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

We had our share of bad weather, but when conditions improved the fishing improved right along with the weather.

Delaware Bay

Patty at Captain Bones recorded a new state record for flathead catfish. Scott Failor caught the 36.20-pound beauty out of the Delaware River at Augustine Beach on a chunk of shad.

The shoreline from Augustine Beach down to Woodland Beach as well as the pier at Woodland Beach has provided white perch, catfish and small stripers on bloodworms, Fishbites and cut bait.

Leipsic

Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic told us croaker and trout have been caught at the Coral Beds off of Slaughter Beach on peeler crab, bloodworms and Fishbites.

The black drum action has slowed a bit, but some are still being taken on clams and blue crab.

Broadkill Beach

Dan at Dan’s Tackle said Broadkill Beach saw a variety of fish during the week. Black drum were caught on clams and crab. Blues were taken on cut mullet as were striped bass. Croaker and small trout were caught on bloodworms and Fishbites.

Lewes

Lewes Harbour Marina said the Katydid had another limit of black sea bass early in the week off of ocean structure.

Boats working the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal found a few flounder over the new 17.5-inch minimum size limit with minnows the most popular bait.

Breakwater Tackle on the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park told us high tide and the couple of hours before and after are the prime time to fish there.

Spot and croaker have been the most popular fish to target with bloodworms the most popular bait. A few blues have been caught on cut mullet. Short flounder are taken on minnows fished close to the pilings. A few blues show up now and then and will hit surface lures.

Kayak anglers fishing the broken pilings at the end of the pier find flounder and over-slot stripers.

Indian River Inlet

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle told us that striped bass and bluefish were caught from first light until dawn from the jetties and under the bridge.

Most were taken on bucktails, plugs or metal lures such as a Hopkins when the blues are aggressive.

Surf Fishing

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said 3Rs Road saw blues and stripers show up here and there towards the end of the week as the surf finally settled down. Cut mullet was the bait that caught both species.

Inshore Ocean

Burt at Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em said the all-day boat, Captain Bob, had good numbers of black sea bass plus a few flounder on Wednesday.

Most of the other all-day boats did the same. The half-day boats did not do as well.

Offshore Ocean

No reports from offshore.

Freshwater

Patty at Captain Bones told us bass and crappie have been caught from Garrisons Lake, Lum’s Pond and Silver Lake. The crappie will take small minnows or crappie jigs while the bass like spinner, chatter and soft plastic baits.

Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic told us crappie have been taken from Morris and Silver Lake on minnows.

Panfish

The panfish are here.

You can now go out in your boat or up on the pier or even up on the beach with a reasonable expectation of catching a decent number of panfish. Unfortunately, the cost of bloodworms has gone through the roof, but Fishbites are still within reason. And you can always use clams, mussels or squid.

A simple top-bottom rig with small hooks and enough weight to hold bottom and you are all set.

Filet ‘em out or fry ‘em up whole like my grandmother did. Either way they make good eaten’.

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.