We haven't exactly had the best weather here in Lewes over these past seven days. It seems as though the beautiful spring days that we have all anxiously waited for just haven't shown up. We get a tease every now and again with a really nice day but there just hasn't been enough great weather to make any significant changes in our fishing this past week.

Water temperatures have actually taken a little dip since my last report. Along the coast in the Ocean, surface temperatures dropped a good degree across the entire area and up in the Delaware Bay water temperatures on the surface dropped as much as four degrees in some areas seemingly overnight. Water temperatures on the bottom also dipped, but not quite as much. The fish most definitely reacted to these temperature changes.

We did manage to get out over the weekend fishing on both Saturday and Sunday, Friday's and Monday's scheduled trips were both blowouts. While the Tog did bite a little each day we were out, we did not see some of the more aggressive feeding action that we had seen at times last weekend. Saturday's trip was the best of the two, while I was onshore playing nursemaid Capt. H.D. had the helm Saturday with a dozen and a half seasoned Tog fisherman. The day started out as a struggle with a lot of current and the fish still not biting as the tide slacked out. As the day progressed and with the flop of the tide the bite came on and got more interesting as the afternoon progressed. By days end the majority of the anglers ended up with the spring limit of three Tog with fish that would average about three to four pounds each with the poolfish weighing in right around seven. Throwback action also was decent keeping it interesting at the rail.

Sunday with the same amount of anglers and an equal amount of experience at the rail we were back at it, this time I was back in the wheelhouse. Gusty northwest winds against a hard running tide early on made it difficult just to stay in touch with the bottom or the structure and I was wishing that I had let Capt. H have the honors a second day, we couldn't get a bite! As the tide eventually broke down the wind also dropped out making it much more pleasurable standing at the rail. The fish started to cooperate a little and it was looking like it was going to be a decent trip. The fish were biting light but they were biting, all you got was just a tap tap or a slight nibble. This finicky bite went on for quite a while and we did manage to put a few quality fish in the box and throw a bunch of shorts back but the fish shut down again making it difficult to even loose a bait for most of the afternoon. By days end several anglers managed a dinner or two but it was somewhat of a disappointing day as far as I was concerned. At least it calmed out.

On the bright side it does seem that we can catch these fish a little closer to home now and we know they are around in several different locations. I'm certain that with a little help from Mother Nature we will be seeing more of that typical Tog biting action that we are accustomed too for this time of the year we just need a good stretch of weather to get those temperatures back up where they belong. It wont take much.

Striper fishing up in the Bay also saw a little change. While there was some very excellent fish catching action over the past week in the Bay, there was an equal amount of pain. The fish are there it just seems that they have been moving around a lot. Perhaps they are just staying with the baitfish and they are on the move but they just have not been staying in one area for any amount of time, and they have been difficult to locate some days. One thing is for certain though, the Stripers are up in that Bay and there is some top quality fish being landed on a daily basis when you can get on them. This spring Striper Fishery should continue for a few more weeks providing an excellent opportunity for those interested.

I will continue to stick with the short schedule with the regular All-Day Trips. We will be anchor fishing over shipwrecks and artificial reefs sailing every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for a couple more weeks before we start trying to sail every day. Tog will be at the top of the menu they will be our primary target. It is also possible that we may see a few Codfish or even Stripers given the right day. We sail at 7:00 a.m. and we generally return to the docks around 4:00 p.m. Bait is supplied we will have both live Crabs and Clams on board.

If you would like any more information about trips sailing out of the Wharf or you would like to book a private Charter for either Stripers, Drum or Tog or you would just like to reserve space on one of the upcoming special trips please give us a call at (302) 645-TUNA.

Until Next Week Happy Fishing!

Capt. Rick Yakimowicz
Thelma Dale !V
catchfish@verizon.net