up to three pounds. Lures and artificials have been the best method. Captain Bones Bait & Tackle reported decent bass action at Garrisons Lake and Noxontown Pond with frogs and senkos as the preference.

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