Fishing Report

The sea bass action is still hot and heavy, when the weather permits anglers to get to the deep-water wrecks and reefs. Del-Jersey land still holds a lot of sea bass. The boats that are able to get out there are limiting out in record time. Hopefully we will get a long break in between all of this not so friendly weather. Some stripers are starting to show up around the mouth of the Delaware bay. A couple were caught this weekend around the 8’s trolling Mojo’s and stretches. We also heard that some big fish were being caught by boats drifting eels at the Cape May rips.

Carter Dirado weighed in an impressive 48”- 42 1/2 lb striper trolling a white tandem Mojo rig. On Sunday Joseph Walker weighed in a nice striper at 44 1/2”- 36.5 lbs. Both fish were caught at the 8’s while trolling. The stripers seem to be slowly funneling into our area. I’m hoping this wind will blow them into the bay where there are still a lot of bait fish for them to snack on and keep them busy for a while. We have all your striper gear needs here at the shop, stop in and grab your gear before you take to the water.

The Tog fishing is very slow. Some big ones are still being caught in deep waters, but the local structure and reefs are still only showing shorts. Don't get me wrong, you will catch plenty of fish, but its a lot of shorts to pick through to get that keeper. We have plenty of tog baits available. Green crabs, box crabs and when we can get them, fresh live sand fleas.

Well, until next week, tightlines everyone, Tommy Serbin.

So far Mother Nature is not being nice too any boats or anglers trying to get out to feed their fishing addiction. Some of the boats that were able to get out the past few days did well catching their limit of sea bass with some very nice Tautog. When the weather allows anglers to get out to the wrecks and reef sites it can be a very productive day, its just being able to get there that is the problem. We have had several citation tog come in to the shop along with a couple citation sea bass.

I have seen a couple reports from South Jersey that some big stripers have been caught. The bay has been showing good signs with birds working on bait fish in a couple areas up in the bay. Maybe some stripers slipped by, that would not surprise me, with all the bait fish that are still holding up. Its just this unfortunate bad streak of weather that is preventing anglers from getting out to put some good time into hunting down some of the big linesiders.

I am and forever will be an optimist, I have to believe that this very well could be a turn around year for us as far as the striper fishing. All signs that are being seen right now would tell us that the stripers are coming to us this year. Everyone keep your fingers crossed, say your prayers and wish upon a star. It would be a great boom for our industry not to mention the anglers who only fish a couple times a year.

Until next week, nightlines everyone. Tommy Serbin.

The boats and anglers that were lucky enough to get a day out on the water yesterday, had a very good day catching sea bass and tog. Some of the local charter boats got their boat limit of tog, which this season was a feat in itself. This weather has really put a crimp in everyones fishing for tog, sea bass, flounder and every other species that is targeted in our waters.

I am hearing some far off rumors that a small group of stripers has been spotted off the coast of Atlantic City, NJ. And I have heard that fish up to 45” have been being caught off Ocean City, NJ. Hopefully that small group makes a pit stop off our coast to take a little break before continuing south to their winter home. There is still enough bait fish to keep them here for a little bit. Also the bait fish up in the Delaware bay should get their attention and get them to make a right turn to the bay.

If the weather gives up, and we can get out to get some fishing in before winter really sets in, the sea bass and tog fishing should be off the hook, only because the fisheries have not been overly fished thanks to other nature. Keep your fingers crossed and let’s hope we have a great end to the fall fishing season. Congratulations to the winners of our Tautog Tournament this year, !st Place- Joe McNeil, 2nd Place- Chris Ragni Jr, 3rd Place- Joe McNeil.

Our Annual Striper Tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday, Nov 23rd and run until Dec 23rd. Stop by and register today. Same as tog tourney, $5 a day, $30 for the month. You must be paid and registered in order to win.

Until next week, Tightlines Everyone, Tommy Serbin.

Brrrr, well looks like we are going to jump right into cold weather and skip fall all together. The boats that are getting out these days are doing well on sea bass and catching some migrating flounder. The sea bass action is very productive when the weather and wind permit boats to get to the deeper wrecks and reef sites. Del-Jersey, site 11, and wrecks in 100-120ft of water are being most productive. Clam, squid and even sand fleas seem to be the baits of choice right now.

