WGMD Fishing Report 4-15-18

Saturday saw more wind and warm temperatures.  Once again the seas were too rough for safe boating.

There have been good numbers of short rockfish caught from Indian River Inlet.  These fish are in the 15 to 20-inch class and are hitting bucktails and Kastmasters.  The best time to fish has been from sunrise until 8:00 AM.  The South Jetty and the North Pocket are the most productive areas.

A few keeper rockfish have been caught from the Upper Bay.  Bloodworms and cut bunker have been the top baits here.  Quite a few of these short rock have been caught by anglers targeting white perch.  If you fish with bait above a line going east from the South Jetty at the C&D Canal you must use non-offset circle hooks.  The latest report from the DNREC Enforcement office has one angler who didn’t obey that law and he now will have to pay a fine.

I suggest using non-offset circle hooks anytime you fish with bait.  These hooks will set themselves and usually hit the corner of the fish’s mouth making for a quick release. 

This is Eric Burnley with you WGMD fishing report.