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

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, summer is here. We have summer fishing from the beach, the bay and the canyons. This is good news since, no matter here you fish you stand a good chance of connecting with your target species.

Delaware Bay

Patty at Captain Bones told us that white perch and catfish have been caught at Augustine Beach – the white perch on bloodworms or Fishbites and the catfish on cut bait.

Down at the Woodland Beach fishing pier, croaker have been caught on bloodworms or Fishbites.

Leipsic

Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic said croaker have provided good sport at Woodland Beach and Port Mahon on bloodworms and Fishbites.

Slot stripers have been caught on peeler crab at the Augustine Wall and at the Bowers Beach Jetty. Also at Bowers Beach, they have caught flounder on jigs sweetened with minnows, squid, peeler crab or plastic soft tails.

Croaker are the top catch at the jetty on bloodworms or Fishbites.

Broadkill Beach

Dan at Dan’s Tackle told us it was another week of spot and croaker from Broadkill Beach. During the heat wave most of his customers were off of the beach by noon.

Lewes

Lewes Harbour Marina reported that the head boat Angler ran to Delaware Bay and returned with plenty of croaker.

Charter boats that fished ocean structure had decent success with sea bass and flounder.

Private boats that worked the Outer Wall with sand fleas and green crab found sheepshead and triggerfish.

Small boats that fished in the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal encountered the occasional keeper flounder on minnows and fair numbers of croaker on bloodworms and Fishbites.

Breakwater Tackle, on the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park, had an interesting report from the anglers who fish at night. They were catching some big stripers when one of the big fish attracted a bigger shark. The angler had to cut his line to save the striper from the shark.

Otherwise, the day shift has been catching spot and croaker with the rare keeper flounder.

As usual, the kayak anglers have better luck with flounder by working the pilings at the end of the pier.

Indian River Inlet

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle told us the night shift continues to have success with striped bass up until 5 a.m. They use plugs and bucktails from the jetties and catch stripers to well over 35 inches that they release.

During the day, triggerfish, tog and sheepshead are caught from the Inlet by working sand fleas close to the rocks.

Flounder are found by fishing a live minnow or a strip of squid on a jig head in the down-current side of structure.

Indian River Bay

Rick’s Bait and Tackle reported that not much changed on Indian River Bay except for the heat and that is just another reason to get out on the Bay early and be back before 10 a.m.

Flounder and blues are still the primary catch with minnows for the flounder and cut bait and bucktails or small metal lures for the blues.

Surf Fishing

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said the heat affected beach fishing as well. The early morning bite during incoming water produced spot, croaker and kings with the always popular skates and dog sharks in abundance.

Ocean

Burt at Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em said the Judy V and the Captain Bob had sea bass and flounder on their half and full-day trips.

Boats that ran down to Fenwick Shoal and trolled with small spoons caught Spanish mackerel and blues. Fishing structure there produced sheepshead and triggerfish.

Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em reported that private boats have had success out in the canyons with yellowfin tuna and tilefish.

Be aware you must have a permit from NOAA to fish for tilefish even if it is from a recreational boat. You also must file a report within 24 hours after returning from a tilefish trip.

Freshwater

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

Steve at Smith Bait said snakeheads were caught on surface frogs at Garrison’s Lake.

Bass were caught at Silver Lake in Dover on minnows or chatter baits.

Thunderstorm Part 2

So, if you happen to get caught out in a thunderstorm what do you do?

First, don’t panic! All is not lost, at least not yet.

Next, get everybody into a PFD.

Then, lower all antennas and outriggers.

Now determine the direction of the wind and waves and try to head on the safest course even if it takes you away from your port.

Continue on this course, making any necessary changes, until the storm passes. Then set a course for home, or the nearest port if you are low on fuel.

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.