This spring has seen some very good fishing, if you happen to be in the right place at the right time – which I have not been. I do not ever recall so many big striped bass being caught and released along the Delaware coast in the 70 years I have been fishing here. Big blues and weakfish, yes, big stripers, no.
Both the blues and the stripers move in and out of the surf zone on an unpredictable time schedule. They may be there during high tide, low tide, the change of tide or not at all. All we mere mortals can do is pick a spot, be there for as long as possible and hope the fish choose to pass by.
As far as baits, it has been pretty simple: mullet or bunker. The mullet is fished whole on a mullet rig, while the bunker is fished in chunks on a non-offset circle hook. I use a fish-finder rig so the blue can run a little ways with the bait before I engage the drag; then the circle hook can do its job and lodge in the corner of the fish’s mouth. I tie the circle hook with an 80-pound fluorocarbon leader that can withstand a brief encounter with the teeth of a bluefish.
Striped bass are not such picky eaters. They will go for the same baits as the blues plus sand fleas, clams, crabs and bloodworms. Here, too, I use a fish-finder rig with a circle hook.
Several black drum have been caught from the surf. Clams and sand fleas work best for these fish. You will find them in the bay at Broadkill Beach and from the ocean all along the Delaware coast. The largest I have seen from the surf has been 40 pounds, with larger ones caught at the Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach.
Indian River Inlet
There have been some excellent catches of both big blues and stripers out of the inlet this spring. As with the beach, it’s a matter of good luck; you just have to be there.
Recently, the best fishing has been at night. Before you venture out on the jetty at night, make sure you have a good set of creepers on your feet and a personal flotation device on your body. The creepers will help keep you from falling into the inlet. The PFD with reflective tape will make it easier to find your body floating along with the tide should the creepers fail to do their job.
I have written before how the Army Corps of Engineers has fenced off my favorite fishing spot at the inlet. Well, to no one’s surprise, fishermen are going around the fence and walking on the rocks while fishing. I will not be doing that. Not because it’s illegal, but because I’m too old!
The inlet is best fished with lures. My guess is more stripers have been caught from there on a white bucktail than any other lure. Today the target species is much bigger than those we caught in the past. The PC Minnow and the swimshad are the lures I see most often in my daily reports. Some anglers still use a large white bucktail with a big white Gulp! on the end.
Since using a gaff on striped bass is illegal, landing and releasing one from the rocks is quite a challenge. Do the best you can by sliding the fish up on the wet rocks and removing the hook.
Almost all the fish, blues and stripers, are caught and released. Some blues are kept, and if you are going to eat the blues you keep, it is best to bleed them out as soon as they are caught. When you clean the fish, be sure to cut out the dark meat down the center of the filet, unless you enjoy strong-flavored fish.
Permits
If you own a private recreational vessel and target golden or blueline tilefish, you must have a private recreational tilefish permit and submit a trip report within 24 hours of completing a trip. You can visit the NOAA Fisheries’ Fish Online website to apply for a permit. While you’re there, you might as well apply for a Highly Migratory Species permit as well.
If you recall, last year there were large bluefin tuna caught at Fenwick Shoal. My guess is most of the boats that caught those tuna did not have an HMS permit. While I didn’t hear of any arrests, landing a tuna without that permit is a federal offense, and the punishment can be severe. The permit is free, so why take a chance? Get the permit now and you will be covered.
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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.
