Hi Folks,

                                                   

                             I know it sounds like a broken record but the weather is the biggest factor in the lack of successful fishing. High tides, strong winds, and murky water have all played a part in making it tough to have a productive day

                   of fishing. Those fishing the Indian River Inlet have been able to find a few

 keeper flounder and a fair amount of short stripers. Only a few keeper stripers have been taken. Bluefish are being caught on the incoming tide and there are still a few croakers around. Bluefish have also been taken on the beaches when the surf is not pounding relentlessly. Throughout Indian River and Rehoboth Bay you can still find flounder, croaker, bluefish, and a few small trout. Minnows, squid, fresh mullet, GULP!, and bloodworms for the spot are the baits you will need. Jim Bailey fished Indian River using minnows to boat plenty of short flounder, but did manage a 19 incher to take home. Lots of good fishing lies ahead as soon as the winds calm and the water has a chance to clear. Don’t forget to sign up for the Rick’s Bait and Tackle / Sea Side Gas and Grill Striper Tournament. It runs from Oct. 17^th thru Nov. 21^st and pays top 3 heaviest stripers. Don’t miss out on the fun!

                    From Bill’s Sport shop on RT #1 in Lewes we received reports of some nice catches. Crystal, Harold and Bill Friday caught 2 flounder to 17 1/2" and bluefish up to 12" on fresh mullet at the Pier.  Dustin Schell and Paul Spencer fished the surf catching spot, blues and flounder on fresh mullet. Cliff Neil went on a charter boat out of OC, and caught and released 5 white marlin in the Baltimore Canyon. Jim Hawke was fishing the rocks at IRI and nailed a 15lb., 36" striper using live eels. Chuck Nagle of Bill's Sport Shop caught a 21" flounder using fresh spot at Massey’s Landing.  On another trip, Chuck caught a lot of sheepshead up to 3 1/2 lbs. using clams. Anglers hitting the beach are being rewarded with snapper blues. Captain Steve Wright and mate, Bill Vernon on the "Four Play" were fishing with 15-year-old Dillon Baker in the Wahoo Rodeo.  Dillon caught 2 wahoo of 50 and 32 lbs. at the Teacup, which was enough to win 1st and 2nd place. Capt. Chris Thurman, "Skipjack Charters", returned from an overnight trip and reported catching 11 tuna including 2 bluefin to 150 lbs. and the rest yellowfin to 50 lbs., 28 dolphin and released 6 sharks at the 30 Fathom Line. The "Reliable ll" reported catching flounder and snapper blues.  Croaker fishing has slowed way down in the bay. Capt. Rocky aboard the "Jam Man" charters brought home 6 tuna and a couple of gaffer dolphin while fishing inside the Baltimore Canyon on an overnighter. Capt. Charlie Helmer of the "Tranquila" Sport Fishing charters reported that on a recent trip to the Teacup, his anglers boated 4 yellowfin and 5 dolphin.  On another trip to the same area, his crew put 1 yellowfin in the cooler and boated about 40 dolphin up to 23 1/2 lbs.
Capt. Carey Evans of the "Grizzly" had a pretty good bay trip with a bunch
of flounder, croakers and a trigger.  On an offshore trip, Carey's party released 2 white marlin, a big hammerhead and harvested a nice swordfish, 3 tilefish and 18-gaffer dolphin.  On a charter to the 30 Fathom Line, the "Grizzly" came home with 8 yellowfin, a pair of dolphin and had 2 shark releases.

              At Henelopen Bait and Tackle on Savannah Road in Lewes, Dan reports of slowed action due to weather conditions. Flounder are still coming from Delaware Bay as well as blues, croaker, and a few small trout. Blues are in the surf also. Spot are still around and proving for some action when other fishing is slow.

               Capt. Burt Adams from Hookem’ and Cookem’ Bait and Tackle at North Shore Marina reports of a few flounder and stripers in the Indian River Inlet. Bluefish are also being taken in the Inlet and from the beaches according to Burt. The inshore ocean fishing seen is providing flounder, sea bass, blues, croakers, and a few trout. The inshore wrecks are holding a fair amount of triggerfish. Offshore action has a few tuna, dolphin, and wahoo at the Tea Cup and Elephant Trunk.

                 From Rattle and Reel Sporting Center on Long Neck Road, Ron tells me he noticed a slow down in the flounder action from the back bays. Some stripers and blues coming from the Indian River Inlet but most are small. Massey’s Ditch is giving up some sheepshead and there are still some spot roaming the waters.

                             Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said tuna continued to                            cooperate for crews working 30 fathoms. The guys aboard Skipjack trolled skirted ballyhoo and spreader bars just north of the Tea Cup Friday for 7 nice yellowfin. The Tranquila returned from the same area Friday with 3 yellowfin and some gaffer dolphin. The anglers also released a white marlin. Several boats experienced good tuna action between the Tea Cup and Base of the Elephant Trunk, with both bluefin and yellowfin. Some big Wahoo were thrown in the mix. Mike Eshleman weighed in a 40½ pounder he got on the Black Bart. Once again, winds plagued inshore bottom fisherman much of the week. When conditions permitted, a few fishermen got into flounder that were on their way out of the Bay. Mike Connolly and friends had 6 keeper fluke to 5 pounds between Brown Shoal and #9 Buoy aboard Sea Note. Cut spot and bluefish fillets did the trick. Boats that anchored on the Star Reef Site picked at a mix of croakers, kingfish, snapper blues, small sea bass and triggerfish. When winds subsided Saturday afternoon, croakers that were bunched up near #4 Buoy at the Bay mouth bit pretty good on clams, bloodworms and Fishbites. Ocean bottom bouncers had fair numbers of keeper sea bass, croakers and snapper blues at reef site #11 and on the Old Grounds. Some better-sized sea bass have begun to stage on inshore wrecks. The number of flounder has dwindled, but a few decent fish remain, like the 5 pounder Matt Jester took with a slab of croaker, east of DB Buoy. Joe said he’s collected quite a few pictures of catches brought in by customers during the season, and they can be viewed on the shop’s website at www.lewesharbourmarina.com.

                                         

                                           ‘Til next time, Have fun and be safe!!!!!!!