Welcome to the first Delaware Bay Fishing Report of 2011!

<b>Pennsville</b>

Striped bass, good catches, were pulled from the Delaware River, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. None was huge, but lots were keepers to 28, 32 or 33 inches. He heard about the catches from as far upstream as Penns Grove, but that’s about how far customers fish. They fish at places like at the old nursing home in Penns Grove or at Pennsville’s Riverview Beach Park or along the road along the river in Pennsville. Most anglers dunked bloodworms for them, but fresh herring were usually stocked that could be used. Bloodworms and sometimes fresh bunker were stocked, and bunker were scarce lately. The weather often kept bunker boats from sailing last week. A few anglers started to fish for stripers from boats on the river. Not much was heard about striper fishing on Delaware Bay near the shop. But customers tended to fish from the banks of the river. Some began to fish for white perch along the tributaries and bridges and such, reporting decent catches.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Lots of striped bass filled the bay, and were caught for a month, but more keepers arrived now, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. So many swam the waters that the bass kept slamming the shop’s bunker netter’s catches, making catching bunker difficult. Saturday’s fishing for the linesiders was slow for boaters, though the fish were marked on the fish finder. But many days produced plenty of the fish. She heard nothing about Sunday’s fishing. Most anglers fished with clams for the linesiders. But some used bloodworms, and customers asked for fresh bunker. The bunker’s been available but scarce. Anglers should call ahead to order fresh clams to ensure a supply.  Bloodworms are also stocked.  In other news, big white perch were clocked on the Maurice River. A couple weighed nearly 2 pounds that were seen. The shop is open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The Girls Place is located on Route 47 just after Route 55 ends, and it’s the long, one-story, yellow building on the right. There’s a large parking lot with plenty of room for trailered boats.

<b>Fortescue</b>

Pedro LaMosca from Williamstown banked and released three striped bass to 26 inches from the Fortescue surf Sunday, fishing from high tide through several hours of outgoing with Gulp bloodworms, he said. He saw plenty of other stripers, mostly throwbacks but some keepers, landed, and most fished with real bloodworms. One youngster heaved up a 32-incher. Anglers on a party boat or large charter boat decked the fish surprisingly close to shore. Ed Engelke from Franklinville hit the Fortescue beach on Monday, hooking no stripers, but saw a few throwbacks caught. “Was a fantastic day,” he said, and he even copped a little tan. “You know what they say,” he said. “A day of fishing is better than a day’s work.”

The <b>Buccaneer</b> will begin fishing in about three weeks, Capt. Ralph Conrad said. Charters then will sail for striped bass and drum. Ralph is a pioneer of the bay’s drum fishing, began targeting the boomers before any charters commonly did. He compares fishing for them with deer hunting. Trips typically should anchor where drum are likely to come through, then wait for the fish, like on a deer stand. Boaters should stay at the spot unless moving to a bite that’s heard about at the moment. Ralph impales a big hunk of surf clam or other baits like shedder crabs on a tandem-hooked rig for the big fish.

<b>Port Norris</b>

<b>Port Norris Marina</b> will open Saturday and will probably be open daily afterward, weather permitting, Harrison said. Fresh clams will be stocked for striped bass fishing, and good catches, like a limit of the fish reported from a boat, were clocked already. The bay south of the 1 buoy gave up the fish lately.

<b>Bivalve</b>

“The bite is on!” said Jill from <b>Longreach Marina</b>, speaking about the bay’s striped bass fishing. But first, Jill gave the news that Pat, the long time manager at Longreach, has retired. Pat will be dearly missed, but congratulations to her! The bay won’t be the same without her. Stripers were boated south of the 1 buoy and near the E.P. Tower on clams. On the charter boat <b>Bodacious</b>, sailing from the marina this season, lots of stripers were dilled last week. The fishing might’ve been slower when the boat fished both days this weekend, and three of the linesiders were decked on the vessel Sunday, she believed, for example. Longreach wasn’t yet open for regular hours this season, but was open on weekends. Call the shop for the latest schedule. Fresh clams are stocked.

<b>Cape May</b>

The first trip of the year steamed Saturday on the <b>Down Deep</b>, Capt. Bob said. The Superior’s Builder’s charter on the outing clammed seven striped bass to 32 inches on the bay. Seas were okay, but Bob heard seas were bumpy Sunday. Drum should begin to show up in the bay around the third week of April.

Striped bass to 20 pounds were decked on the bay Saturday and Sunday with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. Seas were somewhat lumpy Saturday and were nasty Sunday. Anglers aboard are supposed to fish for the linesiders again in the next days, but tough weather that’s forecasted could prevent them. Legal Limit’s first drum trips on the bay usually start around May 10 or 12.

The boat was splashed for the season, and trips will begin fishing for striped bass on the bay, said Capt. Eric from <b>O-Beth Sportfishing Charters</b>. Call if interested, and visit <a href=" http://www.obethfishingcharters.com/index.htm
" target="_blank">O-Beth’s Web site</a>. Drum usually begin to bite in the bay in late April to early May, and trips will also fish for them.

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> was launched for the season Friday, Capt. George said, and trips are set to fish for striped bass on the bay. Charters will also hunt blackfish on the ocean. George had planned to fish for stripers with crew and friends Sunday, but forecasts called for stiff winds, and he changed plans. He heard the fishing was slow on boats that fished earlier in the day Saturday but that the few boaters who fished in the afternoon crushed the catches when hardly anyone was around. Anglers on board are supposed to fish for stripers this weekend. George online saw 44-degree waters on the bay at Brandywine and 47 degrees at the Cape May Ferry. Drum trips usually begin around the beginning of May.

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