Understanding current and tide is key to fishing in Delaware

By Eric Burnley
Last week, we discussed the tides and currents that determine where and when fish are likely to feed in the Cape Region. Since almost all the water in the region is tidal, knowledge of tides and current is critical to successful fishing. Most tackle shops give away tide charts, and this newspaper prints the tides in every edition.

What they do not tell you about are the different changes in current direction at locations such as Indian River Inlet and the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. As the tide fills the Inland Bays, it takes time before all that water reaches the end of the bays at Millsboro and Love Creek. Before the bays fill up, the tidal wave has passed by Indian River Inlet and the water begins to drop. Now high tide has gone by, but the current is still running in. This will continue until the bays reach high tide and the water begins to drain out. At that point, the current will be slack for a short time and then start running out.

Many years ago, when DuPont still owned Stren fishing line, they gave press tours called Stren University. I was fortunate to be a local outdoors writer and was always included as sort of the local guide. We had a group of a half-dozen writers at Indian River Inlet during a particularly nasty nor’easter. The inlet was in full display on outgoing water with huge standing waves, and numerous rips and whirlpools.

Read entire column at capegazette.com/node/214095.

Twig Burton: Good for the Caggianos! I will miss them downtown, especially the booth in the window~best seat in town.

David Bradley: 3-4 minutes from my house now instead of traveling to Rehoboth ... love it. Hope they still have a separate sports bar area.

Rick Rosen: I always loved going there and getting a Nic-a-boli with pepperoni! The best ever!

---