Amanda and I got back from the Florida Keys last week and have been in the shop daily, getting ready for the season ever since. This winter's weather was much warmer than last, and we enjoyed good fishing. We took a side trip to Guatemala where we were spoiled by the extremely personable and attentive staff at Buena Vista Sportfishing Lodge in Iztapa. We got into big Pacific sailfish and dorado, and Amanda caught her first blue marlin. She had the 300 pounder to the boat for photos and the release in fifteen minutes. The captain was thoroughly impressed.

Back here in Delaware, Bay water temps have finally risen into the upper 40s, and tog and stripers have been taken on days when weather conditions allow boaters to get out. Tog action had been pretty good over ocean wrecks and reef site 10. Some big blackfish were brought in, such as the 20.24 pound jumbo tautog decked by Dennis Muhlenforth. Captain Carey's guys on the Grizzly had 14 tog and a keeper cod on a recent trip to Site 10. Today, Captain Pete's toggers aboard Top Fin limited out while using green crabs over a Bay reef. Kent Suh scored a 7.87 pounder. The Lil' Angler was also togging in the Bay today and returned with a limit of fish including Sam Green's 10.11 pound citation winner.

Striped bass have been on the move in the Bay, but Mike Barnes, Bob Persch, Terry Myers and Mark Swift found some north of Brandywine Shoal. They were anchored in 15 feet of water using clams when they boated three bass in the 15 pound class. The date of this year's annual Lewes Harbour Canal Flounder Tournament has been set for Friday May 20. The event offers cash prizes and part of the proceeds benefit Camp Awareness youth programs.