The weather this weekend is going to be beautiful. You need to go to the Delmarva Outdoors Expo at the fairgrounds in Harrington! Fishing will be awful, I promise.

I’m kidding! Fishing is off the hook, especially for bluefish. Seriously they are all over the place. Even in areas we don’t usually see them. The last couple of days, including today, the tide has been up pretty high and to the dune lines in some areas. if you go too far down Beach Plum Island state park you will be stuck due to high water until the tide subsides.

Bluefish are hitting at the ocean beaches (all of them, even the towns), Indian River Inlet, Oyster rocks in the Broadkill River, inland bays, the Cape Henlopen fishing pier and all places in between. The Oceanic pier in Ocean City has been on fire. They are hitting bunker and mullet as far as baits, and hammering spoons and poppers. The top water action is a lot of fun. One day the bait is better than the lures and vice versa. This foggy nasty weather has not slowed the bluefish down at all.

Drum are hitting

Drum are hitting from Cape Henlopen to Broadkill beach. Clam is the bait of choice and most of the shops are stocked up. The incoming tide seems to be the best time and they are hitting night or day. The nice sized 20-pounders or less which are great for eating.

Hamilton Anen with his first big bluefish. (Submitted photo)

Keep your bait close to the bottom near your weight. Drum are bottom feeders, especially when it comes to clam and crustaceans. There are sand fleas in the surf you can use for bait and they are working well. Soft shell or peeler crab makes for great drum bait.

Small croaker at Cape

There are a lot of small croaker at the Cape Henlopen fishing pier, the tiny ones that are smacking our baits but can’t hit the hook. Baits being the big bunker chunks and mullet we are using for the bluefish. It feels like a bunch of angry bees wearing on your rig. There are a lot of short striped bass still in the surf and around the fishing piers, and bridges in Ocean City.

Northern puffers are still hitting and are moving into the inland bays. Kingfish have been far and few between but that will pick up soon enough. Bloodworms or fishbites have been the best baits. We are still seeing some serious shad action around the area, That is good bait for blues and striped bass. Large migratory bass are still hitting in the upper Delaware Bay on bunker chunks. Blue crabbing has been great.

The smile on his face

These are my favorite reports ... “Rich, Hope you are well...I do not know about you but my arm is tired from throwing lures, but I love it. Thought you would get kick out of this, took my son to the “party boat” fishing at Cape Henelopen. I figure we would try and get a spot at the rail as it is kid friendly fishing, no waves, and easy casting. My son Hamilton today got into his first big blue, he did have one other one but lost it. The smile on his face says it all and that is what it is all about ... Rob Anen.”

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