This time in 2018 there was almost a foot of snow on the ground. I’m in flip-flops today, debating whether to fish, or cut more firewood. It will turn cold again, eventually. This wacky weather is always great if you have a lot of outdoor projects. It’s much easier to work on the gardens during a mild winter. Fishing in the evenings isn’t as cold. Then it gets brutally cold again. The summer in winter teasers are fun times. I found a tick on the dog yesterday, check your furry ones.

I’ve been really busy organizing the Millville Outdoorsman Marketplace, this Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Millville Firehall. There will be lots of great vendors. DS Custom Tackle has some amazing show specials. Vendors range from kayaks, metal detecting, food goods, fishing gear for days, archery, boats, RVs and more. Come check everyone out — it will be a good day to get some amazing deals. Learn about a new service for surf anglers and some new products by new brands.

Speaking of the surf, it has been dogfish and skates mostly, using cut bait, with the occasional resident striped bass. The migratory bass are off the coast of Delaware within three miles, according to the interweb posts. If you want to catch migratory striped bass in the surf, you will have to be out there putting in the time. You never know if those schools will come close to shore. From Delaware to Assateague would be a good start to try. I’m spending most of my fishing time at Assateague due to work. At least work travels take me close to the island once a week.

The beaches are empty except for the occasional surf fishing rig or beachcomber. It is the best time of year to walk and look for treasure, cast for fish or just enjoy the outdoors. These summer-like days are special because you get as near an experience of empty beaches with summer conditions. Well, minus that water temperature. Walking a beach for an hour and seeing no one on a 70-degree day in Delaware is a rare bird.

Indian River Inlet anglers are catching some tautog. Short striped bass are around the rocks, too. It is a fun and popular place to fish and lose gear. Literally you decide how expensive a day you want to experience and then go lose some gear. The cheaper the gear, the longer the day.

White perch is the main catch this time of year. Yellow perch will start up soon enough.

There are many options to fish the Indian River Inlet area: ocean, beach, rocks, bay and the marshes. Explore the inlet area sometime, there is some decent fishing in the back of the marina, too. The surf fishing near the inlet is great, just watch for the surfers, they have the right of way. They barely get any beach to surf these days as it is.

Someone new to the area asked me once:
Him: So surf fishing, you surf and fish at the same time?
Me ...
Him ...
Me: Yes. (I couldn’t help myself.) The hardest part is getting set up in the lineup. Go to Liquid and ask Mike Ridings for the surf fishing board.
Him: Awesome. I’ll check it out.

Two days later was the funniest phone call I have received in a long time. I’ve been asked that a few times before and I always explain the difference or confusion. I mean, shouldn’t it be called beach fishing? But then people would think you are fishing for beaches.

But this one time, for some reason I was having a day. To be fair, I made it a point to run into this person a week or so later and let him have it over asking about the surf fishing board. Good times. I still laugh at this at least once a week.