My friend Larry Weldin has had his boat on the trailer since the hurricane scare, so we, along with Doug Elliott, decided to try Delaware Bay for a change since the marine forecast for the ocean was not encouraging, especially for old guys. The bay forecast called for northwest winds 10-15 falling out to 5-10 in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet in the morning then less than 2 feet later in the day. The problem turned out to be how much later in the day.
Around 10 a.m. we headed into the wind toward Reef Site 8, where we found the current and wind conspiring to make fishing all but impossible. We couldn’t hold bottom in 20 feet of water, and Larry could not position us over structure for more than a few seconds.
After repeated failures, we gave up and headed to the Outer Wall. The outgoing current was still strong, but behind the wall we were a little bit out of the wind. We drifted the entire length of the wall with exactly one bite. Larry caught a nice triggerfish on a piece of squid.
I switched rigs and began using a single hook behind a split shot that I cast into the rocks. Between the wind and my lack of casting skill, most of my offerings fell short of the wall and failed to interest a triggerfish or anything else.
After the Outer Wall, we headed to the Inner Wall. Once again our baits met with complete rejection from any fish in the neighborhood. And they were nice fresh bloodworms and sand fleas purchased from Ice House Tackle on New Road. We also had a few live minnows that never saw the point of a hook.
We drifted the entire inside of the Inner Wall without a single bite. Finally, just before we reached the lighthouse I caught a doubleheader of bluefish and spot over a patch of hard bottom between the osprey nest and two pieces of driftwood sticking out of the rocks.
Larry was able to find this location again and again, and each time we passed over it we caught spot.
By now the northwest wind had begun to lay out a little bit, but it was after 3 p.m., so we decided to head in with our spot and triggerfish. Perhaps Site 8 became fishable late in the afternoon, and, if so, I hope someone was there to cash in on the bite.
Tautog tournament
Lewes Harbour Marina will hold its annual tog tournament from Oct. 1 to 31. This is for tog only, and all entry fees will be paid back to the winners. First place will get 50 percent of the total, second place will get 30 percent and third place will get 20 percent. The total amount is dependent on the number of entries.
You can fish any day in October for a $30 entry fee or choose your days and pay $5 per day. In either case, the entry fee must be paid at Lewes Harbour Marina in cash before you go fishing.
All tog caught during the tournament must be weighed during normal business hours on Lewes Harbour Marina scales by the angler who caught the fish. No, you can’t register one angler on the boat and have him or her weigh the biggest fish of the day. All tog must be caught on hook and line by the registered angler. In the event of a tie, the fish caught first will be declared the winner.
As of Oct. 3, Bob Murphy, a member of the Wednesday Group on the Katydid, was in first place with a 4.69-pound tog. The fish are out there and waiting for your bait, so enter now and avoid the rush. If you need more information, call 302-645-6227.
Fishing report
After all the terrible weather we have had, I was afraid the fish had left town, but such is not the case. Charter boats working over inshore structure are finding sea bass, tog and triggerfish. Sand fleas for the tog and triggers with squid or jigs for the sea bass.
The offshore bite has been pretty darn good. Of course, finding a day when the weather lets you sail can be a problem. Most of the offshore reports I get come from FishinOC since more boats are running to the canyons from Ocean City. They are finding multiple white marlin and filling the box with dolphin.
Tom Healey caught his first white marlin on his boat that docks at Indian River Marina. The crew did have a catch of dolphin to go along with the release.
The surf remains slow with small blues, pompano and sharks.
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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.
