 Learn how to catch more fish in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ocean City, Virginia, North Carolina, Outer Banks, South Carolina, Georgia, & Florida! |
 |
FISHING IN DELAWARE Fishing is a fun hobby that you can enjoy with friends and family, or you can take the time to unwind, relax and just enjoy quiet time alone. For obvious reasons it is important to consider asking a young person to join you and learn what a rewarding experience fishing can be for everyone.
Remember, if you are between the ages of 16-65 you are required to obtain a license to fish in non-tidal waters. These license can be purchased online or from your local sporting goods and hardware store.
Now that you have your license it is time to decide where you are going to fish and for what. There are many non-tidal/boating access areas made available to you. If you are looking for If you are fishing the Delaware Bay during the fall months look for the Striped bass. Flounder migrate back to the deeper waters when cold weather approaches while tautog return to the heavy structure of the lower bay as the water temperatures fall.
 channel catfish using night crawlers, bunker, mullet or frozen peeler crabs. If you are fishing the waters in the Nanticoke River or Broad Creek target largemouth bass with natural or artificial bait. If Charter Boat Fishing is your choice be sure and ask your guide to take you to spots like Eights, Overfalls Shoal or Valley. If the season is right you can come home with a trophy striper. During summer months the tautog (blackfish) makes an excellent meal since it feasts on shellfish it tastes much like lobster. Look for tog around a wreck or rock pile where the bottom is rough.
There are limits to how many fish and what size you can catch. Be responsible if you site any stranded animal and follow these directions carefully.
There are some concerns about the fish you catch being safe to eat. You may be the catch-and-release fisherman and in so many cases this allows the next person to enjoy the excitement of catching the trophy fish you released. Pictures last longer than fish and when you post them online everyone can appreciate what you catch.
If you are interested in surf fishing you know all about lugging your gear across a dune crossing and how much trouble it can be. Now Delaware State Parks have made it easy for surf fishermen to bring their vehicle with them. The Surf Fishing Vehicle Permit allows vehicles onto designated beaches for the sole purpose of fishing. Having a permit allows you free entry to the day areas in all Delaware State Parks during the fee season. However, this permit does not give you the right to access other state or private beaches not owned by Delaware State Parks. Surf fishing is rewarding in so many ways. There are, however, some general guidelines to remember:
Oooops, Time for a Hook Removal The most common accident during fishing season involves hooks.The most important tool any angler should always have with him/her for removing a hook is a sharp pair of wire cutting pliers. Here are a few methods for removing fish hooks. When a hook's point and barb are protruding out the skin, it's easier to cut off the barb and back the hook out of the wound. When fishing, sharp wire cutters come in handy. The snatch method of fish hook removal is simple and effective, and it's the best method to remove a fish hook that's deeply imbedded in the skin and when the barb is buried. This method is quick, simple and relatively painless, as long as you get it on the first try. The secret to a first time success is yanking the loop of fishing line, which is wrapped around the embedded fish hook, rather hard so the hook comes out on the first try. The reason you should get it out on the first try is obvious, the patient might not stick around for a second try! This method is quick, simple and relatively painless, as long as you get it on the first try. The secret to a first time success is yanking the loop of fishing line, which is wrapped around the embedded fish hook, rather hard so the hook comes out on the first try. The reason you should get it out on the first try is obvious, the patient might not stick around for a second try! To perform the snatch method when the barb is imbedded, all that's needed is a short length of fishing line, at least 10 pound test, approximately 2 feet long.
Remove the hook from the lure. Double the fishing line and loop it around the hook, as close to the skin's surface as possible. Hold onto both ends of the doubled line, wrapping them around your hand for a firm grip and holding the line parallel to the skin's surface in line with the fish hook. With your other hand, press the eye of the hook down onto the surface of the skin and back toward the hook's bend, as if trying to back the hook out of the wound. While pressing on the hook eye, yank the line sharply, parallel to the skin and in line with the hook, to snap the hook back out of the wound. Enjoy a Day on the Water |
stripers you will want to know that they prefer cooler water as do the
rockfish in the Indian River Inlet. Fishermen on the jetty and shore are catching
trout fishing, crappie, 
walleye and 
freshwater striped bass. Popular Trout Creeks include White Clay Creek, Mill Creek, Pike Creek, Christina Creek, Beaver Run and nd Wilson Run.
