This time of year is perfect for bass fishing
OCEAN
Passing storms have made it difficult to reach offshore fishing spots. Before the nasty weather, anglers were reporting decent flounder and sea bass action at the Old Grounds. Anglers were also catching sea bass at the Del-Jersey-Land Reef, however, sea bass season closes Sept. 21. Bob Murphy fished Site 11 before the seas got rough and brought back a 6-pound flounder to the Lewes Harbour Marina. He caught the flatty on a squid. Bill Swords, Jeff Klopp, Mike and Mason Newsham fished the Baltimore Canyon and caught their limit of golden tilefish. The largest weighed 29 pounds. Captain Bruce Buchalter, Neal Dangello, and Daryl Young also ventured to the Baltimore Canyon and returned with a 76-pound wahoo that they caught while trolling. Snapper blues have been caught in numbers at the Indian River Inlet on the incoming tide. Small spoons and lures work well on snappers. Action in the surf has been slow with most of the action coming from small bluefish. On Oct. 14, Delaware Surf Fishing will be hosting the Chillaware Surf Fishing Tournament. Prizes will go to the largest fish with first place receiving $800. The Tournament will take place at 3Rs from 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Registration is $30 per angler over 16. Children 16 and under are free. For more information, visit http://www.delaware-surf-fishing.com/chillaware-surf-fishing-tournament-october-14th.
DELAWARE BAY
Schoolie-size stripers are beginning to show up at the Cape Henlopen fishing pier. Herman Williams hooked up with a schoolie using cut bait. I plan on getting a head start on the fall run of large stripers with a late-September trip to Massachusetts. Croaker, triggerfish, and sheepshead were reported in numbers at the Inner, Outer Walls as well as the Ice Breakers. Green crabs and sand fleas have been the bait of choice. The White perch and catfish bite at Augustine and Woodland Beach haven't slowed down. Bloodworms have worked well for the perch, while catfish have preferred bunker and peeler crabs.
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RIVERS
Anglers are catching flounder, croaker, and spot in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. Greg Bowman drifted on his kayak in the canal and netted a 4-pound, 11-ounce flounder. He was using a bucktail tipped with gulp. Lee Miller stopped into the Lewes Harbour Marina after fishing with his dad on the Indian River. He hooked up with a sea trout on a piece of clam. Deborah Viscuglia also fished the Indian River with gulp and minnows and reeled in two keeper flounder measuring 21 inches. In New Jersey, Dave Christian went bowfishing in the Raritan River and shot a sea lamprey. They are native to the area, however, they aren’t a common site. In Maryland, Brian Mora went bowfishing and shot a 3-pound, 8-ounce koi on the Susquehanna River.
PONDS
I ventured north to Deering Lake in New Hampshire with Jessica Byrne. Using a brush hog I hooked up with multiple pickerel. I also enticed a school of yellow perch with a surface lure. Byrne had a little better luck than I did. She hooked up with a 4-pound, 8-ounce largemouth bass, and a decent size smallmouth while using a senko. Mackenzie Landry fished at a local farm pond and caught a beautiful largemouth bass. Scott Hampton brought his kayak to Townsend and reeled in a 7-pound largemouth. Captain Bones reported bass and crappie action at Garrisons Lake and Lums Pond. Anglers are catching bass on frogs, chatterbaits, and senkos. Crappie are biting on minnows, jigs, and rooster tails.
Email your fishing info and fishing photos to jtaviano@delawareonline.com or tweet @JeffreyTaviano.