Sometimes you’re the Windshield.  Sometimes You're the Bug.
May12, 2012

(Lewes, DE) - Our trip began just after 3:00pm Saturday, as we departed from Lewes, Delaware aboard the LIL ANGLER II in search of Black Drum.  The Charter included Colby Hastings of Seaford DE, Bobbi Jo Dean of Georgetown DE, Dick Papp of Milton DE, and birthday boy, John Meredith of Lincoln DE.  We headed directly up the Delaware Bay to my favorite area, only to find it littered with other boats already fishing.  Shifting gears to 'Plan B,' we located another area with plenty of room.  A light west wind, combined with the start of the ebb made for ideal conditions.  We anchored in 15 feet of water, and let out about 500 feet of anchor line to get the LIL ANGLER II just where I wanted it.  Once anchored and pinned on the rode, fresh surf clams from Lewes Harbor Marine were promptly shucked and deployed on a fish finder rig using 4 ounces or weight.  Thirty pound fluorocarbon leaders up to 20 inches long were snelled to 8/0 Gamagstu circle hooks.

After an hour bait soak and several bait refreshing, angler Dick Papp hooked into his first Delaware Bay black drum! The fish measured 34 ½ inches, and weighed in at approximately 28lbs.  Bobbi Jo Dean hooked up next, hauling in a 29 inch, 18 pound fish.  Bobbi Jo also scores a second fish around 21 pounds.  Next up, John Meredith hooks what we can tell from experience, is going to be a beast.  What followed was a battle lasting and hour and twenty five minutes! While John is still in the battle of his life, Dick Papp landed a nice 35 pounder, and Bobbi Jo hooks up again. This time however, he hands the rod off to Colby, who has yet to catch one.  Colby’s efforts pay off with a 34 pound fish.  John Meredith finally lands his biggest fish ever, tipping the scales at 54.75 pounds, and first ever Delaware Fishing Tournament citation and patch.  As the saying goes, at this point of the day, The LIL ANGLER II is without a doubt 'the windshield.'

How fast things can change......

Saltwater Fishin’ Vol 4, No. 4

Pro Recommends Deep Diving Plugs for Spring Stripers

Capt. Brian Rice uses light tackle to troll for early season striped bass -  Here’s how he does it

Captain Brian Rice ran the Jersey Devil, a 29’ Yamaha-powered Contender®, from its slip in the Nevasink River down into Raritan Bay, a large embayment nestled between the tip of Sandy Hook, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York.  He was headed toward the mouth of the Raritan River to an area of flats surrounding the main shipping channels. Upon reaching his destination, he slowed the boat, and the depth finder lit up with pods of striped bass hugging the bottom in 20-to-30-feet of water. This area is part of the larger estuary complex that is home to the Hudson River stock of striped bass, which also includes places such as Jamaica Bay and Western Long Island Sound. It is similar to other estuary complexes associated with the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay stocks of stripers, and they are all great places to fish for linesiders in the spring months.

Mate Jim “Peaches” Massimino, Jr. shows off a particularly large spring bass that could resist a Stretch plug.

The overwhelming majority of the East Coast striped bass population is comprised of cohorts from those three major spawning stocks.  READ MORE HERE

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