Old Inlet Bait and Tackle hosted the 25th annual Delaware Seashore Fall Surf-Fishing Classic Sept. 24-25. The weather and the fishing gods smiled upon them, and both combined for an excellent result.
There were 252 participants in the Open Division, with Brian Hill coming out on top with 293 points. Points are awarded for each inch of a fish caught over a certain size. To amass 293 points, you have to catch a lot of fish. Brian won $800 and a beautiful bronze trophy. In second was Scott Aiken Jr. He had 209 points and won $600 and a bronze trophy. In third was Jim Haug with 201 points. He won $ 400 and a bronze trophy. These bronze trophies are beautiful works of art and are treasured by the winners. In fourth was J.R. Griffith with 178 points. He won $200 and an Okuma rod. The fifth- to 20th-place finishers were allowed to select from a table full of fishing prizes.
In the Women’s Division, there were 32 participants. First place went to Kelsey Cycyk with 112 points. She won $200, the Nicole Born Memorial Trophy and a custom rod. In second was Laura Puglisi with 98 points. She took home $100, a trophy, and a rod and reel. In third was Monica Bayless with 84 points. Her prizes included $50 and a tackle box.
There were 12 participants in the Kids’ Division. Jace Griffith came in first with 98 points, winning a surf rod and reel plus a trophy. In second was Dylan Rosebrooks with 62 points. He won a jetty rod and reel plus a trophy. Colin Brady was third with 17 points, walking away with a boat rod and reel plus a trophy. Aiden Sparano got 15 points for fourth and a reel.
Sporto Gray had the largest fish of the tournament, a 47-inch red drum. That is a monster fish for anywhere in their range and especially in Delaware, where they are just expanding since last year. Sporto walked off with a $1,000 cash prize.
As always, the Bluefish Calcutta was the big cash prize. This year, Brian Ewing took home $2,200 for his 20-inch bluefish. Congratulations, Brian!
The next big contest is the 16th annual DMS Invitational Surf-Fishing Tournament Oct. 7-9. There are some new rules this year, so be sure to review them at check-in when you register at Youth Camp 3, 14628 Officers Road, Cape Henlopen State Park. You may also contact Tournament Chair Lydia Schmierer at Lydia.schmierer@saas.k12.de.us. Include DMS Tourney in the subject line.
Chasin’ red drum
There was a time when I was obsessed with red drum. Every fall on the full moon, I would run from New Castle County down to Cape Hatteras in my 1971 International Scout to spend the better part of a week fishing for them day and night. The next red drum I catch at Cape Hatteras will be my first.
I caught my largest bluefish (18 pounds), coolers full of sea mullet (kingfish), plenty of flounder and assorted bottomfish, but red drum, not the first one.
Then I met Barry Truitt at the Assateague Mobile Surf Fishermen’s Show in Ocean City, Md. Barry worked for the Nature Conservancy, which had just taken over management of the Virginia Barrier Islands and needed some good publicity on what anglers could and could not do there. I was happy to oblige.
Later that spring, I met up with Barry and we headed to Hog Island, where I caught my first red drum from the surf. I am happy to say I caught many more from there since, and my son keeps up the tradition.
Now we have red drum in Delaware. In Virginia in the spring, we use peeler crab or hard crab. In the fall, the head of a kingfish is good bait, and I suspect bunker or mullet would work here.
Red drum do not have teeth. They do have crushers in their throat that can crack clams and mussels.
Do not use wire leaders. I use 80-pound mono on a fish-finder rig. A 5/0 to 8/0 circle hook tied to 6 to 8 inches of this material and then to a black swivel will work just fine. Run the leader from the running line through the fish-finder and tie to the black swivel. Make sure the point of the hook is clear when putting the bait on.
When a fish picks up the bait, allow him to run before trying to set the hook. Engage the drag and if you have a red drum, hold on!
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Eric Burnley is a Delaware native who has fished and hunted the state from an early age. Since 1978 he has written countless articles about hunting and fishing in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast. He has been the regional editor for several publications and was the founding editor of the Mid-Atlantic Fisherman magazine. Eric is the author of three books: Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast, The Ultimate Guide to Striped Bass Fishing and Fishing Saltwater Baits. He and his wife Barbara live near Milton, Delaware. Eric can be reached at Eburnle@aol.com.
