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Fall Fishing Good Along Coast
By David Maull, TV Times
When local ocean temperatures begin dropping in early fall, various species of fish begin their migration toward warmer waters.
This makes the Mid-Atlantic region the hub of surf fishing activity on the East Coast. Tournaments are held in nearly every state and Delaware is no exception, with three events scheduled for consecutive weekends in September and October.
"That's usually prime time for fall surf fishing," said Butch Evans, owner of Old Inlet Bait and Tackle south of Dewey Beach.
As ocean temperatures cool, fish leave the areas they've occupied all summer and begin heading south to warmer waters. This makes it possible to catch blues, flounder, stripers and trout in the surf, Evans said.
Harry Quay, third vice president of the Delaware Mobile Surf Fishermen, said flounder and trout move from the bay to the ocean in the fall.
"In fall, the fish are starting to migrate back and forth again," he said. "Almost everything is starting to be available. You never know what you're going to come up with."
To take advantage of the optimal fishing conditions, Old Inlet and B&R Tackle in South Bethany are hosting the inaugural Delaware Seashore Fall Surf Fishing Classic Oct. 3 and 4.
The tournament has been Evans' vision for two years and he enlisted the help of Bill and Greg Hamilton at B&R Tackle in making it a reality.
"It's doesn't hurt to work together," Evans said. "I felt Delaware could support a prestigious surf classic. We anticipate it growing very quickly."
The event will be held at designated fishing areas in Delaware Seashore State Park and Fenwick Island State Park. More than $3,000 in cash will be awarded along with another unique prize - bronze statues to the top three finishers.
"The detail is really incredible," Evans said of the statues, which are valued at about $1,000 each.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 20 finishers in the event, with first place receiving $800, second place $600 and third place $400. There is also a $1,000 cash prize for the largest fish.
Evans hopes the inaugural event will attract between 300 and 500 participants.
He noted surf fishing is a good alternative for those who don't want to take a boat into the ocean or bay and battle rough sea conditions.
"Surf fishing is probably as relaxing as any," he said. "You really don't have to hold your rod if you don't want to. It's just a different type of fishing."
Here's a look at two other tournaments being held along the Delaware Coast this fall:
· The Delaware Mobile Surf Fishermen will host their 12th annual tournament Sept. 26 and 27 at Cape Henlopen State park. Fishing will be done on the ocean beach between Gordon's Pond and the point
"We're trying to make it a little bit bigger and better each year," Quay said. "We're really excited about it."
The individual competition is Sept. 26, with $800 being awarded for first place, $400 for second place, $200 for third place and $100 for fourth place. The team competition is the following day, with the winners getting 50 percent of the total registration. Thirty percent and 20 percent go to the second- and third-place teams respectively.
There will also be a $10,000 prize to the fisherman who catches a striper that equals the weight inside a sealed envelope.
· The 19th Annual Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce Surf Fishing Tournament is slated for Oct. 10 and 11.
The fishing area runs from a point north of the Indian River Inlet to the south end of Fenwick Island. No vehicles are permitted on municipal beaches, which are open to walk-up participants only.
Cash prizes are $750 for first place, $500 for second, $350 for third and $150 for fourth. There is a $1,000 prize for the largest fish and a $25,000 reward to the person who breaks the state record for the largest bluefish.
The tournament will also have a family division and two children's divisions.
With fall being a time when fish are on the move, this three-week period makes Delaware the surf fishing capital of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Visit Old Inlet Bait & Tackle on the web at: http://www.beach-net.com/oldinlet.html
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Mid-Atlantic Beach Guide
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