As the Summer heat continues and the water temperatures soar the fishing scene has at times been almost just as hot as the weather. We are still seeing a variety of fish including Flounder, Croakers, Snapper Blues and Sea Bass. Surface temperatures have reached 80 degrees and warmer on a few of those scorching hot days in both the Ocean and in the Delaware Bay with an average temp of about 77 degrees and it’s only the second week of August!

Most of my time has been spent up in the Delaware Bay fishing along the edges of the anchorage seeing a real variety catch but when conditions are right we are running down to the old grounds catching mostly Flounder and a few nice Sea Bass. With any adverse conditions we have had a much better shot fishing in the Bay rather than struggling with a pound of weight just to try and hold bottom out front. We have had a hard enough time keeping in touch with the bottom in the shallows of the bay on a few occasions.

As the water continues to warm it seems as though the fish have been a little picky about when they bite the best, I have fished over three weeks straight and I have witnessed quite a few changes. The Fluke up in the Bay turned off like someone had flipped a switch on the backside of the moon, and then came back on about a week later and the Croakers have been piled up moving around sometimes biting best after dark. Somehow we have managed to get through most days with some decent catches and have been able to get most anglers in on the action as well as going home with a fish supper or two. No freezer packers gang but decent fishing. It does seem that my last few trips to the Ocean we have been seeing a few more Sea Bass than we were just a month ago, hopefully a good sign for the fall run. The Delaware Bay is chocked full of pin sized Sea Bass on just about every piece of bottom or every mussel or coral bed around. It has been several years since I have seen a crop of small Bass up in the Bay of this size and with any luck some of these fish just might make the grade by October.

As the summer vacation season winds down we have been seeing a lot more tourists trying to get that last trip in before the reality of Labor Day strikes. Our kids go free promotion over the last several weeks seems to have gone over very well with my regulars and everyone else looking for a day on the water. There is just something about a first timer catching more than the pros or even winning the pool that just makes everyone smile. Kids will continue to go for free until the last of August so try and make the best of it while you can.

September will no doubt bring some fabulous days on the water into our region and we will try to keep up with the best fishing possible be it the Bay or the Ocean so you can continue to enjoy your day on the water. I expect to continue seeing a nice variety of fish for several more weeks. We will also begin with our 22-hour Tuna trips starting Labor Day weekend. The first trip is scheduled to run Sunday September 2nd. Capt. H.D. and myself together will be at the helm for an offshore Tuna trip for the first time in over a decade. Fair warning there are a few things that usually happen when Capt. H and myself go offshore, it’s usually rough as hell or we catch fish like crazy, and sometimes even both! I am looking forward to these offshore runs it will be a nice break from the inshore grind that I have seen this summer. Tuna fishing is just starting to turn on with the overnight chunking so we are hoping for some good trips. It is also possible that with the right conditions that we may try dropping down to the bottom in as deep as 100 fathoms trying to catch some Tilefish so don’t be surprised. These will be limited space trips and you must make an advanced reservation with the office at (302) 645-TUNA.

If you would like any more information about trips sailing out of the Wharf or you would like to book a charter or reserve a space on an offshore run please email me or give us a call at the number above.

Until Next Week Happy Fishing!

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