It’s hot, like summer hot. It is fake summer hot, so it does still cool off on occasion. Inland it is like this, but near the water is much different. My gardens dry up fast, like August fast, but I learned to use wood chips to keep the water in place. I also used lots of deep mulch this year to see if that makes a difference. I like fresh veggies with my fish tacos and buddy do we have tacos around.

Burrfish and some kingfish were caught at Assateague this past week. Those are the newest arrivals. Bluefish are up the East Coast to the middle of Jersey in the surf. It is random action but there are gators and smaller blues around. Near the Cape Henlopen pier has seen action mostly at night. The Breakwater bait and tackle pier shop opens this weekend. The pier is open in some areas, closed in others. Most surf anglers are south at Assateague and the Chincoteague side trying to catch black drum. Striped bass are hitting along the surf there as well.

There are migratory striped bass along our beaches, but the catches are as random as people actually fishing. Most are fishing for black drum. I’d put a line out for a variety of fish at this point. Four rods is manageable these days, unless you get a four-rods-at-once massive take down. That rarely happens.
Kingfish heads make great drum bait. The kingfish make amazing fish tacos.
Black drum are being caught with sand fleas, clam and blue crab. Fishbites formulas are working too, now that the water is warming up and will just get better.

Bowers Bayside Bait and Kayak rentals reported a lot of short striped bass, white perch and catfish caught near the jetty. The jetty area is now open to fish at Bowers. Be sure to watch your step. That area produces a variety of fish. I’d start looking for weakfish around there soon.

Freshwater trout are still fun action in the creeks up north. Crappie action and bass are picking up. Snakeheads are always feeding in the shallows. Kill all the snakeheads you catch, as they are invasive and should be removed from all waterways. The same goes for blue catfish. It doesn’t seem like it but invasive fish will change an ecosystem. I don’t think there is an invasive that hasn’t. Humans are an invasive species in many cases.

Mind your consumption advisories too, especially this time of year. Shellfish should be kept at 50 degrees and below before consumption. Vibrio is always present in our waters. When vibrio gets warm, it multiplies quickly.
Crabbing is slow and small for pots, but it is picking up around the inland bays. It’s easier to hand line in the tidal creeks and back bay shallows.

Flounder are being caught around the inland bays and the Lewes canal now, with minnows drifted for bait. Use Fishbites Fight Club or Gulp for soft plastics jigged around structures. The surf will produce flounder jigging the cut or run out areas. Rip tides are great to fish, just stay out of the water. That is strong current.

There are many fish here in Delmarva and more arriving daily. Get out there and target whatever you prefer.