Freshwater fishing is slow, but better than no action at all
While those of us who prefer the saltchuck snivel and whine about the cold weather, cold water and no fish, our freshwater brethren are out there catching fish. I understand a few even went out on the ice during the hard freeze and caught some perch. I have no idea what kind of fish it would take to get me out on a frozen pond, lake or river, but I promise you perch don’t even place.
I have had reports and seen photos of pickerel, perch, bass, crappie and sunfish caught from local ponds, tidal rivers and creeks. While the action can be slow, it is better than no action at all.
I have heard very little about the trout fishing at Newton Pond. Both stockings have taken place, so the pond has all the fish it is going to get. I may give it a try next week, but will probably wait until April when the New Castle County creeks are stocked and go back to my old favorites up there.
A few 30-inch class rockfish were caught last week in New Castle County. Three were taken at Augustine Beach, and one was caught at Edgemoor. All were taken on bloodworms. It is not unusual for rockfish to be caught up there in the spring, and while these fish were 30-inchers, they were probably males. A fair number of smaller males have been taken with at least one poacher caught keeping these undersize fish. I understand he paid a hefty fine.
In years past, April has been a decent month for rockfish, but I fear it will be pretty late in the month before any substantial number of rock are caught. The cold water temperature will delay the spawn and therefore delay the females heading down the bay. Let’s hope we have new regulations on the books by then.
Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier
Last week’s article contained the wrong information on the opening of the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier. The last word I had was the opening would be delayed due to cold water that made it impossible to use epoxy to repair the pilings. The day after I wrote that I discovered the pier would not be open until 2016. It seems the delay in getting started plus the permitting process have killed all hopes of opening the pier anytime in 2015.
This is going to be very disappointing for hundreds of folks who fish from the pier every year. Then there are the nonprofit groups that hold events on the pier. The Special Olympics fishing day hosted by the Delaware Mobile Surf-Fishermen is just one of many that will be affected. While I have no figures to prove it, I suspect the pier is the most popular fishing location in Delaware with the possible exception of White Clay Creek on opening day of trout season. Add the pier closing to the plan to restrict the number of vehicles allowed on the beach, and Cape Henlopen State Park is going to be an exciting place to be a park ranger this summer.
Gray fox
You have to pity the Delaware legislators who must decide between a group of elementary school children and a group of hunters, trappers and farmers. The subject is a hunting and trapping season on gray fox. This is the same animal the schoolkids lobbied for last year and the legislators voted to declare as the official Delaware Wildlife Animal.
Farmers see any predator as a threat to their animals. In real life, the fox does not go in the chicken coop to steal one chicken. He goes into a chicken house where several thousand chickens are housed, and in the process of taking one bird he will cause the death of many others. The chickens will run to the end of the building away from the fox where they will pile up, smothering thousands. As the law now stands, if the farmer kills the fox he could be in trouble.
The same is true for trappers. A leg-hold trap is not selective. It may be set for any number of legal animals only to have a gray fox step on the trigger. Here too, the trapper could be in trouble.
I am sure there are a few predator hunters in Delaware, but I have never met one. With coyotes now legal game animals we may see more, but a hunter is certainly capable of telling the difference between a gray fox and a coyote.
My guess is none of these arguments are going to convince the elementary school students that hunting or trapping the Delaware Wildlife Animal is a good idea. I certainly do wish all of our representatives and senators good luck with this one.
