Wow, that was a cool blast of weather! Now we are back into a warm up to heat wave with cool nights. You need hoodies in the predawn, then are stripped down to shorts and a T-shirt by 9 in the morning. I love this weather, minus the allergies and hay fever.
The fishing changed up some after that storm front came through. You would think it would pick up fishing, but it has dropped off some and become more random action. Because it’s fishing.

Pompano are just now becoming a regular catch at Cape but who knows for how long. Is it one big school just hanging out or more to come? Why are they so late and the water is still chilly? If fish could talk this catching thing might be easier. But then again, they do give us signs. We know fishing started early for many species in spring. The water has been cool all summer from upwellings. Logic says fall fishing will start earlier in the fall, and it has.

Meanwhile large bull red drum are hitting around Assateague on both ends of the island. I’ve heard of a few at Fenwick Island as well. Spot and kingfish are two of the preferred baits. Sand flea Fishbites will produce as well, but those kingfish heads really work. These fish are hungry. They don’t get too selective when the feed bag is on, they just eat. Large striped bass are schooling up near the inlets, with some large bluefish in the mix. These are resident fish, not migratory. They are on the feed and gathering to join the Atlantic migratory schools. They just have to figure out what class they are in this year. (That’s a joke.)

Flounder action is hit or miss for many anglers, with many a short fish for that one random keeper. There were some quality fish caught in the Indian River Inlet. One was a 13-pound fish. Flounder are closer to shore this year hunting the food in the warmer water. Upwellings bring in food that bring in bait fish that bring in predators. Flounder action has been better up the Delaware Bay than the ocean. The ocean is still producing flounder just slow, I am hearing.

The surf has been quieter this week for catches but the usual scavenger suspects are abundant: skates, rays and dogfish. Sharks are still around but that will come to an end soon enough.

Charter boats are out on sea bass mostly and some are still going for flounder. Tuna are in for the offshore crews. Bluefish are offshore on the reefs and wrecks and so are Spanish mackerel. I’m hoping to see some albies near the beach soon. I also need to be there while they are and that gets difficult at times. Trying to fish specific tides in specific locations can be a challenge when you are adulting like a boss.

Sheepshead and triggers are still good action on wrecks and reef structure, that includes inlets. Striped bass fishing with sand fleas at the inlet has been productive too. I’ve been using the DS Custom Tackle striped bass 6/0 hook rig. It is double drop for twice the chance and double catches are fun.

The big news is, of course, The Point is now open — my favorite place to surf fish in Delaware. The place is dynamic. You can fish many structure and rip options. Weekdays you might have the entire place to yourself or with very few others. The Point is a different shape this year. It is thinner on the bayside with much deeper or taller sand buildup. My GPS put me 20 feet into the water for our usual spots last year. Since the bayside is thinner we had a nice set of waves all day last Saturday — literally surfable waves along the top bayside beach. I’ve never seen that before, and it made for some neat pictures of the lighthouse surfing the wave.

The sand is loose and fast in some areas. The dunes are larger and taller with more growth. The Point is a whole new place this year. I just wish it was opened after the Labor Day weekend. That heavy traffic makes for some torn-up beaches for the rest of the season. Our beaches no longer recover from summer traffic in the winter. Back in the day, over the winter break with little traffic, it would let the winds and waves rebuild and smooth out the beach. Not anymore. Gates would help all that and limit the numbers out there to preserve the resource better by reducing the constant traffic.