Hi Folks,

I hope everyone had a great Labor DayWeekend! I’m not sure where the summer went, but I think the calendar guy should certainly receive a speeding ticket. The fishing surely slowed this past week, but I’m sure that was due to the weather. The wind just did not want to quit. Days that were fishable continued to produce flounder and croaker in the back bays. Stripers and bluefish have been taken in Indian River Inlet. The size of the stripers seems to be on the upswing. Bluefish are being taken mostly on the incoming tide. Massey’s Ditch is giving up some flounder, croaker, and spot. Folks soaking a sand flea from the wooden pier are catching some tog. Remember that the tog season is currently closed! Bottom bouncing in the ocean is providing croaker and flounder activity along with an improvement on the sea bass. When fishing the back bays for flounder try to fish the deeper holes and fish the incoming tide. Bob Cleveland and son-in-law Jeff Eisenbise were fishing the area from DA Buoy back to DB Buoy and had a mixed bag of croaker, flounder and sea bass. One sea bass measured 19 inches. I could not get the story straight as to which guy was providing the fishing lessons. Tuna fishing continues to be almost non-existent. There are still dolphin catches and the white marlin bite continues to be very good in the canyons.

From Bill’s Sport Shop on RT #1 in Lewes we find fishing action also hindered by the weather and not a whole lot to report. Here is some of the action that did take place. Matt Langdon went fishing with Dave Abraham and Dave Reinhart to the Spencer Canyon and released two whites and boated 2 gaffer dolphin. Don Pennington emailed us that he was catching blues in IRI on bucktails with inline sinkers for a little added weight. Don sent his thanks to our staff for their assistance. The anglers at Massey's Landing have been hooking up with blues, small stripers and a few keeper flounder. Diana Molino was fishing on one of the headboats out of Lewes and boated a sweet 10 1/2 lb. flounder using squid at the Old Grounds. Captain Charlie Helmer, of "Tranquila Sport Fishing" reported a successful trip to the Baltimore Canyon. Charlie's charter went 3 for 4 on white marlin. Charlie said, "Find the bait and you will find the fish".

At Rattle & Reel Sporting Center on Long Neck Rd. Ron also said action has slowed a bit. Flounder and croaker are sill in the Indian River and Rehoboth Bays and the sea bass action has gotten better around DB Buoy with the arrival of larger fish. Ron agreed the weather was a major factor in the slow action the past week.

From Hookem’ & Cookem’ Bait and Tackle at North Shore Marina in Delaware State Park Burt reports of an 80.4 LB wahoo taken by John Galyen aboard “Dream Catcher” while trolling the 40 line of Baltimore Canyon. Reef Site #10 is giving up some nice flounder and the sea bass action is getting better. Folks fishing on the Headboat “Judy V” are connecting with some nice flounder and sea bass catches. Burt tells us blues were plentiful from the surf and should pick up again when the surf settles down. In the Indian River Inlet Pete Hesson used Berkley GULP! crab to trick a 12.5-pound sheepshead. Flounder and croaker have been cooperating for most people fishing the inside waters. Striper action has been good with plenty of short stripers being taken and more good-sized stripers continuing to show up.

Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said relentless northeast wind hampered fishermen all week, but a fair number of boats made it out over the weekend. Flounder were caught at the mouth of the Bay on Overfalls and Middle Shoals Saturday, but the closure of New Jersey’s fluke season caused crews to try other locations Sunday. A few flatties came from reef site #7 at Brown Shoal and site #10 in the Ocean. Open bottom southwest of DB Buoy gave up some quality fluke too. Captain Rick Yakimowicz reported that one of his fares had a 10 pound 5 ounce doormat during the week. Croakers were scattered after all the wind, and schools of big hardheads that normally gather between Hen and Chicken Shoal and #4 Buoy this time of year have yet to materialize. Snapper bluefish were prevalent, and boaters found them under birds outside the Outer Breakwater and off Cape Henlopen Point. The feeding blues could be taken by casting small bucktails and metals. Snappers were also caught in the Cape Henlopen surf with cut mullet. Spanish Mackerel were mixed with blues outside the mouth of the Bay and just off the coast. They’ll grab small spoons or flashy metal jigs. The Lewes Canal and Broadkill River held good numbers of Spot. Spot were pulled over the rails of the pier in Cape Henlopen State Park as well. Bloodworms and Fishbites were favored baits. Offshore action improved following continuous wind from the northeast. There were good white marlin bites in 40 to 60 fathoms inshore of the Wilmington and Baltimore Canyons. Dolphin gathered on lobster gear that had been left untouched for several days. Even though fish weren’t always visible just beneath the surface around the balls, it was worth sinking a live bait into the depths below. That technique often resulted in nice mahi that would otherwise have been overlooked. Captain Jeff Hoepfl and crew aboard the Joint Venture had some nice gaffer dolphin trolling just east of Delaware Light Saturday. Jeff and his dad Joe each boated twin 16.8-pound mahi, and Phil Spare got an 18.8 pounder. Tuna still have not shown in numbers, but a few were reported by trolling boats. The Skipjack pulled in a pair of yellowfins from a temperature break west of the Elephant Trunk Saturday. Fall full moons usually bring swordfish action offshore. The guys aboard Grizzly captured a good sword in the Wilmington Canyon Saturday Night. They were on the way in at the time of this writing, but estimated the fish at between 130 and 150 pounds. They also had another sword hooked and released a hammerhead shark. Don’t forget to stop in and sign up for the Rick’s Bait & Tackle / Sea Side Gas and Grill Striper Tournament. ‘Til next week, Have fun and be safe!!!