Weekly Mid-Atlantic Fishing Report! - 4/17/15

The Mid-Atlantic Sportsman Weekly Fishing Reports are back! Check back with us every Friday to get the up to date fishing reports from our region! As always please email us your reports, and pictures so we can add them to this report as well! dtmasportsman@yahoo.com


Offshore Ocean:

The first mako shark of the season was brought into OCMD the last week of March this year. This fish was caught out in the warm water at the Baltimore Canyon. Since then I have heard reports of yellowfins being caught in the Baltimore when the weather allows. We usually don't start hearing about yellowfins coming into NJ/DE and MD ports until at least May, so this is a very nice start to the offshore season.

Giant bluefins are being caught off of the Virginia coast. Look for these fish to be passing through off the MD, DE and NJ coasts as we speak.

Tog fishing on the offshore wrecks has been very good when boats have gotten out. Limits of tog are common with clams, and crabs being the top bait producers.

Inshore Ocean:

I have not heard much happening inshore yet in our region. I expect to hear of stripers being caught inshore off of northern NJ very soon.

Thresher sharks should start showing up along the beaches as well.


Chesapeake Bay:

Trophy season opens tomorrow (April 16th) on the Chesapeake. The PSCR reports have indicated decent fishing as the water is still a little on the cool side. As the temperatures creep up stripers should be more willing to hit the trolled offerings of anglers fishing the trophy season.


Delaware Bay:

Striper fishing is pretty good in the northern DE bay. The action is not hot and heavy, but nice fish are being caught. Fresh bunker is key. As the water warms even more the action should pick up the further down the bay you go.

I fished twice the past week and caught 4 shorts one day and 1 keeper the next. The Delaware striped bass regulations will change starting May 11th. On may 11th anglers will be able to keep any combination of 2 stripers between 28" and 37" or 44" and greater. So any fish 37.01" through 43.99" will need to be released.

Tog fishing should kick off at the lower bay reefs and rockpiles soon.

The prime time for black drum fishing is quickly approaching as well. I imagine some fish have already moved into the famous spots in the lower bay, and once more people start fishing we should see some being caught. The first full moon in May is usually the best time for these big boomers.

Freshwater:

Trout fishing is in full swing all over the region. More stockings are taking place and fishing should stay good until the end of May. Usually the opening weekend crowds die down big time after the first week and fishing improves greatly.

Pond and lake fishing in the area has been good with bass, pickerel, and crappies all being caught. With still semi cool temps fishing is usually good throughout the day unlike in the summer when early am and late pm are the best times to fish.

Tight Lines,

Dave

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