Some Simple Boat and Fishing Rules to Live By
Safety and Etiquette
These are are some boat fishing tips, common courtesy and safety suggestions that will make your trips safer and more enjoyable for all:
- Always check and set your drag BEFORE you start fishing. You don’t want to be adjusting your drag when fighting a fish. This is a sure-fire way to loose that 50 pounder.
- Never run over the area you intend to drift. Running your boat over the area will scatter the fish.
- When chasing birds do not run into the flock. Stay on the edges with the motor off and drift into the flock. Running into the flock will scatter the fish and most of the larger fish are usually on the edges any way.
- When you get back to the dock always spray your fishing reels and fishing rods off with a fine mist of fresh water. This helps stop the corrosive effects of salt water. A hard full force spray is worse then not spraying at all as it forces the salt into the reel's components.
- Don’t be boat stupid or cheap. It costs a ton of time money and effort to own and maintain a boat. If you’re invited on someone’s boat it’s a common courtesy to offer to bring the bait, sandwiches or refreshments and to offer your help and assistance to get under way or clean up. If you’ve burned up some fuel make an offer to chip in for it. Your host might not accept but I can assure you the offer will be appreciated none the less. If you don’t offer don’t be surprised if you don’t get invited again.
- If you intend to fish at night make sure all your running lights are in good working order BEFORE you leave the dock. It ’s also a good idea to carry spare bulbs.
If you are fishing at night you should be very familiar with the areas you will be running and fishing. You should not be fishing a new spot for the first time at night.
- When you ’re running make sure to give your fellow boaters plenty of space. If you get into a situation where someone needs to give way you should be the one to give way. Don’t take a chance that the other boater knows the rules of the water or even sees you.
- If you’re in a field of boats and want to move run at no wake speeds avoiding other boats fishing space. You don’t want to disturb the fishing for others and your wake could cause smaller boats trouble.
-
Don’t troll in an area where others are anchored and don’t anchor in an area where others are drifting.
- Always err on the side of caution when it comes to bad weather. If you happen to get caught in high winds and seas keep your bow pointed in the direction of the oncoming waves even if it means running in an opposite direction of your port. This is especially important to boats with outboards and open transom cut outs. These cut outs are a very common cause of swamping especially in a following sea.
- If your taking an offshore run be sure you have enough fuel, an epirb and a good working radio. You should always let someone know when to expect you back or file a float plan. You should always have 1/3 more fuel then you will need for the run. If a storm comes up and conditions get rough and you can ’t run up on plane your going to need all of that extra fuel to make it back in.
- Never rely on your GPS as your sole source for locating buoys, markers, shoals and shoreline. The shoreline changes drastically and frequently. Shoals move, buoys come off anchor etc. Use your eyes and ears in addition to the GPS and you won’t wind up on the beach or stuck on a shoal. This is what happened to me once at night at the rips. My GPS showed me a good 100 yards off the beach yet there I was shaking hands with the surf casters.
- Always stop and help others in distress. If they are dead in the water and don ’t have towing insurance tow them in and make them promise to get some insurance. Don’t take any money for gas just chalk it up as a good deed and hope that someone will do the same for you. If you’re towing another boat make sure you leave at least 3 boat lengths between your boats. If conditions are rough make it 5 boat lengths. Unless you know what you’re doing always tow below planning speeds. The boat being towed should have the lower unit in the water and the steering wheel pointed straight so it will stay on course while being towed.
- If your boat capsizes or is taking on water stay with the boat. Boats 25 feet or under built after 73 must have flotation built in so they should float even if full of water. It’s much easier to spot a boat then someone floating alone in the water. Don’t try and swim to shore or swim to keep warm. Swimming burns up energy and regardless how warm the water is if you expend all your energy swimming you’re likely to succumb to the effects of hypothermia sooner. Keep all your extremities close to your body to conserve heat.
- If you ’re dead in the water and in no immediate danger of sinking it’s a good idea to throw your anchor so you stay in one place.
- Observe no wake zones. The law states that you ’re responsible for the damage caused by your boat’s wake.
