THIS IS THE FINAL DELAWARE BAY REPORT OF THE YEAR!

<b>Bivalve</b>

Boaters were scarce at the marina most of last week through the weekend because of rough weather, but striped bass were still out there, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Fresh bunker, the bait to fish, ran out for the season, but fresh-frozen bunker is stocked. The shop buys a supply of fresh bunker for the sole purpose of getting the bait immediately in the freezer. Boat slips will no longer be available this season, and the docks will be pulled from the waters. But openings are available for slips next season, and the boat ramps and marina remain open through winter. So trailered boats will still be able to be launched to fish the bay, and boaters can also launch to fish the Maurice River, where the marina is located, all winter for great white perch fishing and catfishing, maybe some of the best undiscovered angling around, and the river is beautiful. Pat thanks all the boaters who stopped by this season and wishes everyone Happy Holidays and New Year’s and a good winter. 

<b>Cape May</b>

Not a lot was heard from the bay, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b>, but good numbers of striped bass were trolled or were taken on cast Storm shads at Brown Shoal, on the Delaware side of the southern end of the shipping channel. At the Cape May Rips anglers on the Melanie Ann hooked stripers to 42 inches at Middle Shoal early last week, before the windy weather, mostly on cast Storm, Tsunami and Calcutta rubber baits. Surf fishing was off throughout the entire fall around Cape May, and a few fish were beached, but no solid run developed. Anglers hoped the cold weather would still push stripers down to the surf from up north. The shop will be open a short time longer until closing until March or April.

Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b> wrapped up his season, pulling the boat from the waters, he said. But a couple of trips eeled healthy catches of striped bass at the Cape May Rips between the rough weather last week. Trips Saturday and Sunday were cancelled because of forecasts.

A charter limited out on striped bass on the ocean Sunday, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. The anglers trolled the fish and three blues in rough seas and winds. The ocean was 50 degrees, and George heard about nobody trying for stripers at the Cape May Rips since Tuesday before the weather, when they did catch. But he saw no reason stripers shouldn’t still swim the rips, considering water temps. He’ll keep chartering as long as stripers remain.

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