Croakers have been plentiful on Delaware reef sites in recent days. Most of the hardheads are in the 9 to 11 inch range, but larger specimens were taken by boats that anchored right on reef rubble piles early and late in the day. Clams, bloodworms and Fishbites were best baits. Kingfish, puffers, spot and spike trout hung out in the same spots as croakers. Some of the biggest croakers and spot seen this week came from Lewes Canal. Hardheads to 13 inches and spot to nearly a foot long were pulled from the Canal and Broadkill River as far up as Oyster Rocks Road. Slot striper action was also good on the Canal. Boaters drifting pencil eels around the drawbridge during the last of incoming tide caught bass within the 20 to 26 inch limit, and also released larger fish. Casting artificials along the marsh banks and around bulkheads and docks also produced rock. Gulp! Swimming Mullets, Storm Shads, Bass Assassins, RatLTraps, Zara Spooks and Chug Bugs all got bit. An occasional decent sized weakfish and even a few speckled trout were hooked by casters working the same assortment of lures along the Roosevelt Jetty. Even though water temps have risen, some flounder still were found in the Canal and other shallow areas. Dan Bramble bested a 5.55 pound flounder from the Canal. Richard Roberts reeled in a 5.26 pound fluke while fishing with Gulp! from the Port Lewes Pier. Flounder were caught around Delaware Bay artificial reefs during the week, but Ocean fluking seemed more reliable. Mike and Drew Ambler checked in with their limit from the Old Grounds Tuesday. "Flip" Flipping fished the Old Grounds for his limit of flounder up to 4.32 pounds. Larry and Joe Coyle and Dillon Holdren had a limit of flatties on Site 10 Tuesday. Andrea Monetti managed a 5 pound fluke on her trip to the Old Grounds. Lou Pennella put a 6.3 pound flatfish in the box as part of a 20 keeper catch from Site 10 aboard katydid on Wednesday. Joe Walker, Tony and Diana Vansant, Barry Gerhard and Pete Riberio rounded up a limit of fine flatties Wednesday at Site 10. Shane Townsend and his buddies drifted the Old Grounds Friday on Katydid to take home 19 flounder and 5 triggerfish. Nate Townsend had big fish honors with his 5.46 pounder. Offshore tuna catches were spotty. Bluefins were located at Massey's Canyon, and trollers there early and late in the day found mostly under 47 inch fish by pulling spreader bars, Green Machines and cedar plugs.
Plenty Of Croakers
Lewes Harbour Marina - 7/26/2014 12:00:00 AM