Fishing Report

Finally, some striped bass fishing worth talking about. Now, weather is the issue, and strong winds all week will keep boaters from getting to the fish that are here. Hopefully those fish won't blow through while everybody's tied to the dock. Striper action this past week was the best of the season yet. Bass made appearances at the Bay mouth, and staged for short periods on Overfalls and at The Eights, but many were shy of legal size, and they weren't caught with any regularity. John Joe Kabino trolled Bomber plugs at Overfalls Monday for 12 short stripers and one keeper. On his next trip to the area, he didn't catch any. Mark Muzzleman, Brian Tinsley and Tom Howard trolled Stretch 25s at Overfalls Wednesday for 3 good keepers. Todd Diener and Rick Lawson checked in a nice pair of rockfish they caught trolling parachutes and Stretch 30s at 8B Buoy Saturday. Structure across the mouth of the Bay entrance yielded bass off and on to trollers and guys drifting eels or spot through the week, but the most reliable and productive fishing took place in the Ocean. Crews had stripers as far up the beach as Sea Isle City, and on down to Fenwick Island. Boaters reported schools of bunker scattered along the coast from one to three miles off, with gannets, and sometimes even whales working over the groups of baitfish. Migratory striped bass keyed in on the menhaden movement, and boaters who found the bait, often found feeding bass. Last Sunday, Joe Celano and Sean Nowell trolled Stretch 25 plugs off Sea Colony for a 26.5 pound striper, a big blue and three flounder to 3.5 pounds. Captain Pete on Top Fin encountered stripers on the way in from a tog trip Monday, and his guys bucktailed 3 bass to 28 pounds to top off their limit of tautog. Captain Carey on the Grizzly also found foraging rockfish on the way home from his Monday wreck trip, and his anglers added their limit of 12 linesiders to the limit of blackfish already in the box. Captain Brent on Katydid came across stripers inshore of Reef 9 as well while returning from his bottom bouncing charter Monday, and his patrons capped off their limit of tautog with 4 quality rock to 25 pounds. Captain Tom and his crew on High Hook trolled Mojos 2.5 miles off Indian River Monday to put 9 big bass to 29 pounds in the boat. Butch Warrington and Charlie Ruggiero pulled tandem parachutes off Cape May Monday afternoon for 3 hefty keepers. Greg Davis got his personal best bass off Bethany Wednesday, a 27.2 pounder that ate a trolled red head Stretch 30. Captain Pete Haines deployed a bucktail to tempt a 28.7 pound linesider aboard his Top Fin Wednesday. Ziggy Zigman and his buddies trolled Stretches south of Indian River Wednesday for 5 rock to 21.3 pounds on the Fish Hawk. Dave and Joe Walker and Robert Karpovich towed Rapala plugs between Rehoboth and Indian River Wednesday to connect with 5 stout stripers and a big blue. Captain Brian's bassers on Lil' Angler II connected with 8 fine rock while trolling Mojos and tandems off Indian River Wednesday. Trolling Mojos off Sea Colony Wednesday produced a pair of 25 pounders for Dave Lynam. Kenny Derr decked a 30.75 pounder while pulling white Mojos south of Indian River. On Friday, Captain JW ran around the corner up to Wildwood to troll up 5 hefty stripers for his group aboard Miss Caroline. Captain Brent trolled off Rehoboth Friday to put 5 bass to 25 pounds in the box on Katydid. Captain Brian on Lil' Angler II was dialed in on rockfish Friday, and trolled up 13 keepers off Indian River using Mojos and tandems. Captain Ted trolled in front of Dewey Beach Friday to capture 7 nice bass aboard the Indian. The largest was Mac McNaught's 33.5 pound lunker. John Hazzard, Johnny Mancuso and Lee Abel fished Friday afternoon for 5 rock to 20 plus pounds while pulling plugs off Dewey. Blake Reed, Kevin Parker, Henry and Josh Sharp and Matt Millman headed up to Wildwood Saturday morning, and trolled Mojos and tandem parachutes to ice their 10 fish limit, most between 20 and 26 pounds. They released 5 others, and were still back at the dock by lunch time. Ralph and Ryan Short towed Mojos and Bomber plugs off North Shores Saturday for their four bass to 25 pounds. Dave Haldeman and his crew used tandem parachutes off Rehoboth to take 6 fine rockfish. In addition to striped bass, area anglers also had success with sea bass and slippery bass. The Falgowski family hit Del Jersey Land on Saturday and returned with their limit of 105 plump blueheads. Chip Graves, Matt Baker and Adam Lovenguth fished the same region Saturday for a nice batch of bass, plus a bonus big bluefish. Captain Chuck of First Light Charters anchored over an inshore wreck Saturday and put together a catch of 17 keeper tog to 5 pounds for Ryan Glauser and friends. Captain Brent worked structure Saturday aboard Katydid to score his toggers 30 keepers and a lobster...yes, a lobster!

