Well, the spring season is starting off well for many anglers. Between the migratory black drum and striped bass action from Assateague to the Delaware Bay and in between, many anglers are landing quality fish. The bite has been great with sand fleas, clam, blue crab and Fishbites Sand Flea Formula. The water is just warm enough to let that scent attract a bite.

The northern pufferfish bite has been hot, too, in the surf. Matt Shoup, owner of Fenwick Tackle, said, “My customers are discovering the pompano DS Custom Tackle glow float and sand flea glow bullet float rigs are puffer magnets.” The glow float rigs are amazing, friends of mine catch pompano without bait on these rigs in Florida. Wait till you try the sand flea with orange eggs glow bullet float rigs, deadly.

Flounder are starting to show up around the inland bays, Delaware Bay and waterways of Lewes. That action has just barely started, and will get hotter as the waters warm up more. Gulp was the ticket for a friend of mine catching flounder the other day. You have to put in some work, but that is the nature of fishing for most.
Speckled trout are around the inland bays - nice sizes, too. Michael Wankmiller from Berlin, Maryland, was kayak fishing the back bays around Fenwick Island in Delaware waters. He said it was a surprise, but very welcome catch. “I was on the troll to another spot catching schooling striped bass when this beauty hit my lure.”
Those fish are tasty.

Schooling striped bass are moving into the surf zone more and more as the water warms up along the coast, more on structure than anywhere else. The skates and dogfish abide for a day of line pulling action. Skate is actually good to eat. Northern puffers are hitting cut bait and Fishbites. Salted shrimp works well, too. Just use kosher salt, it makes the shrimp pieces a little tougher so it stays on a hook longer. There are some beast-sized migratory bass along the Delaware Bay beaches.

The fishing will just get better as more species show during the end of spring into summer. Then the migratory fish will go where they usually go and we are left with the usual summer suspects. In the meantime, it is fun to see who catches what next.
Anthony Green, of Georgetown, went on a spring turkey hunt the other day. Anthony is an inspiration for all and I want to share his story with everyone. You will understand why, when you read about this solo hunt. Congrats on your thunder chicken!

Anthony Greene “Rolling Solo”:

“There’s something truly healing about the outdoors and to me every spring being in the turkey woods is the pinnacle. Waking up with nature on those cool early spring mornings. Listening to that first bird chirp waking up as others follow and answer. All the while you’re distracted listening to the calls of the wild birds around you. It’s almost like the ground shakes when you hear that first gobble from the roost as the Ole Tom wakes up, earning the nickname from many turkey hunters as “thunder chicken.” To me that’s the peak of the outdoors as a sportsman. Year after year I’ve lived for chasing these birds. Some years without a harvest.

“I have to approach hunting a little different than most now. 16 years ago at the age of 17, I was in an accident that left me paralyzed. That accident made my life slow down a lot and it’s when I truly fell in love with the outdoors. The peace away from all of life’s worries and struggles. I came to love the chase of wild game and the conservation work to hopefully leave the next generation with something that brought so many of my friends and myself joy. But, as much as I loved hunting with my brother, friends and mentors, I always craved that independency to one day go on a hunt on my own without any assistance. Maybe it was a pride thing, maybe it was self satisfaction. I don’t know but it’s something I felt like one day I needed to do. On April 18th, 2023, that day finally came. By no planning of its own.

“After a few long shifts of work, I needed to escape to the woods. Being off on a weekday all my hunting buddies unfortunately had to work. But I was determined to go. It had been dry the past few days so I knew the dirt patch would be manageable to push across to get back to my blind. I pulled up to the property about 5 a.m., put the chair together and loaded up and set on back on the about quarter-mile trek it felt like in my case. It was a little cloudy that morning but you could make out the road every now and then when the moonlight poked through the clouds. I got back there quicker than I thought. Caught my breath and got set up. I had a Jake decoy set up in front of me with a breeding hen decoy in front of him. Got in my blind and got all my calls in place so I wouldn’t fumble one by mistake. I was all set up and waiting. That in itself was an accomplishment.

“I heard the first gobble about 6:05 a.m., and then another. There was two mature birds behind me that sounded miles away. But I knew they were closer than I thought. I heard another to west of me. Again felt like miles away. But if you’ve spent enough time in the turkey woods we all know that illusion. They were fired up, gobble after gobble until they hit the ground sometime after 7 a.m. I let out a yelp on my slate call and one of the first two birds gobbled back. I put my call down because he knew where I was. And truth be told, I’m not the best caller and didn’t want to press my luck. The bird to the north was also on the ground and he was fired up but never really seemed to come closer. I couldn’t help myself so I picked up my box call and gave him a couple yelps and clucks … nothing. So I figured the best bet is to sit tight since I had the day off and nowhere to be. With my injury I lack some balance and rely on a trigger stick to help keep my shot steady. I picked a corner of my blind where I best thought the birds would come from and set facing west. It was now 9 a.m. and the gobbling all but stopped. I picked up my slate call and made a couple clucks. The two behind me from this morning sounded off. This time a bit closer. I didn’t push it, I waited a bit and called again … nothing. But they came this far already I knew they were headed my way, I just had to be patient.

“It was just before 10 and my arms were tired from holding the shooting stick and gun so I decided to put the gun down in my lap and take a break. As I’m sure you can already guess what happens next. The the two long beards quietly come out of the woods to my left at 30 yards. What to do? The turkeys are now about 15 yards away from the woods edge as I slowly pick my weapon back up. The pump action rattled as I picked it back up and it might as well broke the sound barrier as loud as it seemed to sound. The second bird heard it and popped his head up and looked right at me. I’m busted, he quickly turns and starts to head back to the woods edge. No time to grab my shooting stick, it was now or never. I shouldered my shotgun as quick as I could line the beads up and pulled the trigger. As my ears rung I looked up and I can see the turkey laying at the base of an old oak tree that was rightfully named years ago as the turkey tree. I pulled off what I thought I could never do. A solo hunt. I yelled so loud I’m pretty sure they could hear me the next county over. Once my nerves calmed I gathered myself and went over to him. Grin still on my face. I said my thank you’s put him in my lap and hauled him out.

“Now I titled this hunt ‘Rolling Solo’ but as we all know it takes an army. I could write a book of incredible people to thank who have helped me in all my hunting adventures over the years. So in this case we’ll stick to the ones who have helped me in turkey hunting specifically. The first is my turkey hunting mentor, Chip West, who has spent hours upon hours with me in and out of the turkey woods teaching me everything he’s learned over the years of traveling and hunting turkeys himself. Otts Joseph for embracing my turkey hunting addiction and help pass on years of wisdom spent in the woods. Also my best friend, Matt Cohee, who without him I probably wouldn’t have fallen in love with the outdoors as much as I have on our countless adventures. And my brother, Dale Greene, who was the first to truly introduce me to the sport of hunting.”

Get outdoors, gang, and have some fun. Despite the yellow dust of death floating around, it has been a fun spring. Someone turn the rain on, I need this yellowscape in my woods to wash away and my gardens need water!