BLAKE CHANNEL DELAWARE BAY, DE
Blake Channel is located in the middle portion of the bay beginning around Reef Site 2 (LAT 30 11.30 LON 75 18.60) and running south to the Crossovers (LAT 39 02.70 LON 75 13.55) on the west side and 14-Foot Light (LAT 39 02.90 LON 75 10.90) on the east. The water depth drops from 33 feet at the north end to 49 feet just above the Crossovers. Joe Flogger Shoal with water as shallow as three feet borders the channel to the east with several similar shoals to the west.
All of this structure draws flounder, croaker and the big prize in the fall and spring: striped bass. Drifting accounts for most of the flounder and croaker during the summer while chumming is the ticket for spring and fall stripers. Blues will show up in the summer as they forage for food further up the bay during the dry season.
The abundance of flounder, croaker and blues will depend on the salinity of the bay water. Due to last year’s wet weather, these fish were scarce.
Bait is the factor that brings in the stripers. In the spring, large fish move up the bay to spawn and anglers can intercept them coming and going. Fall fishing is a bit different as the fish are feeding to prepare for the winter. While big bass may be a bit picky in the spring, they are usually ready to eat in the fall.
Chumming with fresh bunker has proved to be the top technique. Some of the more dedicated anglers are not above driving to Maryland for bait if local netters cannot keep up with demand. The most successful anglers will use fresh bunker for bait and chum. Not an inexpensive proposition, but when that big cow is hooked up, the money becomes unimportant.
A fishfinder is the most popular rig. A circle hook on 50- to 80-pound mono leader is the heart of this set-up. Once the boat is anchored, fresh pieces of bunker are dropped back in the wake and fresh chunks are sent to the bottom. After that, it is a waiting game.
Good access is available from Port Mahon and Bowers Beach. The run is short from both ports and the area is a bit more sheltered from the weather than the open bay waters to the south.
For those who prefer to fish from a head boat, Bowers Beach offers two choices. The Captain’s Lady (302-335-3500) with Captain Bob Trowbridge and the Miss Shyanne (302-363-0356) with Captain Dave Russell. I have fished on both of these boats and they offer comfortable facilities and both captains are well acquainted with Delaware Bay fishing.
When looking for a dining spot after a hard day on the water, look no further than Sambo’s (302-674-9724) in Leipsic. This small eatery offers only the freshest crabs and other seafood delivered by the boats that dock behind the restaurant. If you go during race week when the NASCAR boys are in town, you will find many drivers and crews enjoying the best food Delaware has to offer.
