August Fishing Tales

August Fishing Tales:  Delmarva 

My son and I fished the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Sassafrass River over the weekend, catching four big white perch in an hour.  These guys would have been great candidates for a southern-style fish fry, but unless you have at least a dozen of them, they are more trouble then they are worth to fillet.   All in all it was a peaceful time.  The weather was hot and muggy so it was refreshing to wade out in the bay in the hopes of hooking a big catfish.

I ended up having to wait until the next night to experience the feeling of a big catfish on the other end of my line.  I was fishing the murky brackish water of the Delaware River....with my trusty fishing pole, the Ugly Stick.  The bright light of the August Supermoon shined eerily over the Power Plant at high tide.  I was starting to reconsider my bait choice (night crawler on a split shot rig), when a chunky channel catfish struck hard, pulling my rod nearly in half.  It ended up weighing in at just over 6 lbs.  So if you are looking for that kind of experience, I highly suggest Augustine Beach, near Port Penn, Delaware.  I've also had plenty of luck with Black Drum, Croaker, Spot, and Perch.

My fish tale ends near Bethany Beach, Delaware, where I enjoyed some weekend surf
fishing.  I got a chance to test out some of the newest members of my spinner lure collection...seen here.  I only caught one bluefish, but I really had a fantastic time relaxing with my family on one of the most beautiful beaches in the nation.

July Sport Fishing Trips: C&D Canal and Indian River Inlet

July Sport Fishing Trips:  C&D Canal and Indian River Inlet

The Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D Canal) cuts through 14 miles of mid-
Delaware coastal terrain, connecting the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays.
It is renowned in the state for its boating and big fish.  In fact, I've often
gone fishing on the rocks wondering if I might hook into a Bull Shark.  

During the summer months, you are most likely to hook your legal limit of BIG sport fish, such as Channel Catfish. On a recent fishing trip, my brother in law and I caught nearly a dozen catfish. One of these top tier gamefish topped the 10 pound mark. 

Channel catfish will bite on a variety of baits, but on the most recent trip, Canadian Nightcrawlers were the ticket.  Just reel it in slowly and wait for the big one to bite.   

My other favorite summer fishing spot is the Indian River Inlet.  A skilled angler can really enjoy a smorgasbord of saltwater game fish here.  I have been catching flounder, striped bass, croaker, weakfish, and blue fish for many summers now.  

If you stick to the rocks, you may have a shot at catching one 
of the best tasting gamefish in the sea, the tautog.  However, you will need to be quick and hook the fish right away.  Tog are a tricky sportfish to land.  

And if you are visiting the Delaware Beaches this summer, be sure to take a crab trap and some raw chicken legs.   Don't have a crab trap yet?  To purchase the best quality crab trap on the internet click on this link...Crab Trap (Perfect for Delaware Bay)

Thanks fellow anglers and good luck out there!