Striper action for the most part has been slim this Fall, with just a few fish a day recorded by boaters working Delaware Bay structure. Not many bass have been caught for the amount of effort exerted, but those landed were large. Most from the first couple weeks of November averaged around 30 pounds. Trolling Stretch and Bomber Plugs on Overfalls Shoal produced most of the fish, but drifted eels and spot also got bit. Good amounts of bunker were around earlier, but not as plentiful now, and sand eels didn't show like last year. Different groups of migrating stripers have been reported along the New Jersey coast in past weeks, but it seems they end up staying offshore when they go past the entrance to Delaware Bay. Rockfish have already been caught near Ocean City, MD and off the eastern shore of Virginia, indicating they missed us and went right on by. Recently, numbers of bass were caught under birds between Sea Isle City and Wildwood, but those stripers never rounded Cape May into the Bay. Just this past weekend, boats bassing off Brigantine did very well, and moving fish were seen at other locations along the South Jersey coast. So there's still hope we'll get a crack at them. Crews running out for sea bass encountered stripers at the Five Fathom Bank and between the shipping lane and Reef Site 11, so it seems a big portion of the migratory stock travels outside the Three Mile Line. I can't help but be optimistic that with a little help from Mother Nature in the form of easterly winds and moderate temperatures we still could squeeze out a striper season here in Delaware. Some of the nice striped bass that have been checked in include Ralph Short's 32.8 pounder, a 36.4 pound trophy for Joe Wilkinson, Bong Jae Kang's 34.2 pound rock, James Bowden's 30.6 pound bass, and the 20.5 pound linesider trolled up by Lee Abel. The annual Lewes Harbour Striper Tournament finished up November 25th. Jacob Webb's 44.8 pound cow hung in to take First Place. Evan Falgowski held onto Second with his 40.8 pound beauty, and John Joe Kabino wrapped up Third with a 36 pounder. Congrats and braggin' rights until next Fall go to the winners. Thanks to all who participated. Sea bass fishing has been good in twenty fathom areas such as the Triple Wrecks and the Del Jersey Land Reef Site. Bassers had to cull through loads of shorts, but limits of keepers were common. Bluefish of varying sizes hung out over the same structure as sea bass. Delaware Bay togging has slowed, with not many blackfish coming from the Walls or Reefs, but inshore Ocean action was good. Certain spots on Site 10 were quite productive. Captain Carey's guys on the Grizzly put 33 tautog in the box there Saturday. Toggers aboard Katydid had a group limit of 40 fish Sunday. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Stripers finally rounded the corner into Delaware Bay with last week's big moon, and although there have only been a few caught each day, most were big. Mason Newsham was trolling a Bomber plug on Overfalls during the end of ebb current aboard Local Girl when he connected with a 35.6 pound bass. John Joe Kabino was working that same area when he hooked a 36 pound rockfish on a Bomber. Paul Matthews pulled a Stretch 25 there for his 31 pounder. Jacob Webb jumped into the lead of this year's Lewes Harbour Striper Tournament when he trolled up a 44.8 pound lunker at Overfalls. Fred German drifted an eel through the rips on Overfalls for his 30.6 pound striped bass. Mark Lobach landed a 37 pounder, and Chuck Meyer captured a 24 pounder while eelng aboard Lil' Angler II. J.D. Miller was on Overfalls first thing in the morning, and tempted a 26.2 pound rockfish into striking a Cabo Sunset Stretch 25 plug. John Tkacz trolled a chartreuse Stretch 25 at Overfalls for a 36.7 pounder. Dennis Jester drifted a live spot at Overfalls for his 34.6 pound linesider. Trolling a