The Delaware Fishing Report offers information on when to fish, where to fish, which species are biting, and how to catch them. It is written weekly by Eric Burnley, Sr.

Current Conditions

When the weather gives us favorable conditions, the fishing is pretty good. Last week we actually had more favorable days than those with unfavorable conditions. Fish were caught from the freshwater ponds on out to the canyons in reasonable numbers and size.

Delaware Bay

Patty at Captain Bones said croaker were caught from the fishing pier at Woodland Beach on bloodworms, Fishbites and squid.

Augustine Beach saw a few striped bass and fair numbers of catfish caught on bloodworms and cut bait.

Leipsic

Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic told us it has been a croaker invasion with good numbers caught at Woodland Beach, Port Mahon and Bowers Beach on bloodworms, Fishbites, squid and shrimp.

White perch are available in the tidal creeks on bloodworms or Fishbites.

Broadkill Beach

Dan at Dan’s Tackle reported the croaker at Broadkill Beach grew in size on Wednesday. They still ate the same bloodworms, Fishbites and squid.

A few trout and small blues were in the mix. Big blues were caught out of the Broadkill River on cut mullet.

Lewes

Lewes Harbour Marina said the Katydid, the Grizzly, the Chasin’ Tail and the Portobello all had sea bass and flounder when they could reach ocean structure. A few private boats did equally well over the same structure.

Boats that worked the Ice Breakers with sand fleas or green crabs caught sheepshead.

A few keeper flounder were the reward for drifting the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal with live minnows.

Breakwater Tackle on the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park told us large blues are still being caught from the beach next to the pier on surface lures.

Spot and croaker are the mainstay of fishing from the pier with bloodworms or Fishbites the top baits. Most of the flounder caught from the pier are too small to keep, but a few keepers are taken on minnows worked close to the pier.

Kayak anglers who fish close to the pilings at the far end of the pier have better luck with the flounder.

Indian River Inlet

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle reported that the night shift is probably catching their share of striped bass out of the Inlet, but in a tradition as old as the Inlet, they don’t do much bragging.

Blues come through the Inlet during incoming water and will take bucktails, plugs or metal lures.

Sheepshead are close to the rocks and like sand fleas or green crabs.

Keeper flounder hang out in the calmer water waiting for a meal to pass by. Try a small jig with a minnow, Gulp! or Fishbites.

Indian River Bay

Rick’s Bait and Tackle told us in addition to the good flounder fishing, croaker and spot are showing up in Indian River Bay. Try bloodworms or Fishbites for them along with live minnows for the flounder.

Surf Fishing

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said the surf was dominated by skates and dog sharks, but spot, croaker, small blues and the occasional small striper were also caught on a variety of baits.

Inshore Ocean

Burt at Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em said the all-day boat, the Captain Bob, had very good numbers of sea bass and flounder when she could reach ocean structure. Other private and charter boats did equally well.

Several private boats fished the inshore lumps and brought back bluefin tuna.

Offshore Ocean

No reports from offshore.

Freshwater

Patty at Captain Bones said bass have been caught at Garrisons Lake and Massey’s Pond on chatter and swim baits.

Steve at Smith Bait told us bass and crappie were taken near Silver Lake in Dover. The bass hit minnows and swim baits while the crappie went after minnows and crappie jigs.

It Ain’t No Pond

It seems we lose people every year who get swept away by the current in our rivers or ocean. They are not used to such a strong current coming here from an area with only freshwater ponds and swimming pools.

Please, if you have a guest from out of town who is not used to the ocean or tidal rivers, sit them down and explain to them that they will die if they try to challenge Mother Nature. This is especially true for young bucks of any age.

Eric Burnley, Sr. is a native Delawarean who has fished local waters for more than 60 years. Eric Burnley has been a full-time outdoor writer since 1978, with articles appearing in most national magazines and many regional publications. He has written three books: Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast, The Ultimate Guide to Catching Striped Bass and Fishing Saltwater Baits.