- Do not attempt to approach and or board another boat in pitching seas unless it ’s an emergency. Doing so is tricky and if not done correctly it can result in injury, boat damage or both.
- VHF radios are a must even if you plan to stay inshore. Don ’t leave the dock with out one. Besides being able to radio for help the coast guard and most towing companies are equipped with radio direction finders. They can use your radio signals to help locate you. Cell phones are a great back up but coverage can be spotty inshore and nonexistent off- shore. VHF radios are also handy to be advised of any changing weather conditions.
- Channel 16 is used for emergencies. Keep this channel clear of all idle chit- chat. Once you establish communications with assistance on 16 switch off to another channel. If you can ’t raise the Coast Guard on channel 16 you are likely out of radio range. Your best bet now is to switch to a channel that most boats in the area monitor. High 60s and low 70s are good bets here in NJ. Once you make contact with another boat see if they can contact the Coast Guard for you since they might be inshore of you and be with in radio range and act as your relay. They might also have a single side band radio which is much more powerful then VHF and should be able to contact the Coast Guard no problem.
- There are 2 types of distress calls you should be familiar with Pan –Pan and Mayday. Pan is used to report a possible problem and Mayday is to be used if your boat is in immediate need of assistance due to sinking or fire. If you are reporting a mayday, turn your radio to the appropriate channel for your area (New Jersey is channel 16). This is an example of how you’d do it:
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday," "This is the fishing vessel Off the Hook, fishing vessel Off the Hook, fishing vessel Off the Hook.- Fishing Vessel off the Hook approximately 3 miles SE of the Ambrose Tower.- Struck submerged object and taking on water and do not believe we can stay afloat for more then 1 hour. We are a 25 foot white hull with a hard top and 4 persons aboard.- Maintaining watch on channel 16- This is the fishing vessel Off the Hook over"….. If you do not get a response continue repeating until you establish communication.
- If you have guests on board not familiar with your boat it’s your job to make sure they know where the life preservers and fire extinguishers are and how to operate the boat and the radio in case of an emergency. You should also make them familiar with the emergency procedures so you can assign them different tasks in case of a sudden emergency. If the captain has to do everything and something happens suddenly some important things might not get done.
- Here is a good emergency procedure: The first thing you want to do is make your MAYDAY call and report your vessel name, it’s approximate or exact location or GPS coordinates, the nature of your distress, a description of your vessel and the number of people and the medical condition they are in. - Locate and put on your life preservers. - While you or someone else is doing this, someone should be trying to remedy the cause of emergency. This could be extinguishing a fire, temporarily plugging the hole in hull or turning off a through hull valve etc….
- You should only abandon ship when the water or your life raft is a better place to be then your boat. People in a sailboat race in Spain ran into some weather and abandoned ship. The sail boat was found afloat a few days yet the people were found dead in their life raft. There is an old saying… Don’t get into the raft unless you’re climbing up into it.- If you have a life raft whenever possible you should manually inflate it rather then let it auto-inflate. If the boat sinks and it causes the raft to auto-inflate the raft may be in a place that is hard to get to or it could even blow away. For this reason you and your crew should know how to manually inflate the raft. - Keep your life raft tied to the boat with the painter line if possible. The boat is a much bigger target for someone to spot then the life raft. Even if the boat sinks, it will keep you in one place rather then being adrift and making you harder to find.
- If you do decide to abandon ship it a good idea to have a ditch bag. This is a water proof bag you’d take with you on the life raft. Some things you might want include in your ditch bag are:
-
Signaling Flares
-
Signaling Mirror
- Water
- EPIRB
- Food
- Mini reverse osmosis fresh water maker
- Fishing line and hooks
- Compass
- First Aid Kit
- Flash light
- Handheld GPS and VHF radio
-
-
If you decide to abandon ship a good rule of thumb is not to eat or drink anything for 24 hours. You never now how long you’re going to be out there so it’s best to conserve. If it’s cold you should eat and drink immediately since your body needs energy to provide heat.
- Practice Man Overboard Drills (MOB) with the people who are usually with you when boating. Throw a hat over and do a HOB (Hat Overboard) drill. People who you run regularly with should know exactly what is expected of them and how the whole MOB procedure works. The first thing you want to do if someone falls in is turn the boat towards the side that the person fell over and post a look out so that at least one person is responsible for keeping in visual contact with the MOB. The next thing to do is take anything that floats and throw it overboard. Coolers, fenders, seat cushions, buckets, the throw cushion your supposed to be carrying by law etc...