chartreuse Stretch 25 at the end of flood tide on Overfalls did the trick for Todd Conner, who had a 31 pound bass. Drew Messick, Josh Chubb and Pat Irelan pulled plugs at Overfalls and 8B Buoy for three linesiders to 26.4 pounds. Evan Falgowski fought a 40.8 pound cow to slide into Second Place of the LHM Striper Tourney. The Tournament continues until November 25th. Tautog catches have been decent when conditions are ok. Ernie Stone scored a 12.59 pound bruiser white chin along the Outer Wall. Mike Ditton muscled in a 9.21 pound tog at the Wall. Bill Marshall bested an 8.1 pounder. David Schellenger decked a 7.62 pound tautog at the Inner Wall. Joe and Dave Walker and Mike Dileo limited out with 15 chunky tog from the Wall. Tom Martone took a 7.72 pounder aboard Katydid. Cameron Boldaz boated a 6 pounder while togging on the Indian. Sea bass action has been good at Site 11 and Del Jersey Land. Spiny dogfish have gotten thick at Site 11 and most inshore areas, and have been a real nuisance for bottom bouncers. Sharks didn't seem quite as bad in twebty fathoms, and boats bassing Del Jersey Land weren't bothered as much by pesky spinys. However, chopper bluefish chewed up a lot of sea bass on anglers' hooks. Captain Brent's patrons aboard Katydid enjoyed fast catching during a recent trip to DJL. They ended up with a boat limit of 150 bass, even after sacrificing several to ravenous blues. Most bluefish were of jumbo proportions. Maggie Lingo tangled with a 14.2 pound blue, and Bill Hughes had a 16.2 pound slammer. Along with big blues in the box were bonus flounder and triggerfish.

Nice tautog came in during the week, and the Lewes Harbour Tog Tournament leaderboard looked pretty respectable when the contest ended Friday. Carl Blust bested the bunch and finished First with his 11.25 pound bruiser from the Outer Wall. Randy Jensen's 10.58 pound brute of a blackfish, also from the Wall, took Second. Jim Meyers managed a 7.97 pound citation tautog for Third Place, and that fish came from the Wall as well. Thanks to all who participated in the event. Congratulations to the winners, and enjoy your bragging rights until next October. Togging in general was pretty decent. Mr. Kim and his group fished on Top Fin Monday for 15 tautog and a sheepshead, then again Friday for 26 more tog. Captain Brent's toggers aboard Katydid captured 25 keepers Wednesday, 32 on Thursday, and 24 on Friday. Captain Vince's crew had a dozen chunky tog Friday on Miss Kirstin. Ted Garman and Patti Lush landed their limit of 10 plump blackfish at the Outer Wall Wednesday. Otto Evans checked in his personal best tog weighing 6.5 pounds. Bill Marshall boated a stout 8.75 pound tautog at the Wall Friday. With strong northwest wind over the weekend, Bay temps had fallen through the mid 50's, and blackfish should become even more active on structure in cooler water. Stripers were reported on the move along New Jersey's coast, and hopefully changing weather and dropping temperatures will prompt them to make the turn into Delaware Bay. Full moon occurs November 6th, and the first big push of bass into the Bay usually takes place during that lunar phase. Our shop is stocking live eels and spot, plus a selection of Stretch plugs and trolling lures, along with S&S Bucktails in anticipation of a good rockfish run. The annual Lewes Harbour Striper Tournament is on now, and runs through November 25th. The Tourney offers cash prizes, and interested anglers can sign up at the Store before fishing. Sea bass catches were good when boats could make it out. Reef Site 11 yielded plenty of keepers, as did the Del Jersey Land site outside the Triple Wrecks. Bill and Charlotte Hughes joined Captain Brent and Mate Chris for some bottom bouncing at Del Jersey Land Monday aboard Katydid. The result was a limit of 60 bass, plus some flounder and triggers, and a 10.5 pound slammer bluefish.

