Amanda and I have returned from our winter vacation in the Florida Keys, and we're getting ready for another season. Shipments of tackle, clothing and marine supplies have been arriving over the past two weeks, so we've been busy restocking and reorganizing the store in anticipation of a good fishing year. The weather finally broke, and warm days and nights this week caused water temps to rise, resulting in improved fish catching. Captain Brent's toggers aboard Katydid had a great trip yesterday, returning with a boat limit of 27 tautog. Brent himself boated the biggest blackfish of the day, a bruiser weighing 12.3 pounds. The guys also released numerous other tog while anchored over ocean reef site rubble. Green crabs worked well, but sometimes soft baits like clams and shrimp tempted tog when the bite slowed down. Just a reminder, tog season is open through May 11th, and anglers may keep 3 fish 15 inches or longer per day during that period. Ocean tog fishing has been pretty good, but tautog should also turn on around Bay structure such as the Inner and Outer Walls and artificial reefs as the water warms up. Lots of bunker have been roaming the mid and upper Bay. Net fishermen have had good success with menhaden, and have also caught numbers of stripers, along with some weakfish. It was encouraging to see as many trout as we had last year, and we're looking forward to more sea trout action this spring. The current weakfish limit remains one per day with a 13 inch minimum size. Trout should be taken by hook and line in shallow water along Broadkill Beach in the next couple weeks. Stripers have started to bite in the Upper Bay. Guys using fresh cut bunker near 6L Buoy off Collins Beach have caught big rockfish in recent days. Rockfish activity should pick up in other areas of the Bay soon. A few flounder were taken from Indian River Bay, and with increasing water temperatures, flatfish should come from Lewes Canal before long. The Annual CANAL FLOUNDER TOURNAMENT will take place Friday May 17th. Entry fee is $25, to be paid in cash at our store before the Tourney. Five dollars of the amount will be donated to Camp Awareness youth programs. Boats and kayaks may be used during the event, and fishing time is from 7am to 3pm. Fishing is limited to the Lewes Canal, from the Rehoboth Bay entrance to Roosevelt Inlet, and up Broadkill River to Oyster Rocks Road. Money will be awarded for the 6 heaviest flounder weighed in during the Tournament. The more entrants, the bigger the prizes. Last year, more than 300 anglers participated.