Delaware has new striped bass regulations

Beginning May 11, Delaware’s striped bass regulations will change. Instead of the two fish over 28 inches that is currently in place, anglers will be allowed any combination of two fish from 28 to 37 inches and/or two fish over 44 inches. The daily bag limit remains at two striped bass with one from 28 to 37 and one over 44 or two fish from 28 to 37 or two fish over 44 inches.

The summer season in the Delaware Bay will continue with two fish from 20 to 25 inches allowed in the bay and its tributaries. The season will run from July 1 to Aug. 31.

Catch and release

The new striper regulations added to the high minimum size limit for black sea bass and the one-fish limit for weakfish will result in many fish being released. Doing this process correctly will go a long way toward the released fish’s survival.

If you are using live or dead bait, you must use circle hooks. Countless studies have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that circle hooks provide the best chance a fish has of surviving a release. It doesn’t matter if you are fishing for marlin in the canyons or flounder in the Broadkill River, circle hooks are the best way to go.

Those of you who have yet to use a circle hook will need a bit of education on the process. When you feel a bite you must resist the urge to strike with a force so great you would rip the lips off the fish. In fact, you must resist setting the hook period. A circle hook works by letting the fish get the bait into his mouth then the hook catches on the hinge of the jaw on the way out. This is not a long process, but it is not instantaneous either.

Probably the easiest fish to learn on is the flounder. Most flounder fishermen will drop back when they feel the flounder pick up the bait then set the hook. The same technique works with circle hooks except you don’t set the hook. You simply allow the line to come tight by either cranking in the slack or raising the rod tip. What could be easier than that?

Bottom fishing for sea bass, croaker, spot or any other denizen of the deep is bit trickier. Once the rig hits bottom keep the line tight until you feel a bite. Let the line go slack for a few seconds and then raise the rod tip. The fish should be hooked. If you are using a two-hook bottom rig and you want to try to fill the second hook, simply repeat the process.

Removing a circle hook is usually quite easy. They have to go out the same way they came in which means simply backing the hook out. The dehooker tools are an excellent way to remove hooks from smaller fish. Insert the hook into the tool then flip the fish over while holding the line parallel to the water. Ninety-nine percent of the time the fish will come right off.

When handling a fish you plan to release make sure your hands are wet with sea water. If using a rag to hold the fish keep it wet as well. All fish have a coating of slime and dry hands or rags will remove this protective coating. Once removed bacteria can grow on the skin resulting in a dead fish. Nets should be coated in rubber for the same reason. Never, ever touch the gills.

I always release fish by pointing their heads toward the water and then giving them a bit of a push. You may have to give larger fish a longer time by holding their tail until you feel them pull away with sufficient force to swim on their own.

One thing that causes most of us some concern is releasing a fish that has been caught from deep water. They often have their stomach extended and when released will float on the surface. Some anglers use a tool to deflate the stomach, but I have had various reports that claim this practice is not that successful.

It is a fact of life that with a 12.5-inch minimum size we are going to release a lot of sea bass. In my experience most of these fish will recover and swim back down to the bottom after floating on the surface for a short time. They are subject to predation by birds and sharks while they are floating, but what other choice do we have?

Weakfish or sea trout are a delicate fish. If you find yourself catching them on a regular basis the best thing is to move.