Conditions allowed sea bassers to get to Ocean structure early in the week, but wind kept them at the dock again until Saturday. Captain Brent was able to make it off to where bass lived Monday and patrons aboard Katydid put together a limit of 150 chunky knotheads, including Bill Petka's citation 3 pounder. They also had several bluefish and flounder. Those flatties raised the total number of keeper fluke brought in aboard Katydid this season to over 1700! Brent got out again Tuesday before the wind blew, and his group returned with another limit of bass, plus more blues and flatfish. Boaters fishing for seabass Saturday told of success at Reef Site 11, as well as obstructions in 15 to 20 Fathoms and at Del Jersey Land. A load of life was reported in the Ocean between Site 11 and the upper end of the shipping lane. Numerous whales were spotted, and clouds of gannetts signaled baitfish below. Could be all that activity indicates a migratory movement. May be bluefin tuna, may be striped bass. If it's stripers, let's hope some of them end up inside the Three Mile Line. Blackfish action had started to shape up in Delaware Bay, but again, a relentless breeze and strong currents around the new moon made for murky water and tough togging. On days with clean water around the breakwaters, toggers picked at fish and ended up with fair catches. Jonathan Masten, Scott Jost and Ed Borys had an unusual experience while tautog fishing at the Inner Wall Monday. A four point buck swam from shore and made it's way up onto the rocks, then hung out near them for quite awhile. Hard to figure what was on that deer's mind. Captain Pete's toggers took home 27 keepers from their trip on Top Fin Monday. Merwyn Arms muscled in a 6.28 pounder as his first ever tautog, on that outing. Bandy Timmons Parker and friends fished with Captain Brian on Lil' Angler II Tuesday, and put 13 chunky tog in the cooler. Captain Pete had a group of tautog regulars Saturday aboard Top Fin, and they iced 18 plump keepers. Captain Brent looked for cleaner water in the Ocean Saturday, and managed 14 tog and two hefty triggers for his guys on Katydid. Captain Vince set up his anglers aboard Miss Kirstin over Bay structure Saturday, where they captured 13 tog and a triggerfish. Because of quite crappy conditions, Miss Kirstin was the lone boat to beat it's way to Bay structure Sunday, and the salty fishermen on board earned every one of their group limit of tautog. Jess Jamieson found out all the big black drum hadn't left Delaware Bay yet. He was togging near the Outer Wall Lighthouse Saturday when he hooked a 54.2 pound boomer on a piece of green crab. The Lewes Harbour Tog Tournament runs through October 31st, and the Leaderboard showed some changes when folks were finally able to get out on the water again Saturday. At this writing, Bob Meyers held First Place with a 7.94 pounder from the Outer Wall. Sean Whiteford was Second with a 7.17 pound tog he also pulled from the Wall. Charlie Breitenbach hung in at Third with his 5.94 pound tautog. The Lewes Harbour Striper Tournament began October 25th, and goes on through November 25th. The annual contest offers a cash pool that's split among the three heaviest striped bass checked in by pre registered anglers. The more people who enter, the bigger the prizes. Interested anglers can sign up at Lewes Harbour Marina in advance of fishing. Some of the season's largest stripers are among the first to show up, and that could happen soon.