As we come out of one sloppy and nautical set of days for fishing, we will be heading into a weekend of slop again. Nor’easter conditions inbound for the weekend. It must be fall. So long as we keep nor’easter-like conditions and winds, we are good. One hard northwest blow and the fishing will change up dramatically. Not for the best either.

Another dramatic change that is the same is the surf structure. The beaches look amazing for surf fishing still, with structure up and down our coast. Each nautical condition event is keeping the surf structure mixed up to a degree or shifting it around more. It is really great to see that occurring. Finding fish is the next challenge. The surfers have been digging it, too. Beach combing is amazing. I’m finding pirate glass again.

Migratory striped bass have been on the move up north. The northern Jersey bays are starting to clear out and the fish are joining the migratory schools. Some striped bass will remain behind and stay as residents for life. We have our own striped bass residents, rather large ones in some areas. They are fun to catch and, of course, the short bass action has been a lot of fun. Use swim shads, spoons or just soak bunker or mullet chunks. Don’t forget circle hooks are required for striped bass when using bait. Lures and the like are fine with multiple trebles. The reason is the fish strike a lure, they swallow or inhale bait. Much different hookset. It’s still better to change out plugs and spoons to the circle hooks for the fish’s sake.

The Indian River Inlet and OCMD anglers are catching tautog, striped bass, sheepshead and occasionally triggers. There are oyster crackers for days to pick through as well. They are actually good to eat. Trash fish, as they are called, are never bad to eat, just not preferred. We met a guy a few years back fishing the inlet. He was keeping every oyster cracker. We said to him, “Man you must love those oyster crackers.”

He said to us, “Boys, these are monkfish.” Us: “Yeah umm no, they are not, those are oyster crackers aka the mother-in-law fish.”

Apparently he had been keeping them for years thinking they were monkfish. He shrugged and said, “Oh well, they taste good and are easy to catch,” and kept fishing.

Trout are being stocked around Maryland. The DNR website has a list of all the areas. I love how Maryland runs that fishery.

Delaware’s stocked trout at White Clay Creek have been decent action, when the water isn’t flowing like the Amazon.
White perch action is good in all the creeks and waterways. Some puppy drum are mixed in and short striped bass. Use bloodworms, grass shrimp or minnows. Fishbites fact-acting bloodworm formulas work, too. They are designed for colder water.

The surf has some bluefish around, short striped bass and, of course, skates and the doggie fish. Red drum are still hitting at Assateague but it is some work or a lot of luck. There are still kingfish out there, too. Flounder are being jigged up along the beaches. The flounder will move out into the ocean soon for the winter.

Crabs are still around the bays and getting fat for the winter. These crabs are great for bait this time of year for large fish. Not many use them due to the cost, but it is worth it if you have the ambition. The crabs are feasting to fatten up for a long winter nap in the mud. Sounds delightful.

It is fall fishing — the sloppier the conditions, the better the fishing. The predators love that washing machine water for feeding. Standing in it for hours is rough. This is not fair weather fishing. The waders are cleaned up and already in use, plus all kinds of Helly Hansen wet dry gear. I’m gonna be dry, warm and at least look good. Who knows what we will catch. But then again for me ... it was never about the fish.