Beach-Net!'s
Lewes, Delaware
Fishing Report

(January 20, 2001)

Water Temp: Lewes - Lewes: 34' ~ De. Lightship: 39' as of Jan. 20, 2001

This week we'll discuss fishing for mako and tuna.

Mako start appearing in local waters around Fathers' Day with water temperatures 66' to 68' and usually they appear at Poorman's Canyon, the Jackspot and Hot Dog. They migrate northward through the Fingers.

The most popular chum is either mackerel or bunker and you should place your baits at different depths in the chum slick. Best baits are bluefish or mackerel and be sure to rig them with 6' steel leader and a 9/0 to 12/0 shark hook. Drifting or anchoring are equally effective. Many times blue whalers, thresher and dusky sharks accompany the mako.

Tuna are extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature. Sometimes the difference of one degree will determine their presence. When the water temperature reaches 68', about the last week of June, offshore fishing really increases with the arrival of bluefin and yellowfin tuna, king mackerel , wahoo, false albacore and dolphin . Early arrival spots would be the Parking Lot, Poorman's Canyon, Hot Dog, Ham and Chicken Bone and Massey's Canyon.

Trolling techniques for all species of tuna involve higher speeds of 9 knots or more and short lines sometimes placing your lures directly behind the boat. Most popular trolling rigs are cedar plugs, green machines, feathers, daisey chains and spreader bars. Rigged ballyhoo is very popular but slower trolling is required to enable a natural swimming motion.

Later in the season chunking becomes popular which we will discuss in a future article.

Our surf expert, Bill Weiss, will discuss his techniques in next week's article.