As noted in previous columns, I have been on a flounder slump for a couple of years. While I have caught a few, I have not had one big enough for the box in two seasons. All that changed May 29, when Larry Weldin and I fished the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal.
We had my boat in the water and away from the Lewes Boat Ramp shortly after 9 a.m. The current was still running in, so we drifted toward Lewes until slack water around 11 a.m. By that time, we were south of the Savannah Road bridge, and I had my lunch as we waited for the current to start running out.
Once we had outgoing current, we drifted along the east bank toward the bridge. Right on the southeast corner of the bridge, I had a bite and a fish on that was taking drag. At first I thought I had a rockfish, but when it came in sight, I saw a very nice flounder. Larry did a masterful job with the net and my fish was soon flopping around on deck.
Once I calmed down, I came back and we fished that hole for more passes and ended up with me holding the boat against a wood piling while Larry made several casts without result.
We continued to drift out of Lewes along the east side of the canal until I caught a 17-incher along the marsh edge. We also had a couple of shorts and a few small fish that let go of the bait before coming in sight.
I was fishing with a green bucktail and a green Gulp! crawfish. Larry was using a white bucktail and a live minnow. We were both actively jigging the lures. These are the bucktails donated by J.D. Custom Tails to help with the fundraising efforts for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network; they are available at Lewes Harbour Marina.
By 2 p.m., we were at Roosevelt Inlet and decided to call it a day. For someone without a keeper flounder in two years, it was a great day on the water.
Back at Lewes Harbour Marina, the big flatfish measured 24 inches and weighed 5.10 pounds. Tony did a fine job cleaning both fish, and I was happy to give the 17-incher to Larry.
Lucky fishing hat
You may notice in the photo accompanying this article that I am wearing my lucky fishing hat. I have had this hat for a very long time, but my wife keeps insisting that I throw it away and get a new one. How, exactly, do you get a new lucky fishing hat?
This hat and I have been through good times and bad, big fish days and zero fish days. We have been rained on, soaked with ocean spray, bleached out in the sun and blown around in the wind.
The wife claims if it was a lucky fishing hat, I would catch a lot of fish every time I wear it. Oh, how little they understand. Luck does not always mean catching fish. It often means getting out and back without sinking my 22-year-old boat or having my 22-year-old motor expire. It means having fun and enjoying the day regardless of the fishing results.
The wife also thinks I have too many five-gallon buckets and too many fish rags. I have explained to her that it is impossible for a man to have too many buckets or rags, because you never know when an emergency will strike and then it is too late to run out and get more buckets and rags.
For all of you guys out there who are suffering from the same harassment, I do feel your pain.
DRNEC fishing tournament
On June 2, the DNREC Natural Resources Police will hold their 32nd Youth Fishing Tournament. The three contests will take place at Ingrams Pond near Millsboro, Akridge Scout Reservation near Camden and the dog training area at Lums Pond near Bear. All three will run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., with prizes awarded at 1:30 p.m.
Children in age groups 4-7, 8-11 and 12-15 are welcome. The event is free.
Fishing report
Right now, the hottest fishing around is in the Delaware Bay, with black drum the target. Most boats are fishing from evening until dark with whole surf clams the top bait. The Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach and the area around Cape May, N.J., seem to be the hot spots.
Nighttime jetty jockeys are scoring keeper rockfish on black or purple Bombers or JP Minnows. A few keepers have also been caught on white bucktails with a white worm during the day.
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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.