This accomplishes two things... First, It gives the person in the water something to float on and second, it creates a visible floating debris slick which will help you or someone else locate the MOB should you loose visual contact with them. Last year some guy whose boat got overturned clung to a cooler for 18 hours and was rescued. If it wasn’t for that cooler the guy would not have survived. Next thing if you have a GPS hit the MOB button to mark the position. Now you want to return and pick up the MOB. It’s not really safe or effective to back your boat down since boats do not handle as well backing down as they do while moving forward. If you have the person in site the best thing to do is what’s called a Racetrack turn. What you do is make a big oval to get back to where the MOB is and pick them up. If you lost site of the person the best thing to do is a Williamson turn. This is done by making a turn 60 degrees more then your present course, putting your wheel hard over until you’re on the reciprocal course. Here is an example….. You’re on a course of 90 when someone yells MOB. You turn your to bring your boat on a course that is 60 degrees higher then your original course. In this case that would be 150 degrees (90+60). Once your reach a course of 150 turn your wheel hard over in the opposite direction and this will bring you on a reciprocal course of 270 and take you right back to the MOB location. This is the preferred method to use when you have lost sight of the MOB because it will bring you back on a reciprocal course every time. It does however require some skill and a maneuverable boat.
- The best way to avoid someone going into the water in the first place is to apply some sensible rules for your crew to follow. No one comes up on the fly bridge unless the captain is aware they are coming up. Many a person has ended up in the drink trying to climb the latter. If the captain doesn't’t know you’re coming up and you fall in on the way up your in trouble. The 2 man rule… Whenever someone is on deck another person should be with that person in case something happens. If you’re going to go down below and catch some sleep tell someone so they know where you are. All people should be accounted for at all times. I heard a few stories that will drive these rules home. Some guy late at night was alone on deck sitting on a gunnel and fell overboard when the boat pitched on a wave and threw him into the water. No one realized he was gone for a half-hour until they couldn’t find him on the boat. He ended up being rescued but that easily could have easily had a much different ending.
- Be very careful running your boat in a following sea. When you’re riding down the crest of a wave you can loose your ability to steer. If you’re going too slowly a wave can come up behind you and swamp the boat. For that reason it’s sometimes best to take a following sea at angle even if it means running off course to get to your destination. If you’re running an inlet in a following sea and it’s not possible to run at an angle your best bet is to position your boat between waves staying closer to the back of the wave ahead of you. Keep up just enough speed to make way and keep your boat between the waves. written by: Gerry Zagorski
Delaware Freshwater Fishing Records
Fish Species |
WEIGHT |
Location Caught |
Date |
Record Holder
|
|
5ozs. |
Tony Kaczmarczyk |
||
|
12ozs. |
Bayard Conaway |
||
|
3ozs. |
Earl Messick |
||
|
15ozs. |
Jerry Proffitt |
||
|
9ozs. |
Wayne Hastings |
||
|
11ozs. |
Marvin Kessinger |
||
|
10ozs. |
Edwin Wallace |
||
|
9ozs. |
Marvin Billips |
||
|
10ozs. |
Arnold Harmon |
||
|
Ronald Burnett |
|||
|
6ozs. |
William Ridgley |
||
|
13 1/2ozs. |
Earl Blevins |
||
|
14ozs. |
Nesbit Copenhaver |
||
|
2ozs. |
Richard Harris |
||
|
1ozs. |
Marty Messick |
| Fish Species
|
WEIGHT |
Location Caught
|
Date
|
Record Holder
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
52lbs. 12 ozs. |
|||
|
9ozs. |
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
1 oz. |
|||
|
6ozs. |
|||
|
2ozs. |
|||
|
5ozs. |
|||
|
||||
|
5ozs. |
|||
|
9ozs. |
|||
|
||||
|
3 1/2ozs. |
|||
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
8ozs. |
|||
|
Copyright © 2007 AtlanticAnglers.com Design by Ocean Computers, 2007
Hosted by http://www.delmarvawebsites.com