Delaware is Where to Be

Saltwater Nation: Delaware

We’ve heard from a number of Saltwater Nation citizens this week about the great fishing going on in Delaware’s waters. Both offshore and inshore bites have been great this week, and the weather has been ideal for getting on the water.

Offshore, boats running out to Washington Canyon have been reporting great bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) action. In fact, bigeyes have been the hot bite this week offshore. Those also looking for billfish have had their best luck around Poorman’s Canyon and Norfolk Canyon. The boats working these areas have also reported tuna, dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus), and wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri).

Inshore has been an angler’s cornucopia. The reef sites have been turning out large kingfish (Scomberomorus cavalla) and good catches of flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). The kings have been responding to swimming mullet, and the flounder to squid strips fished close to structures.

The beaches and canals have also been active, with reports of good Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) action. Bloodworms have been the preferred bait for these, but be sure to use smaller hooks with small pieces of cut bloodworm. We’ve also heard of a few kings being taken from the surf around Fenwick Island and Cape Henlopen.

Anglers have also reported from jetties, beaches, and canals that some scattered red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), trout (Cynoscion nebulosus), spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber), tautog (Tautoga onitis), and rockfish (Morone saxatilis) are keeping things exciting, too.