Area surf anglers have been pleasantly surprised by the appearance of numerous bluefish this past week. It's been quite awhile since we've enjoyed a run of springtime blues. There has been an abundance of bunker in the area, and evidently choppers keyed in on the local bait supply, and have been feeding eagerly along both Ocean and Bay beaches. Casters on Broadkill Beach did well Tuesday through Thursday, using bunker as bait. Many of the fish have been of slammer proportions, over 30 inches. Big blues were also caught by fishermen soaking baits from the sand beside Cape Henlopen Pier. Choppers were reported as well by guys working the Indian River Inlet jetties, and at 3R's Road. Hopefully, they'll stick around for a couple weeks. There's plenty of bait around, but it's hard to say how soon the blues may move on. However, it's about time for black drum to come into shallow water between Slaughter and Broadkill Beaches. Good numbers of drum were landed by surfcasters on Broadkill the past couple springs. Most ranged 10 to 20 pounds, but some sizeable boomers to 50 pounds were mixed in. Fresh surf clams were the offering of choice, but live peeler crabs also proved irresistible to drum, if you could get them. The first flounder came from Lewes Canal at the end of last week. Jeff Purdy took his four flattie limit while drifting minnows and shiners in front of Lewes Harbour Marina Thursday. Other anglers caught a few flatfish as well, but cold wind and dirty water prevented Canal flukers from doing much the past few days. Flounder were caught in Indian River, from the VFW Slough. Even though Cape Henlopen Pier is closed, the lights remain on after dark, so nighttime anglers casting from the beach alongside the structure should be able to find some fluke there. The annual Canal Flounder Tournament takes place Friday May 15th. Those interested in fishing the event can sign up with a $25 cash entry fee at Lewes Harbour Marina. Tournament T-Shirts are available now. Tautog action improved this past week, but wind kept toggers at the dock most days. Crews had been runing to the Ocean for blackfish, but recently, Delaware Bay Reefs started yielding tog. Sites 6 and 7 were productive. Wrecks at the Bay mouth gave up tog too. Captain Brent's Saturday and Wednesday groups aboard Katydid scored limits of tasty tautog. Tog action along the Breakwaters should pick up soon.