Fishermen are a fickle bunch

It seems to me that we fishermen are a fickle bunch. In the spring, we can’t wait for the weather and the water to get warm. Then comes summer and we want the water to cool off so the algae won’t grow on freshwater ponds, and saltwater anglers want a northeast wind to turn the water over in the canyons and pile up the bait and the billfish. Then when we get a hard northeast blow, we complain about dirty water inshore.

Now it is fall, and the weather and water temperature are above average for this time of year. Tog are sluggish, rockfish haven’t arrived and the sea bass are 30 miles or more off the beach. The fact that we enjoyed some wonderful weather last week means nothing. All we think about is how much better fishing will be once that big cold front moves through Sunday.

Next week, instead of wearing shorts and a T-shirt while catching small blues from the beach, we will be dressed in long underwear, waders and a foul-weather jacket casting big chunks of bunker into angry surf. Sea bass and tog fishermen will be wearing similar attire, and all of us will be wishing spring would hurry up.

Cape State Park fishing pier

As I am sure everyone knows, the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park has been closed until further notice. Exactly how long “until further notice” will be is anyone’s guess.

Fixing the pier is the least expensive option, but that is just a Band-Aid on a chest wound. The pier needs to be replaced, and that will cost a great deal of money. As much as $14 million by some estimates.

So where will this money come from? That is up to the General Assembly. Once the election is over, we will know who is going to represent us, and we can begin putting pressure on our representatives and senators by asking them to find the money.

My guess is we will need a bond bill to pay for a new pier. I do not see any current funding source that can pay for such a costly project. There may be some sort of grant money available from the federal government, and an imaginative person in state government may be able to get some of that money. As an example, when Accomack County in Virginia wanted to build boat ramps, they were able to get funding from the U.S. Agricultural Department because they have money set aside to build recreational facilities for farmers.

The best we can hope for right now is a temporary fix until funds can be found, permits can be processed and construction of a new pier can begin. What a shame we aren’t talking about a new bike trail. Then the money would be found and construction would begin next week.

Striped bass reduction

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission passed a 25 percent reduction in striped bass landings beginning in 2015.  For recreational fishermen this will translate as a one-fish limit and a 28-inch minimum size.  Commercial fishermen will have a 25 percent reduction in quota.  The Delaware Bay summer season with a two-fish limit and a 20- to 26-inch slot limit will have to be approved by the ASMFC if it is to continue.

Fishing report

Tog fishing has been fair at the Inner and Outer walls and the Ice Breakers. Anglers who have been willing to move from one location to another have done much better than those who toggle off and stay in the same place all day. Dirty water has been another restriction to a successful tog trip.

My guess is once we get through this weekend the tog fishing will improve, and we will begin to see more fish caught at the walls and over bay structure. Green crab will be the best bait.

Tog action should also improve in the ocean. The warm water has kept the number of fish caught down to a minimum. As the water cools, the tog will begin to feed with more enthusiasm, and the number caught will increase.

Good tog fishing should also be available at Indian River Inlet. As of last report, fish to 20 inches had been caught on green crabs by those with the patience to wait them out.

I really do think we will see the first run of migratory rockfish next week. The head boat my son Roger works on out of North Jersey had a boat limit of stripers on Monday. They jigged them up on AVAs.

I would expect the first sign of these fish in our area will come from the upper bay around Ship John or Miah Maull Shoal. We might even see a few big rockfish caught in the Cape May Rips.

I know the rockfish action has been pretty poor since Superstorm Sandy two years ago, but I hope this year we will see a considerable improvement.

As for sea bass, there is no shortage of fish; they just choose to stay out in deep water. Will they move closer to shore? Your guess is as good as mine.