From the IRI web report:
"The long awaited start of the fishing season finally happened over the weekend. Amazing what a little warm weather will do.
Tony Torres, of Clarksville, MD, brought in the first striped bass of the season Saturday morning. The 27 inch striper hit a piece of green crab. Tony was fishing for tautog on the rockpile. Certainly a pleasant surprise.
Numerous stripers were reported over the weekend. Most were caught on red and white bucktails. The south rockpile was a frequently mentioned hotspot.
Old Inlet employee, Bud (Precious) Robinson, posted the first striped bass in the 2003 Old Inlet Striped Bass Contest. Bud's entry weighed in at 12 pounds 1 ounce.
Perhaps the biggest news came in this morning when Jim Winnerling (Old Inlet's resident rod repair expert) check in a 19 and half inch summer flounder. Jim said the flattie took a bucktail while he was fishing for stripers in the inlet.
The flounder season is open and is not scheduled to close during the 2003 season. The minimum size remains at 17 and half inches with a 4 fish a day limit."