Offshore trollers have had success with tuna. Yellowfins were reported scattered along the edge, with catches coming from the Wilmington Canyon, the West Wall of Baltimore Canyon and the 800 square of Washington Canyon. Willie and Art lodge teamed up for the heaviest yellowfin brought in to Lewes Harbour so far this season. They boated the 77.7 pounder after it pounced on a squid chain in the Bight of the Baltimore. Bubba Hastings checked in with his report of 5 yellowfins his crew caught while trolling ballyhoo in 70 to 80 fathoms inshore of the Baltimore Bight. In addition to tuna, billfish have shown up. The first white marlin of the year was released Saturday from the charter boat No Quarter, out of Ocean City, in 1000 fathoms outside of Poor Man's Canyon. Tim Hawn had the honor of winding on the highly coveted first whitey. Offshore bottom bouncing was good for tilefish. Last Saturday, the gang aboard Katydid scored a load of gray tiles to over 15 pounds, plus a bunch of rosefish and several golden tile. Sam Scott landed the largest golden, that tipped the scales to 36.4 pounds. Bill Swords and his buddies on Swords Fish also enjoyed good deep dropping Saturday, putting a nice batch of golden tile in the box. Inshore bottom fishing has has been pretty good too. On Tuesday, Captain Brent's group on Katydid had 120 sea bass, several ling and three nice flounder. Flounder have been roaming the Old grounds southeast of DB Buoy. Mike Newsham and friends had 10 keepers in 80 feet of water there on Monday. Fluke activity has also improved in Delaware Bay. Flukers aboard Katydid captured 20 keepers to 3.6 pounds while drifting Site 5 on Wednesday. Some flatties continue to come from Lewes Canal and Broadkill River. Eilene Euston and Peg Proctor checked in with 4 flounder from the Broadkill caught using pink Gulp and smelts. Mike Smith and Mike Smith, Jr celebrated Father's Day by taking 4 quality flatfish betweeen 3 and 4 pounds from the Canal with Gulp! Panfish are plentiful in Delaware Bay. Croakers and spot seem to be just about everywhere, and will hit bits of bloodworm or Fishbites on small hooks. There have been more kingfish in the Bay than there have been for some time. They are concentrated on live bottom along the western edge of The Shears and on the Coral Beds, but casters on Lewes and Broadkill Beaches, and in the Cape Henlopen surf have also encountered kings. Striped bass are hanging out in Lewes Canal. Rock were hooked using clams or peeler crabs on bottom rigs. Boaters casting eels, RatLTraps or Storm Shads around the drawbridge also got bit.
Tuna in the Canyons
Lewes Harbour Marina - 6/20/2013 12:00:00 AM