Saltwater fishing has been interesting this year

So far, 2022 has been an interesting year as far as saltwater fishing in Delaware goes. A cold, wet spring got things off to a slow start, and then we had some very good striped bass fishing along the ocean and at Indian River Inlet. When I say very good, I am referencing the normal spring striped bass action that we see in Delaware. A few fish here and there, then nothing until fall.

This year, stripers were caught along the beach on plugs at night, which is unusual to say the least. This was not a one-night episode, as the action continued for several nights.

Then there was the most interesting event of all. On a Monday evening in June, there was a run of striped bass measuring over 40 inches caught along the south side of Indian River Inlet on live eels. A few were taken on sand fleas, while all attempts to catch one on an artificial bait were ignored.

I have been fishing Indian River Inlet for a very long time, and I never remember stripers of that size being caught in June. I checked with my friends at the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and they agreed this was an unusual event.

These large fish would be spawning-sized females. They should have been well north of here in June, feeding on bunker off the New York or even New England coast.

Another interesting striper event has been the abundance of large fish in Raritan Bay in New Jersey. There were so many big bass, the charter boats were running two trips a day. It was stupid fishing. Run out to the bay, wait for the fish to blow up on the bunker schools, toss out a bucktail and hold on. 

Fly fishermen were in heaven. All they had to do was cast something white and wide to the schools, and they were in for the fight of their lives.

I have discussed these striped bass movements with several people who have studied these fish, and we agree the striped bass are moving north. The Chesapeake Bay stock seems to be decreasing while the number of spawning-sized females in northern waters seems to be increasing. The problem with this is no other estuary has the same number of tidal rivers as the Chesapeake Bay. Only time will tell.

We are also seeing more and larger weakfish, which in Delaware we call trout. The Delaware Bay reef sites have seen several trout exceeding five pounds so far this year. Last week, I had a report of trout caught on peeler crab at the lighthouses and the Crossledge by anglers fishing for slot striped bass. Back in the day, when trout ruled Delaware Bay, peeler was the prime bait.

Sheepshead are another surprise this year. The number and size of these fish and the fact that they have been caught from the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean make great news. Almost every day I have sheepshead over nine pounds in my radio report, and most days I have more than one. Sand fleas have been the top bait, and the Ice Breakers have been the location for the biggest fish. Indian River Inlet is the best location for those who fish from shore.

Speaking of fishing from shore, surf-fishing this year has seen a remarkable improvement. Last year, I gave up on surf-fishing because it was so bad. This year I have been twice, and I caught two nice kings on my second trip. That was last Thursday at 3R’s Road. I used Fishbites bloodworms and fished the incoming tide from 6:30 to 10 a.m.

Our visitors from the south, triggerfish and spadefish, are now so well established that we don’t consider them visitors anymore. They are caught on structure in the bay and ocean with small baits such as clam, crab or Fishbites on small but strong hooks.

This year, the offshore fishing has been a bit strange. There have been a lot of very small yellowfin tuna along with a few big ones. This week, we saw the first bigeye tuna, and dolphin have been scarce. Why?

Then we have summer flounder. So far this summer, the flounder fishing has not been great. There should be limit catches coming in from the Old Grounds, but while a few boats do find their limit, many do not.

My personal opinion is there are simply not enough flounder to go around. The poor spawning success of summer flounder has finally caught up with us, and there are simply not as many flounder out there. I hope I am wrong, but I fear I am not.