Over the last week or so, some of the local charter boats and head boats have been heading to the deeper waters in search of Tautog, but the fish haven't begun to show up in numbers yet, possibly due to the water temps still being very warm. Some keeper tog have been caught but mostly anglers have been weeding through the shorts to get a keeper. Hopefully now that we have had some very cold nights, the fish will begin to come out and start to fill their bellies.

The outer wall has had a lot of anglers start to fish for the tog there, but the reports haven't been good as far keepers to shorts. Anglers are reporting catches of 30-40 tog with maybe 1 keeper out of the lot. This cold weather should jump start the bigger fish into eating.

The pier out at Cape Henlopen state park is still giving up some snapper blues, and the occasional keeper flounder. The spot seems to have disappeared, but some triggers and sheepshead have been caught around the pilings on sand fleas, and Asian box crabs. The small stripers are still keeping it fun at the pier as well. I am still very optimistic that this could be the turn-around year for a very productive striper season. The bait fish are still loaded up all over the area. This is one key component to the big linesiders taking that left-hand turn to the bay or even off the beaches here in Delaware. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we will have a great striper season this year.

Until next week, stay warm and tightlines everyone, Tommy Serbin.

It's been a while since anyone has been able to get a good day of fishing in, but some of the local charter and head boats have been out in the last couple of days. Although the conditions have not been the greatest they came back to the dock with decent catches of trigger fish, flounder, sea bass, and sheepshead. If you venture up into the Delaware bay and find some good structure on the bottom you will find some trigger fish and sheepshead. Anglers have also pulled up some nice puppy black drum along with some kingfish and even a weakfish or two.

The surf action is starting to pick up a little bit with snapper blues, seal stripers and even some rumors of pompano being pulled out of the suds. I have spoken to a few surf anglers that frequent the point at Cape Henlopen and they are reporting that the bluefish are there and ion good numbers. Hopefully, the fall will produce some striper action and some bog bluefish. There are still a lot of baitfish in the area. This is a good sign of things to come, we hope they hang around and get the big fish to come and snack for a while this fall.

We are still open 7 days a week, so stop by and get all your bait and tackle needs before you take to the water to catch the fish of a lifetime. We have fresh bait in stock and are always getting fresh bait every couple of days. And don't forget that we have an extensive selection of terminal tackle, rods and reels. Also, we have cold drinks, snacks, ice and bug spray or sun tan lotion. If you forgot your rain gear or your sweatshirt when you left the house, no worries we have plenty in stock for you to choose from, stop by and see us.

Tightines everyone, Tommy Serbin

Any angler knows right now that the fishing is slow, but if you are willing to put the time in and possibly cover a lot of ocean or bay, you will find fish. The water temperature is not doing us any favors at all. These next couple of days aside, I am hoping that the waters cool down some so the bite will turn back on.

The inshore bite is starting to get good with Mahi-mahi coming in very close in large numbers. There are rumors that some have been spotted and caught at site 11. I'm hearing reports that the dolphin are all over the place from the lightship to the lobster balls, and like i just said even reports from site 11. The flounder have been hiding on some deep-water structure and we have seen some big ones coming in the last couple of days. They aren't being caught in great numbers but being caught just the same. The sea bass action seems to be picking up for the boats willing to go deep. Some really big sea bass have been scooped up by the local charter boats and local head boats as well.

The offshore reports are mainly coming in about white and blue marlin. They are plentiful and seem to be just about everywhere. Some anglers are going after wahoo right now as well, I haven't seen any hit our dock yet but I'm pretty sure it’s just a matter of time before the heavy hitters start hooking up on the toothy critters. Some yellowfin tuna have still been mixed in, but not like it was a couple of weeks ago. Seems that the tuna have headed north in search of cooler waters to feed.

The Delaware Bay is still producing some croakers, kingfish and now snapper blues. Some flounder have been pulled off the reef sites but not like in years past, but there aren't many places producing fish like the old days be it ocean waters or up in the bay. But then again if it was called catching everyone would be doing it. Take your time, cover as much ground as possible, be patient, and it will more than likely payoff for you. Well till next Monday, stay cool, enjoy what’s left of the summer and Tightlines, Tommy Serbin.