Could go with Lamb Chop's "Song That Never Ends" but, then, at some point the torrid flounder action ocean anglers have experienced this year will come to a conclusion. Frankly I'd rather listen to Led Zeppelin anyway! The fluke action continues to hang on. Fishermen working the rocks and coral upcroppings of the Old Grounds and some artificial reef sites have done pretty well. Bouncing bucktails laced with Gulp! or strips of mean cut from smooth dogs or sea robin has been the preferred method, though some anglers have had some success dragging the old traditional style fluke killers.
The charter boat Katydid was back at work down in the ocean pulling out some good catches for their patrons. Mark Newcott pulled in a doormat citation 7.27 pounder as his crew scored a boat limit of flatties. Roger Holmes, Larry McDonald, Dan Boyer, Ty Bech, Barry McDonald and James Gouldner landed 36 keeper flatties on another trip on the Katydid. Capt. Carey Evans on the charter boat Grizzly had a monster trip with a recent trip to the Ocean, coming in with coolers full of an astonishing 100 sea bass a twenty six nice flounder and 20 ling. That's some fantastic eating right there! Capt. Pete Haines on the Top Fin had a good trip to the Atlantic as well, with the West View Saw Mill decking some a few nice sea bass, a bunch of blues and a boat limit of flounder. Capt. Pete also had another nice trip where his crew landed 12 nice flounder. Capt. Vince "Killer" Keagy once again lived up to his sobriquet and returned with a limit of flounder, including one of 4.82 pounds for Mike Bono. The rest of the cew included Gene Steele, Evertett Beach, Chuck Buchanan, Nick Hook and Tyler Maroucouc. The private boat Mischievous had a good catch out front as well returning with sea bass and flounder. Capt. Rick Yakimowicz on the all-day headboat out of Fisherman's Wharf in Lewes reports solid to very good flounder fishing for patrons on his boat. The savvy skipper returned with an incredible 100 plus keeper flounder on yesterday's trip which is some pretty heavy fishing any way you slice it. Capt. Rick reported that last week's easterly pushed in crystal clear warm water over the Old Grounds resulting in not only some good fishing but anglers being able to see their fish coming up through the depths from as deep as 40 and 50 feet.
Among the many that scored easy limits Capt. Rick noted old veterans Marc Levinrad, Jeff Scutti, Donna Norton, Marti Byler, Bob Murphey, Bob Trento as notables, as well as Edwin Maxwell who landed a limit and lucked into a gaffer dolphin as well. That must be some pretty water indeed! Speaking of dolphin the Katydid returned with a few from a recent trip offshore. Hunter Culver and Jase Meridith also bagged four nice dolphin trolling east of Massey's. There have also been a few more croakers showing though the vast majority of them are not keepers. Even the keepers aren't really keepers resembling for all the world a small silvery tadpole-all head and no body.
The fish have been scattered around the rubble sites in the Delaware Bay and some have filtered into the back bays of Rehoboth and Indian River. There has also been an increase in slightly larger croakers and some decent spot in the canal. Small size six hooks and either real or artificial bloodworms will turn the trick on these panfish nicely, along with small pieces of squid or clam. Seems like plenty of blues out in the ocean as well, along with some Spanish macks. Trolling Clark spoons at Fenwick Shoal has been productive. The Lil' Angler returned with 100 blues for the Craig Shirk bachelor party along with releasing a ten foot sand tiger. surf anglers are still picking away a the normal summer mix of small croakers, spot and smallish kingfish. Careful not to overcast the fish as they are often right in the wash.