Tom Speake of Frankford watches his line.
Beachcomber photos ï Alicia
Mason
Jim (father) and South Trimble of Fenwick
Island enjoy the tournament. South sports a Maryland Terrapin
outfit.
Gary Born gets a bite during last year's
Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce Spring Surf-Fishing
Tournament.
|
This coming weekend marks the beginning of fishing season along
the lower Delaware shore with the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of
Commerce Spring Surf-Fishing Tournament. The event will take place
Saturday, May 10, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
And anglers along the shore could be in for some good bluefish
the weekend of the tournament. During the week of May 5, Old Inlet
Bait & Tackle reported good runs of blues from Fenwick to
Rehoboth, with great catches around the Indian River Inlet, 3R's
Road and in front of the Indian River Lifesaving Station.
Cut mullet, bucktail, and metal baits seemed to work the best in
recent days, according to the report. Old Inlet, a sponsor of this
spring's tournament, posts its weekly fishing reports at http://www.oldinlet.com/ The
shop is located about two miles north of Indian River Inlet on Route
1.
Owner Butch Evans says that bluefishing should hold out for the
tournament weekend. "They showed up about five or six days ago and
have been hitting hard," he said. "They tend to show up around
Mother's Day."
Flounder and Striped Bass are emerging as well, he said, but
inconsistent spring weather has kept many angler indoors.
"Unfortunately, we haven't had too many nice days, but the fish are
there," he says.
Late registration for the tournament will be accepted at the
Quiet Resorts Visitor's Center, Route 1 in Fenwick island, on
Friday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday (tournament
day) May 10, between 6 and 7 a.m. Registration fees are $30 for
individuals, $40 for families.
Prizes this season include the mother of all cashouts: $25,000
for the bluefish that beats the Delaware State record. Currently,
that record stands at 21 pounds, 17 ounces, caught right here at
Bethany Beach in 1980.
Other prizes include the following: $1000 for largest fish, $750
for most points, $500 for 2nd most points, $350 for 3rd most points,
and $150 for 4th most points. Kids' prizes (ages 10-14) include a
brand new surf rod and reel for most points, and a reel for 2nd most
points. Also, the family that catches the most fish wins a prize.
Prizes will be awarded at the Chamber on May 10th at 5:30 p.m.
Winners must be present to receive prizes.
Points are awarded to the individual who catches the fish. Judges
will be patrolling the beach during fishing hours to measure and
record catches. Once a fish is caught and recorded, it is marked and
released, and ineligible to be entered again.
This spring's tournament is presented by Resort Quest Realty and
the Holiday Inn Express, as well as area bait an tackle retailers:
B&R Tackle and Hunting Supplies, Fenwick Hardware, Old Inlet
Bait & Tackle, Fenwick Hardware, Bethany and Resort Rental
Service, Bill's Sport Shop, Captain Mac's Bait & Tackle, Fenwick
Tackle, Henlopen Tackle, Lewes Harbor Marina, and Murray's Bait
& Tackle.
Originally published Friday, May 9, 2003
