Hi Folks,

                         Flounder action remains fair in the back bays. Friday and Saturday

              guys reported catches of 2 to 3 keeper fish to 22 inches coming from the

              deeper waters near Indian River Inlet. Russ Hatfield and Kevin Dunmire

               boated 4 keepers from Indian River. At Cape Henelopen Pier, Crazy Ed

               Stoudt used minnows to fool 2 keepers of 19 and 22 inches. Thanks Ed

               for the fish. Bob Cleveland fished in about 45 feet of water a few miles out of

               the inlet and found all the big croakers you could want. Ernie Lane fished the

               inlet with live sand fleas to score a 7 pound 2 ounce red drum. Once again let

               me remind you that the closing of sea bass will surely put much more pressure

               on the tog fishery and just because we CAN keep 10 fish does not mean we

               MUST keep 10 fish. I really do believe if we do not police ourselves we will

               facing regulations we won’t next year. Don’t forget to signed up for the Rick’s

               Bait and Tackle / Sea Side Gas and Grill Striper Ganza that begins Oct. 17 and

               ends Nov. 21^st.  I would also like to acknowledge a sincere “GOOD JOB        

               GUY’S” to the fellows on the Rick’s Bait and Tackle, North, and South, surf

                Teams for a good job in the Ocean City Surf Fishing Tournament. They did not

                finish in the money but I know the fished their hearts out. Thanks Guys! For all

                your surf fishing needs we can help you out and get the info and advice you

                need right here at Rick’s. Gear up, there’s lot of good fishing ahead.

                           Joe Morris at Lewes Harbour Marina said togging got off to a fair start. Blackfish were caught along the inner and outer walls by boaters toggled in and using green crabs or sand fleas for bait. Tautog were also taken on most of the Bay’s artificial reefs, but not in big numbers. Water temperatures remain in the upper 60’s, and the bite will improve as temps fall. Wrecks at the Bay mouth gave up tog too, but strong full moon tides offered anglers only a small window of slow current when they could get baits to the fish. Good sized triggerfish continued to be mixed with tog on many structures. Dr. Mike Junck is currently leading the Lewes Harbour Tog Tournament with a 5.87 pounder. Croakers were still available along the edge of “The Pit”, near #4 Buoy at the Bay mouth. Hardheads were also found on the Old Grounds around DB Buoy. Clams, bloodworms and Fishbites did the trick on croakers.  A few flounder and snapper blues came from the rip outside the Outer Wall. Bay surfcasters at Fowler’s Beach, Broadkill Beach and Roosevelt Inlet caught snapper bluefish with cut mullet. Along the ocean coast, a mix of blues, small stripers and flounder came from the surf of Cape Henlopen, Herring Point, and 3R’s Road. An angler reportedly landed a large cobia from the beach at Conquest Road. Joe said everyone at the dock was upset about the recreational black sea bass fishery closure in Federal Waters. Effective October 5, no recreational sea bass harvest will be permitted in federal waters north of North Carolina for 180 days. The commercial fishery will remain open. National Marine Fisheries Service made this decision based on preliminary harvest estimates that predict recreational anglers “may” have reached their 1.17 million pounds quota by the end of June. This action was taken even though the black sea bass stock has been deemed fully rebuilt to 103% of its rebuilding goal. The data on which NMFS based this decision was collected through the Marine Recreational Fishing Statistics Survey(MRFSS), which was originally implemented by NMFS to track general trends in recreational fisheries. Through time, NMFS began using the information gathered to compile recreational harvest figures. The survey was not meant for that purpose, but NMFS relied on the survey to monitor quotas in its management process. There are serious questions about the data collected, and the management action based on flawed information does not represent the “best science available”, as mandated by the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. It’s difficult to believe that many sea bass were caught when most bait and tackle shops and charter and headboats have experienced a large percentage drop in business. That would certainly indicate there was less fishing effort. Natural factors like bad weather limit trips too. The closure will have a profound effect on bait and tackle shops, marine dealers and for-hire boat operators that depended on sea bass as a staple fall and winter fishery, especially now, in a struggling economy.

                 ‘Til next week,Have Fun and Be Safe!!!!!!!!