December 2016 Fishing Report

Freshwater

Delaware's freshwater ponds are giving up some early winter largemouth bass, but the bite is inconsistent.  Expect bass fishing to slow down significantly as winter sets in. 

Bluegill, Chain Pickerel and Yellow Perch should continue to bite through the winter and can be caught from shore or by boat. Note that the pond ice in Delaware is never thick enough for ice fishing... so don't even try it.  

The deep pools and cold water of White Clay Creek make trout available to the diligent flyfisherman willing to brave the cold.  If you are looking for a perfect holiday gift for the fly fisherman in your life, check out this Handcrafted fly tying kit.  This exclusive Delaware fishing guide book Big Bass in the Small Wonder (with top secret locations not found in the state pond directory) is an excellent choice as well.

The Bays

Reports of Rockfish are coming in from the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, but early winter temperatures have been as inconsistent as the fishing. This blogger didn't land any Stripers in December but I was surprised to catch an bay anchovy on a nightcrawler.  According to the Chesapeake Bay Field Guide, Anchovies are actually the most common fish in the bay.  

Rivers 

Both White and Yellow perch are being caught in the rivers and tributaries, while Channel Catfish continue to bite on nightcrawlers.  All the above species are great food fish if you are planning an Italian-style 7 Fish dinner for Christmas. 

Ocean

Surf Fisherman have battled fierce winds and cold temperatures with little to show for their efforts.  Some die hards are reporting throwback Tog being caught off the rocks at the Indian River Inlet.  Green crabs are the best Tog bait I've ever used, but others swear by sand fleas.  Not many reports coming in from deep sea fishermen, but I will update you if I hear of anything.

Thanks again readers and I hope you all have a great holiday and a Happy New Year!  Stay tuned for more Fishing reports in 2017.

September 2016 Delaware Fishing Report

September 2016 Delaware Fishing Report



FRESHWATER

The upper reaches of the tidal rivers are a good bet for Largemouth Bass, Pickerel, and Bluegill. Throughout the Diamond State, spillways and millponds are providing much of the same.
If you want to know the best kept secret Delaware fishing holes, the BEST ebook guide to Delaware freshwater fishing on the internet can be purchased here:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012BZ7OW8

If you are looking for a great way to cool off, go wading and find a deep spot in White Clay Creek or Brandywine. Bottom fish a live grub or crayfish and you should have no problem connecting with smallmouth bass, rock "redeye" bass, bullheads and rainbow trout. One Wilmington angler I talked to pulled out a big Snakehead near the Brandywine zoo on a homemade dry fly a couple weeks ago.  Please remove these invasive fish from our waterways whenever you catch them.

BAYS

There was a recent report of a confirmed Bull Shark in the Chesapeake Bay.  Great photographs, too.  I think it really speaks to how wild that bay is.  For some reason, I've always heard of more bull shark sightings in the Chesapeake vs. the Delaware Bay.  Despite the shark, fishing and crabbing remains good in the bay.  It is still officially summer and late afternoon or early morning fishing is good for channel catfish, white perch, yellow perch,  striped bass, carp and eel.

Ocean

Ocean fishing was disrupted by the Hurricane, but should get back on track in the coming weeks.  I will probably try some surf fishing this weekend at the Delaware Seashore State Park drive-on beaches.  I hope to catch a few nice kingfish or snapper blues for the grill.  I am hearing of good fishing for croaker, spot, puffers and more rarely a small weakfish off the saltwater piers and jetties from Henlopen down to OCMD.  Tight lines everyone!

August 2016: Late Summer Panfish and Croakers in the Bay

August 2016 DE Fishing Report

       

FRESHWATER

Freshwater fishing remains excellent in the ponds and rivers in Delaware. Panfish can be taken easily on jigs, night crawlers and crickets.
The pickerel and largemouth bass fishing is great too.   Some of the best largemouth fishing spots in the state can be found in Western Sussex County.  A full list of the best bass fishing spots in Delaware can be found here:  Top 10 Delaware Largemouth Bass Spots

Fishing with crayfish in the Brandywine and White Clay will help collect smallmouth bass, rock bass, and catfish for the stringer.  Trout can be taken on flies in the upper reaches of White Clay and over the line in Pennsylvania.  The best home fly tying kit for beginners I have seen on the internet is on sale this week.  Check it out right here for under $30.

BAY

Croaker are in the bay and can be caught in good numbers on shrimp and bloodworms.   Fishing at the IR inlet is good right now for flounder seabass right off the rocks.  Blowfish and some nice tog are nearby.

Chesapeake Bay is a good place to target Spot, Catfish, and White Perch.
I have not caught any rockfish personally, but some anglers are connecting.  Crabbing is great right now in both the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.  They are finding some neat conch shells out there on the Delaware bay beaches too.

OCEAN

Surf fishermen are connecting with kingfish, skates, and some bluefish.
Further out, reports of big flounder, ling and sea bass are coming in across Delaware and South Jersey.

