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 veteran Delaware angler Eric Burnley, Sr.

Delaware Bay

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Patty at Captain Bines in Odessa reported catfish and a few croaker caught from the fishing pier at Woodland Beach. Cut bunker or stink baits for the catfish and bloodworms, FishBites or Gulp! for the croaker.

Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic said fishing has been slow around his area. A few sheepshead have been caught on fiddler crabs at the lighthouses Trout have become scarce since the dolphin have arrived.

Indian River Inlet

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Old Inlet Bait and Tackle had some exciting news when I called on a couple of afternoons. They said blues were attacking white bucktails at the Inlet as we spoke with striped bass under the blues.

If you could get your lure under the blues, you stood a good chance of hooking up a 28- to 31-inch striper.

We are beginning to see some sheepshead caught from the Inlet rocks on sand fleas. Don’t forget tog season does not open until July 1, 2024.

The nighttime jetty fishermen are still finding a few big stripers on live eels, white bucktails with a white worm or plugs such as the SP Minnow,

Surf Fishing

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Old Inlet Bait and Tackle on the north side of Indian River Inlet told us the surf has given up spot, croaker, kings, skates, smooth dogs and the occasional small striper. Bloodworms or imitations thereof, from FishBites or Gulp! have been gobbled up by all species.

There are cobia around with some big enough to keep. Live bait works best for these fish.

Back Bays

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No report.

Inshore Ocean

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Flounder remain difficult to find since the size limit increased to 17.5 inches. Julie Stevenson and Mike Fisher on their boat Julie’s Joy did manage a limit to 22 inches fishing around B Buoy. On another trip they we two fish short of their limit at the same location.

Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em reported the Captain Bob on her all-day trips has been catching quite a few flounder with some anglers limiting out. The Judy V only runs half-day trips and catches some flounder and sea bass.

The Captain Ike trolls around Fenwick Shoal and catches blues, Spanish mackerel and bonito.

Offshore Ocean

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Boats running to the offshore grounds are finding good action with bigeye and yellowfin tuna.

Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em said the Bill Slayer has been doing well with the tuna.

One boat brought in an 80-pound swordfish.

Freshwater

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Patty at Captain Bones said not many people fishing right now, but those that are get out very early and work Garrison’s Lake or Silver Lake in Dover. Largemouth bass are the target species and Rat-L-Traps seem to be one of the favorite lures.

Mrs. Taylor at Taylored Tackle in Seaford had pretty much the same report. Very little action right now except in the very early morning or late evening. Bass, catfish and panfish out of the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek are the targets for the very few people who venture out.

Sunstroke

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As the weather gets hotter, we stand the chance of getting sunstroke. It didn’t use to bother me when I was younger, but now I get dizzy when I am in the sun too long.

I find using a wet towel around my neck really helps. I dip the towel in the water and wrap it around my neck. I keep it wet and it seems to cool my entire body. The towel I have is made by frogg toggs.

I also wear a hat that I can dip in the water and it also shades my head.

When you are surf fishing or fishing on a small boat you can’t get out of the sun. You have to take measures to protect yourself from the heat as well as the damaging rays.

Be careful, stay healthy.

Related Topics:  delaware bay, dfw, fishing, freshwater, indian river inlet, ocean and coasts, outdoors and recreation, surf fishing, wildlife