2013 Delaware river reports (post'em here)

[jjsq22]

Thanks!!! No were getting them up by the turnpike bridge, were not catching a lot of fish, but were catching some good ones, and not really any small fish at all, but that could be the bait too. Big chunks of bunker and live white perch since we can't use herring. Blood worms are to expensive to lose to the perch or catfish. lol

[mu fish]

Originally Posted by jjsq22

So far in the 3 trips this year it has been the best I have done so far size wise, I got a 38" on Monday and a 28" my buddy got a 35" and a 33", he also broke off 1 and we missed two good runs. The day before I had one on for over 15 minutes and it pulled off under the boat, never got to see it :( and had a lightning run off as well, clicked the bail closed, line got tight, rod doubled over and boink popped off, :( The day before we had a 28" and a 32", weekend prior it was slow but I did get one 33" fish. Hoping to get back out Friday!!!

Nice job good looking fish. Been getting sum on live perch this year? Are u drifting them or anchored up with them? I've drifted about over 10 hours total so far with the live perch and nada yet.

[jjsq22]

Anchored, Fishing on bottom, Carolina rigged with a 1 oz. egg sinker and about an 18-24" leader, 7/0 circle hook. 20-25 foot deep on edges, they seem to be very skittish, we had one 3 way rig going and they would pick it up run a few feet and drop it, all fish came on C-rig, we keep bail clicked open (bait casting reels) with the cast control knob tightened just enough so the current doesn't pull but the fish can tear it off.

[jjsq22]

oops didn't answer perch question, yes they are C-rigged on bottom as well as the chunks, the two biggest were on live white perch, good size ones. We have just been using 1 bunker rod and one perch rod each. Not sure what the herring situation is. I've only been going out there for a few years, but seems when the herring slowed down in the past is when the perch bite turned on. I assume the herring show up in the river first? Not sure.

[1129chuck]

Looks like you guys found the hot spot this season. You said that you guys fished the drop offs. I was just looking at a map of bottom around the turnpike bridge. There seems to be no real structural differences just the deep channel then the slow slope up to the banks. Any tips on a location or just set up around 25 feet. Well anyway, keep sending those pics and I will keep wishing I was holding the fish. See y'all Chuckles

[jjsq22]

We've seen some other people catching them up that way too, were both pretty avid fresh water tournament bass fishermen, so were really particular on finding the spot on a spot, alot of depth finder work at idle speed, I looked at the charts in that area as well after we found one of our spots ( the bigger fish)to get a larger look of the area and they don't show half the crap that's going on down there>
The area does show a lot of just sloping, but look at the contour lines on the map, they will give a way points and sharper edges, look at the bank for changes in bottom substance/ sand/ rock/ mud etc. Even with having a good spot, it's still a waiting game, the day I got the 33" fish we fished for 7 hours with nothing. were basically bouncing back and forth between two to three spots within maybe a 5 mile stretch.

[always the eels]

Originally Posted by jjsq22

the day I got the 33" fish we fished for 7 hours with nothing. were basically bouncing back and forth between two to three spots within maybe a 5 mile stretch.

Kind of reminds me of something I heard from another fisherman: "Put your time in and you'll get one!"

Great stuff. Hopefully they keep biting for you! I need to convince the guy who we go out with to not just anchor up anywhere and actually use his fish finder to find the fish!! (or at least that drop off you are talking about)

[jjsq22]

Yeah being a bass fisherman using artificials and being used to constantly casting and standing on the trolling motor, then now just sitting anchored for hours on end just waiting is murder. lol but that one bite can make it all worth it.

Even just studying a 100 yard stretch makes all the difference, easier to learn an area that way, pick it to pieces and look for the subtle differences, I'm not an avid striper fisherman by any means, only go out maybe 3-5 times a year if I'm lucky. I Just apply what I learned in bass fishing and the little I know about stripers together and hope for the best. I'm hoping to get out Saturday, but I'm worried about all this rain really muddying up the water. I noticed There are alot of views on this thread everyday, so I really don't want to give away a small area to fish, but I like to see others catch them and believe in helping fellow fisherman out, so I would just say we have had our best luck between neshaminy marina and the turnpike bridge, that's a big enough area for a lot of people to fish. good luck and tight lines!

[always the eels]

Originally Posted by jjsq22

I noticed There are alot of views on this thread everyday, so I really don't want to give away a small area to fish, but I like to see others catch them and believe in helping fellow fisherman out, so I would just say we have had our best luck between neshaminy marina and the turnpike bridge, that's a big enough area for a lot of people to fish. good luck and tight lines!

HAHA, I understand this completely. Normally do the same thing. I know how annoying it is to not catch anything so when I learn something that can help others out, I love to let them know what is up!

[jjsq22]

I hear ya, nothing more frustrating than seeing others catch them up and not willing to share some info, I don't expect people to give up Gps coordinates but it's also not like were out fishing against each other for a million bucks either. lol

[mu fish]

Originally Posted by jjsq22

but it's also not like were out fishing against each other for a million bucks either. lol

That's my thoughts about Sharing info. Anyway headin out for a few hours in area between 2 bridges report back later....

[jjsq22]

Good Luck, look forward to a report and pics of some slobs later!!

[mu fish]

Best trip yet.....fished from 1:30pm-7:30 couple cat fish and one 18" bass right away while tide finished coming in then during slack I saw a spectactular show bass were chasing herring to the top couple of them looked like big splashes saw a few tails and then once tide turned going out and all hell broke loose for me. I have been bypassing this one spot all season finally gave it a shot and never moved after 2:30pm within 1st hour of out I had 4 bass over 32" upto 37" by trips end I had 9 bass over 29" and 11 fish between 20-28" nothing smaller than a 20" fish during outgoing. Fantastic trip. (Funny all 20-28" bass were caught after all the bigger fish were caught.)
Also caught 10 or so cats but I caught the biggest cat I've ever caught fought like a big striper stripping line and all couldn't fit both hands around it truly huge fish prob close to 20lbs over 15 easy.


I gota delete a lot of pics from my phone I can no longer store pics in my iPhone. Wish I had someone one board to take pics for me with the pigs I was getting they were all fat fish prob gorged on herring)

Still can't upload pics from phone what's the problem?

[Gravy Job]

Originally Posted by mu fish

Best trip yet.....fished from 1:30pm-7:30 couple cat fish and one 18" bass right away while tide finished coming in then during slack I saw a spectactular show bass were chasing herring to the top couple of them looked like big splashes saw a few tails and then once tide turned going out and all hell broke loose for me. I have been bypassing this one spot all season finally gave it a shot and never moved after 2:30pm within 1st hour of out I had 4 bass over 32" upto 37" by trips end I had 9 bass over 29" and 11 fish between 20-28" nothing smaller than a 20" fish during outgoing. Fantastic trip. (Funny all 20-28" bass were caught after all the bigger fish were caught.)
Also caught 10 or so cats but I caught the biggest cat I've ever caught fought like a big striper stripping line and all couldn't fit both hands around it truly huge fish prob close to 20lbs over 15 easy.


I gota delete a lot of pics from my phone I can no longer store pics in my iPhone. Wish I had someone one board to take pics for me with the pigs I was getting they were all fat fish prob gorged on herring)

Still can't upload pics from phone what's the problem?

Way to go Bro! Glad to hear you finally hooked up!

[natenlogansdad]

Might have to sneak out of the house while the wifey is still sleeping this weekend.