July 2016 Delaware Fishing Report

July Fishing Report

The weather has been hot this July and gamefish are active everywhere. Huge channel catfish in the Chesapeake Bay with catches of rockfish, croaker and flounder in the Delaware and Rehoboth bays.  Minnows are a good bet for flounder in the Lewes Canal.  Anglers tell me that Indian River inlet has been active with bluefish runs and tog in the rocks.  Morning is the best time to hit the IR inlet and surf fishing near Savage Ditch yielded skates and kingfish.

Freshwater impoundments, creeks and spillways are giving up bass, especially in the morning.  If pond is covered in algae float a topwater frog.  The best spots in the state can be found here in the best Delaware bass fishing ebook out there:  Big Bass in the Small Wonder


Panfish action is great and fun to catch two at time:

Crabbing has been decent with reports of blue crabs from the beaches up the bay (even at the Noxontown pond spillway).  Also be aware of the invasive Asian Shore Crabs which can be caught on the surf, encouraged to use for bait (about the size of a green crab) not sure whether they are edible or not.

Fishing should continue to be good as we round out the summer!  Before you leave the blog, click the link to watch a fascinating Delaware fishing video with some great Topwater Bluefish Techniques for Delaware Bay

June 2016 Delaware Fishing Report

Delaware Fishing Report- June 3rd, 2016

SALTWATER

Black Drum, Bluefish and Sea Bass are out there but everyone is waiting for that summer flounder action to heat up.  Live Minnows with a splitshot sinker work well for the flatfish in the Lewes Canal.  Saw a youtube video of a guy flyfishing for weakfish off Cape Henlopen.  Pretty cool.  The Cape Henlopen pier is open again, after being closed for repair over the past year.

BRACKISH

Bunker and bloodworms are the best bait to catch Striped Bass in the Delaware River and Delaware/Chesapeake Bays. Perch are an easy catch with worms and alot of fun for children learning to fish.  Catfishing after dark on the Appoquinimink and Christiana Rivers is great this time of year, but wear mosquito repellent.  A big glob of nightcrawler will attract the larger channel cats.

FRESHWATER

Largemouth Bass fishing has been great on ponds and coastal plain creeks downstate.  The Brandywine is a great spot for Smallmouth fishing this time of year.  Hellgrammites are a fantastic bait.  Bass will take a variety of lures, of course.   Panfish are abundant in the shallows at ponds like Becks and Waples Mill.  Chain Pickerel are alway lurking in the weeds and lilypads and like to eat live minnows and baby bluegills.  A curly tail grub is a sure bet if you want to connect with the Crappie.  Anglers are still catching rainbow trout in the upper reaches of White Clay Creek. The trick is to avoid spooking them.  If you are an angler who enjoys tying his own flies and fishing lures, you have to check out this great mini  Fly Tying Station.

Discover Delaware's "best kept secret" fishing spots by downloading my ebook  Big Bass in the Small Wonder .

April Chain Pickerel Fishing

 Caught and released this nice fighting 20'' Chain Pickerel on a small bluegill, hooked under a bobber in the Appoquinimink River on April 23rd, 2016.  Fishing is really starting to heat up both in the saltwater and freshwater domains.  Jumbo rockfish and blues being caught in both the Bays and plenty of bass, pickerel and perch action in our creeks and tidal rivers.  With 84 degree weather ahead this week, things should be looking even better.   Check out the video I took below, before releasing the Pickerel back into the river.  

Delaware Fishing Report: January 18th, 2016

Delaware Fishing Report: January 18th, 2016  

Happy New Year Readers!  Here's the latest...

Saltwater
The cold weather has slowed down things locally, but there are still fish to be caught.
I fished a few times down at the Indian River Inlet for Tog, using green crabs.

Although I did not get a keeper, a few fellows nearby were connecting with keeper togs. Togs love to hide under rocks, but do prefer some rocks over others.  The best bet if you aren't catching anything in your spot is to move down a bit and try another rock.

It can make a big difference.  I am also hearing reports of keeper stripers here and there, but most of the action seems to be on the NJ side of the Delaware bay.  Looking forward to Spring Sea Bass fishing down at the Delaware Beaches!


Freshwater

With the first snowfall of 2016 underway, some of the ponds are frozen over.  However,
anglers still are enjoying some action using spoons and roostertails to target winter pickerel
and crappie.  I have seen some anglers catching largemouth bass on the mild winter days,
with the trusty Shiner/bobber combo.  As usual, the best action comes near spillways this
time of year.


Helpful Hints

Winters in the northeast can be long and miserable.  Take the opportunity to sit down with a hot cup of coffee and reorganize your tackle box.  Tying flies can be a worthwhile past time too.  Speaking of fly fishing, the Delaware trout ponds will be stocked in March, so make sure your waders and trout gear are in good shape.  If not, enjoy a winter trip to Cabella's Sporting Goods and treat yourself to a little shopping spree.

Finally, if you are the adventurous type, take the family out on a hike down the shore.  The beaches are spectacularly beautiful and desolate this time of year and you never know what treasure you might find.  The local newspaper reported that some beachcombers were finding great white shark teeth and old pirate coins in recent weeks.

Stay warm everybody!