Fisherman's Wharf Fishing Report June 16, 2004

I was trying to figure out how to start my report this week, what I was going to write about and all that good stuff. I even blew off writing it last night cause I just didn’t know how to start. I am out on the water fishing now and I just realized that I could sum up my last few days with four letters. W I N D. I think I would have a much better report for you if it were not for the wind.

Last weeks fishing on the All-Day boat Keen Lady IV was for the most part a good week. We had our best Flounder fishing of the year so far. We caught our Biggest Sea Bass to date, we spent a lot of time drifting and catching fish. We also had a nice variety of fish. We even had days where people caught their limit of Sea Bass. (That’s saying a lot for ’04). Those of you that have already fished with me so far this year know all to well that there have been some tough days. On top of all that we even saw Whales!

The Early part of the week was by far the best. Beautiful weather made for some excellent drifting conditions and there were times that I could just let the boat drift for over a mile at a time catching fish the whole way! It was during these days that we did our best on the Fluke. We had as many as two dozen keeper Flatties on our best day and we have had at least a handful of keepers landed on each day. All total we have landed over 65 keeper Flounder since last Monday.

Friday we had just too much Northeast wind to drift. I anchored over several Small wrecks and we actually ended up doing rather well with some nice Sea Bass and quite a few TauToug. It was on this trip that we caught the biggest Sea Bass so far this year for the All-Day boat.

Seven year old Nate Jackson Jr. Caught a 5 lb. 12 oz. Knothead Sea Bass earning him a Delaware State citation and the honors for The Big Catch for the week! I think his smile was almost as big as the fish. There were several other nice fish weighed in on that Day, both Bass and Blackfish. Bob and Gail Bush of Landisville Pa. ended a super week of fishing with me by filling their cooler for the third time this week, and winning the pool with a citation sized Tog.

Over the weekend is when the real lack of fun began. Big crowds and a little too much wind made drifting conditions tough. There were some nice fish caught but not nearly enough. Holding bottom became a real challenge and 4:00 just didn’t seem to come quick enough. Saturday was what I would call a real slow day and Sunday was an "official Sting" most of the fish that we caught on Sunday were eaten long before the boat ever hit the dock. The folks from the Glen Burnie fishing club assured me though that the Sushi was delicious!

We started out the week with even more wind out of the South. Anchoring has been the only option the last couple of days and it has been a real "hit and miss" game. Some spots are just not too productive. As I write this we are anchored up over a wreck and only picking at a few fish. I have only been anchored for five minutes and I am already thinking of my next move.

As far as what you might expect to see in the days to come, I would have to say more of the same. On days without wind I will more than likely be drifting for Sea Bass and Flounder and on Days that drifting is not an option we will anchor up over wrecks or coral or some other type of bottom structure. When everything falls into place the potential for an outstanding catch is around. There is a good spread of Bass on the open bottom. Even though the majority of these fish will fall short of the 12-inch minimum size restriction they provide good action and there is still a good number of decent sized fish to catch mixed in. Couple that with the chance of catching a big Flounder and you can have a great day.

We are definitely in a summer program now. Water temperatures are up to about 65 degrees in the ocean for the surface, and have finally been recorded at over 50 degrees for the bottom. Delaware Bay surface temps have been as high as 74+ degrees with the sun. There are more reports of good catches of Flounder coming in all the time from the Bay and the Ocean. Tuna have been reported as close as 40 miles from Lewes and anglers fishing for Sharks have seen some of the best Mako action in our waters that we have seen in several years.

If you would like more information about trips sailing out of the Wharf or you are interested in booking a charter please give us a call at (302) 645-TUNA or check out our website at fishlewes.com.


Until next time Happy Fishing!
Capt. Rick Yakimowicz
fishing@fishlewes.com
Keen Lady IV