The Mid-Atlantic Sportsman: Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report!

Freshwater:

Trout fishing in NJ, DE, MD and PA has been good. As the season continues the crowds usually thin out, which leads to easier and usually better fishing. Check the state websites for the rest of the stocking dates for each state.

Anglers fishing for bass, crappie, and pickeral are finding good success in all of the regions ponds and lakes. I fished a lower DE pond on Sunday in a tournament and my friend and I caught a bunch of bass just not many big ones.

Those fishing for stripers in the Delaware River are finding more and more success each day. As the water temperatures warm the fishing is getting better and better. There were numerous reports of more and bigger stripers from those fishing the Delaware River this week.

Chesapeake Bay:

While the striper fishing was hot early last week on the flats, it cooled way down again towards the end of last week and the weekend. This is typical for the flats, as another body of fish moves in to breed the fishing should pick back up.

The trophy striper trolling season opens this saturday (April 20th). Many are pre-season C&R fishing and finding moderate success. Trophy size fish are being reported throughout the bay, so the opener should be a good one this weekend.

Anglers are still catching white perch and catfish in the tributaries and creeks leading to the bay.

Delaware Bay:

Striper fishing in the Delaware Bay got better over the last week. More and bigger fish have been caught. The mid to upper bay region has been better than the lower bay. Fresh clams and bunker have both produced for the linesiders.
White perch and catfish are still being caught in the coves and creeks leading to the bay.

Flounder are starting to be caught in Rosevelt Inlet and the Lewes Canal. This is usually the best time of year to fish in the back water for flounder. Fishing should continue to heat up.

Inshore Ocean:

Tog fishing is still good on the inshore wrecks. Captain Adam from Adam Bomb Sport Fishing has reported great tog fishing over the last two weeks when the weather has allowed them to get out.

Captain Carl from Wet Dreams Sport Fishing is running open boat trips for stripers out of Sandy Hook, NJ. You can see his schedule further down this page. You can also contact Captain Carl through the banner on the left side of the page or on our "Charters & Guide Services" page. The striper fishing is heating up "out front" and should continue to get better and better as the temps continue to warm.

Stripers are also being caught in the local inlets of DE, NJ and MD. Flounder are also starting to bite in the inlets and back bays of the region. Look for the flounder fishing to really heat up this week in the back bays with the warm weather reported.

Offshore Ocean:

Still not too much to report yet. There are a couple of NJ party boats making the run for tilefish when the weather allows, but I have not gotten any reports on if they are making it out and how the fishing is.

The first tuna of the year should hit the docks soon as the warm water creeps closer and closer. Some anglers in the region already have their eye on some warm water eddies, but they are still too far out to make a run.

Muff Diver Charters is running a 30 hour open boat offshore trip on Memorial Day Weekend. Click on their banner on the side of the page, or check them out on our "Charters & Guide Services" page to find more details. You can also give Captain Joe Riley a call @ (800-243-0342) or Captain Ryan Knapp @ (443-848-2260) for more info

Also look for shark fishing to heat up as the water temps start to get warmer.

Tight Lines,

Dave