Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report! - 5-14-13 (DE, NJ, MD, PA)

Chesapeake Bay:

Strong rain and winds turned the bay above the bay bridge into a muddy mess this past week. While action above the bridge was still decent, action below the bridge and down throughout the bay was even better.

Reports of bitten off shad tails are starting to come in which means bluefish have begun to show up.

With the slot limit opening up this weekend. Anglers will start to scale down their trolling tackle for these smaller rockfish and blues.

Chumming and light tackle jigging has been decent the past week as well. Action should continue to improve for both this week.

Delaware Bay:

Striper fishing in the upper bay has been very good this week when anglers have been able to get out or have decided to fish through the wind.

Black drum fishing has also been very good this week off Slaughter Beach at the coral beds, as well as on the Jersey side.

There have been good reports of keeper sized flounder at the Cape Henlopen Pier and in the Lewes Canal. Blue fish have also been reported in the lower bay area.

Delaware tog season closed this past Saturday, which is a shame because the tog fishing had been very good at the reef sites and rock piles in the lower bay.

Inshore Ocean:

Striper fishing in Northern NJ is still very good. Anglers are still connecting on Stripers in the Raritan Bay/Sandy Hook region both "out front" and in the bay. Trolling, Chunking, and Live Lining have all been working on the linesiders.

With water temperatures heating up and sea bass season opening this upcoming Sunday I expect many anglers to be targeting the inshore wrecks as well as popular locations such as "B" buoy for sea bass this coming week.

Thresher sharks should also be moving into the inshore waters now. Chumming in the shipping lanes between "A" and "B" buoy has always been a popular method for targeting threshers.


Offshore Ocean:

A few boats made it offshore in the brief weather window last Friday.

Captain Sean from Restless Lady Sport Fishing connected on a 138# mako in the Baltimore Canyon on Friday. They also reported catching blue sharks and false albacore.

I did hear of a couple boats out of NJ that scored on false albacore, bluefin tuna and a couple yellowfins in the warm canyon water on Friday.

Captains Joe Riley and Ryan Knapp of Muff Diver Charters have a 30 hour trip booked this upcoming weekend. With the warm water still in reach hopefully they put together a nice catch.

Check out our offshore advertisers - Muff Diver Charters - Restless Lady Sport Fishing - Always Late Sport Fishing to book a trip!

If you are looking to stock up on offshore gear check out our advertisers - Homeland Tackle Company and Restless Lady Tackle Box. They have a wide variety of spreader bars, daisy chains, ballyhoo rigs etc. Check them out!

Freshwater:

Trout fishing in the region has still been good. This is one of the best times to trout fish as many anglers have moved on to other fisheries and the creeks wont be as crowded.

Crappie fishing has still been on fire this past week. Small jigs, spinners and minnows are the best baits for crappie fishing.



Tight Lines,

Dave