Nick Chieffo enjoyed a day of striped bass fishing near Augustine Beach. (Submitted photo)

Spring into summer! May as well just get used to the heat waves.

The bonus of these hotter temperatures is warming up the cooler waters and getting the fish more active.

We just don’t want mother nature to set the temperatures to boil for the rest of the season.

The flounder are finally hitting better in and around the inland bays and Delaware Bay.

Off shore action at the old grounds will pick up more soon enough.

The water temperatures have jumped up several degrees in a matter of days. Offshore temperatures are slowly climbing.

There have been a lot of first fish of the season over the Memorial Day weekend.

Capt. Chris Hertrich on the Relentless landed the first White Marlin for the season in Delaware.

Top Fin Charters caught the first sand tiger shark.

There were several kids that caught their first fish this weekend as well. And, there were a lot of proud parent moments were created over the weekend.

Bluefish hitting

The fishing has been decent still for the large gator bluefish in the Inland bays, Broadkill river, and the surf.

They are hitting mullet or lures and just about anything you throw at them once you find a school.

The action in the surf is random when they show up and where but it gets hot and heavy fast.

The big drum are still around the clam beds on the Delaware bay feeding on clams.

There are a lot of kingfish in the surf hitting bloodworms on Diamond State Custom Tackle top and bottom rigs. The little hooks on them are perfect for the small surf fish.

Croaker and weakfish are hitting along the Delaware Bay beaches.

Fishbites is now working better as bait, the water is warm enough. Much easier to use than real baits and much less mess. Just a small piece and the fish will hit the hook, and usually the fishbites is still there. You can catch multiple fish on one piece of bait.

Free park admission

This Saturday is free entrance in all Delaware State Parks, except for a few concessions.

This day was declared Delaware State Park day by Governor Jack Markell.

Great time to take the family out and check out a state park if you haven’t.

June 4-5 are also free fishing days in Delaware.

Stripers

Augustine Beach area saw a lot of schooling short striped bass on Memorial day weekend.

Rafael Vazquez and Nick Chieffo said it was great, there wasn’t anyone on the water that day.

“We even landed a keeper striped bass,” said Chieffo. “The weather was great hardly any wind or rain.”

The boys had a great day hitting short striped bass.

Early arrivals

Some fish are showing up earlier than expected.

Striped burrfish are here now and a juvenile cobia was caught on Sunday in Delaware Seashore State Park.

That is very early and we are assuming it may have been pushed up this early by the storm. Usually we don’t see them until late in June or early July and that is early.

Recreational crabbing has been excellent around the lnland bays, Delaware Bay, and tidal creeks. Mostly crab pots, hand lines, and hand traps have been the best. Trot lining will produce more as soon as the water gets warmer.

The weather is finally gorgeous with occasional rainy days. Get outdoors and have some fun. The summer is upon us and soon schools will let out and we will be in all out summer fun.

Rich King’s column appears Thursdays in the Delaware State News.