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FISHING REPORT
FROM
KATHY BAKER at BILL'S SPORT SHOP
With the onset of World War II, the U.S. Army established a military base at Cape Henlopen in 1941. Bunkers and gun emplacements were camouflaged among the dunes, and concrete observation towers were built along the coast to spot enemy ships. The Army pier was used to move amunition and supplies to the base and to put mines on the ships at the end of the pier, this pier, then known as the mine pier, is now used as one of the most popular fishing spots in the state.The observation towers on the beaches, built to be temporary, still stand and are used as markers for popular fishing spots by the surf fishermen. The twin towers area and Naval Jetty are very popular surf fishing spots today. And of course the Army is gone and camp grounds are in it's place.
The Civil Air Patrol was started by local private pilots to fly over our waters and report spottings of German submarines to the Army at Cape Henlopen. It was just a year and three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor that the Navy Destroyer Jacob Jones was sunk by the U-578 German submarine. The news of the destroyers sinking traveled fast, merchant vessels began to run with lights out but the news being released was not good. The news released from the military was that 24 merchant vessels had already been sunk. In those days the news was heard only by local radio, newspapers and seen by Movietone news at the movie theaters. And in the cinemas:
Goodbye Mr Chips with Robert Donat and Greer Garson.
Pygmalion with Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard.
Pinocchio by Walt Disney.
Wuthering Heights with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon.
Gone with the Wind with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.
Stage Coach with John Wayne and Claire Trevor.
Babes in Arms with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.
Roaring Twenties with James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Priscilla Lane.(North East Diary)
Just six days later on March 11, 1942, the steamer Hvosloff, a 255' long steel cargo ship was proceeding north near our Delaware light Ship. She was carrying a load of sugar from Cuba and was heading to Boston harbor cruising at a speed of 13 knots when she was struck on the starboard side near the #3 hatch by a torpedo from a German submarine. It was probably the same U-578 that was in the area. A second torpedo hit amidships. The Hvosloff sank in less than two minutes. Of the twenty person crew, 14 survivors came ashore at Fenwick Island.
The Hvosloff sits in 125' of water on a sand bottom, the bow is low but the boilers and other parts of the ship extend off the sand 25'. The stern is gone. She is now a popular dive wreck and is home to many species of fish. Wreck fisherman can expect to find Tau Tog, Sea Bass, Trigger Fish and Blue Fish along with many assorted species of shark. The Hvosloff has also, in past years, had sightings of Cod in the winter months.
Loran: 26931.3 42449.3
GPS: 3828.91 7432.21
And back to the present, there are still fish being caught, stripers can be found from Sea Colony to Fenwick Island along the beach. Tog are still being caught on the offshore wrecks.
Crabber John reports slot stripers are being caught at Massey's Ditch on bucktails and worms. Hickory Shad are hitting shad darts. Billy Lowe caught a 31 inch striper at the Indian River Inlet on plugs. Slot stripers are also being caught.
Citation yellow perch can be found in Misspillion and the Nanticoke according to Robert Marler on 1/8 and 1/16 Fin-S jigs.
Remember the Flea Market! April 6th. Free spots for your table, arrive early because most everybody was sold out by 10:00AM last year. Also, check out the links to our local charter fleet on our home page, now is the time to book your trip for this season.
Next week, the story of the Gypsum Prince.
Philadelphia Public Ledger January 27, 1915
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