Delaware Fishing Report: When, Where, What and How They're Biting

By Eric Burnley Sr.*

Updated: Nov. 10, 2011

DELAWARE BAY

Rockfish have been caught from the Cross Ledge to the Eights by trolling, jigging, drifting eels and chunking with bunker. The fall rockfish season is most defiantly underway.

I have not heard of any short fish at the mouth of the bay. Trollers seem to favor Overfalls Shoal while the eel drifters like the Eights and the Valley and chunkers work the 60-Foot Slough. Limit catches are common in all locations.

Up the bay, Blake’s Channel, the Cross Ledge and Miah Maul have seen some activity on chunked bunker. These locations will produce some very big rockfish by the time the run is over. A rock that tied the state record was caught there in 2010.

Boats running out of Augustine Beach have caught keeper rockfish at the Pipes, the Yellow Can and the Bull Ben. Fresh bunker and bloodworms have been the top baits.

While many boats have been targeting rock, the tog bite continues to be very good. The Outer Wall and most of the reef sites in the bay have produced limit catches of tog to 9 pounds. Green crab seems to be the best bait. No sign of any more big sheepshead in the past two weeks.

INDIAN RIVER INLET

The inlet had not turned on when this was written on Thursday. It could happen on Friday or any day next week. The one thing I know for sure is sooner or later rockfish will come into the inlet and there will be legions of anglers ready to greet them.

Tog fishermen continue to take their favorite fish from the rocks on green crabs. Many of these fish are shorts with a sufficient number of keepers to keep them coming back.

In Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay and Massey’s Ditch, rock have been caught, but in no great number or size.

SURF FISHING

Surf fishermen along with those who fish the inlet jetties are in a waiting mode. As of Thursday I had no reports of big rockfish from the beach. The bite in North Jersey has been off the charts and I can’t wait until it is our turn. Perhaps the front scheduled to come through over the weekend will bring those fish down from the north.

INSHORE OCEAN

It seems that most anglers are staying in the bay with only a few venturing outside. Those who do make the run into the ocean have found tog and sea bass on the wrecks and reefs. The best of the sea bass action has been in water deeper than 20 fathoms.

I have no reports of Delaware boats catching rock and big blues in the ocean; I did get a report and photos from a friend who runs out of Ocean City. He had a good day trolling plugs in the ocean catching a four fish limit of rock and two big blues. I would expect to see this action off of our coast very soon.

FRESHWATER

Bass and crappie lead the pack for pond fishermen. The bass are taking live bait and Senkos while the crappie like small minnows on a jig under a bobber.

White perch are available in the tidal creeks along with big catfish. The C&D Canal and the lower Delaware River also hold good numbers of these fish. Use bloodworms for the perch and cut bunker for the cats. Both of these baits will also attract short rockfish.

Bass have been caught in the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek on live bait, crankbaits and plastic lures. As always, out going water provides the best action.

A FEW TIPS

I have been fishing for over sixty years and along the way I have found out a few things that make the task easier, safer and more convenient. Most of these discoveries were made through trial and error, lots of errors.

Over the years I have found a good pair of fishing pliers to be the most important tool I own. Pliers can remove hooks from fish and people. The new models will cut both braid and mono. They will crimp a connector. They can help fix an engine. The list goes on and on. I simply will not go fishing without my pliers.

I use fishing pliers, but several of my friends use multi-pliers like the Leatherman. I do keep my Leatherman close at hand, but I prefer the fishing pliers on my belt for quick access. Multi-pliers usually have to be opened before the tool is ready for use. Fishing pliers are always ready.

Always carry a big net. I can’t count the number of sad stories I have listened to where the angler had the fish of a lifetime to the boat, but lost it when the fish wouldn’t fit in the net. When I ran charters I had two landing nets. A regular one for trout, small rockfish, flounder and croaker. I also had a large net for big rock, drum, big flounder and cobia. I never get the net out until we have a big fish on the line. It would be bad luck to be too prepared and miss the excitement of untangling the net from every single piece of gear on the boat while the angler keeps yelling, “Get the net!”

Keep the deck clean. Blood and fish slime can make for a very slippery surface on any boat. Hose off the deck as soon as possible after the fish is in the box. No hose? Use a five-gallon bucket to wash the mung away.

No five-gallon bucket? What’s the matter with you? A few five-gallon buckets are required equipment on any self-respecting fisherman’s boat. I have one on the boat and one in my truck. How do you keep your minnow bucket from leaking water all over the deck without a five-gallon bucket? Where do you put your trash? What do you pee in? Trust me, it is much easier to hit a five-gallon bucket on a moving boat then try to pee in a bottle. I have head it said the best bilge pump in the world is a scared man with a five-gallon bucket.

Proper footwear is critical. I have seen people on boats wearing street shoes, black-rubber sole work boots and flip-flops. Boating requires a non-slip sole to help keep your footing on a wet deck. Black soles are going to leave black marks on the deck and a bad taste in the captain’s mouth. Always wear boat shoes designed for slippery decks and with soles that don’t leave marks. Crocs have become very popular with fishermen. I have a pair of Shimano sandals that are similar to Crocs, just not quite as ugly.

Get your tackle ready before you leave the house. Nothing wastes valuable fishing time more than preparing tackle on the grounds. Have your reel on the rod, the line run through the guides and a snap or snap swivel tied to the terminal end. Have your rigs or lures in separate containers ready for action. As soon as the boat stops, all you have to do is snap on the correct terminal tackle and you are ready to fish.

These are just a few of the things you can do to make your fishing time more productive and safer..

*Eric Burnley Sr. is a native Delawarean who has fished the waters of his home state for more than 60 years. He has been a full-time outdoor writer since 1978, with articles appearing in most national magazines as well as many regional publications. He has authored two books, Surf Fishing The Atlantic Coast and The Ultimate Guide To Catching Striped Bass.