The Fishin' Hole, longtime Daytona Beach staple, anchors a corner of local angling scene

The COVID hangover continues in the bait-and-tackle game, but it’s not all bad news. In fact, in some ways it’s good news. 

In the spring of 2020, when many other businesses were struggling, The Fishin’ Hole had folks lined up outside the door. Fishing — a fresh-air activity offering plenty of elbow room — was enjoying a run, and Gene Lytwyn hooked some keepers inside the shop he and wife Lisa have owned since 1989.

“It was crazy busy,” he says. “Off the charts. We had to put a sign on the door saying no more than 10 people in the store at a time.”

Lisa recalls many newbies from that bizarre period of time.

“A lot of them had never fished before,” she says. “After the stress of that first month, it was like they said, ‘I’m taking up this hobby I’ve always wanted to take up.’ So you had a lot of people coming in who never fished a day in their lives.”

And, for some of those folks . . .

“Fishing has become a regular thing,” Gene says.

This is obvious if you’ve noticed the uptick in the number of folks you see on docks, piers, surf lines and, at that endless source of entertainment, the public boat ramps.

“I’d say about 80% of our customers are regulars,” Gene says. “We see them every week or two.”

YOU KNOW JACK? Don't throw away that pompano ... unless it's a Jack

FISHBITES:The idea for Fishbites began with young Billy Carr in New Smyrna Beach

That’s all great and hopefully it continues and . . . what? You thought we forgot the bad news? The Lytwyns have been dealing with two other Covid-era issues that have proven stubborn: The kinked supply chain and a workforce that’s hard to lure.

“It used to be, if you walked in and said, ‘Gene, can you get me this?’ I could pick up the phone or get on the computer,” Gene says. “And in two or three days it was here. Now, no. I can order it, but can’t tell you if it’ll be a month or six months.”

Or longer.

“A lot of the stuff we get in now, we ordered a year and a half ago,” Lisa says.

The workforce issues have basically curtailed the Lytwyns’ own fishing excursions. The store is open 11 hours daily, Sunday through Friday, and 12 hours on Saturday. Almost all of that time, they’re behind the counter as they continue trying to fill a couple of part-time job openings.

“Last week we took out an ad for the jobs and scheduled 40 interviews,” Gene says. “Just one showed up.”

Challenges aren’t new for The Fishin’ Hole, which was already 30 years old when the Lytwyns bought it in ’89. It was a bait-and-tackle under a different name for 30 years prior to that, Gene says of a building that’s become a community anchor on the corner of Beach Street and Fairview, immediately west of the Main Street Bridge. 

Eventually, supplies should flow again, and job openings will be filled. Hopefully, America’s collective fishing bug will remain, and maybe best of all, The Fishin’ Hole will play a role in the latest attempt at downtown revitalization, fueled in large part by the ongoing Riverfront Park renovation — part of which the Lytwyns can see just across the street.

“Every time there’d be a project, it’d be down on that end of Beach Street and never make it up here to us,” Gene says. “This is one of the first times it looks like something is going to happen down at this end. We’re a little optimistic.”

Halifax/Indian River

The wind continues to challenge those who just won’t be denied a chance to chase fish. If you’re among the hardy souls looking for inshore cover, there’s a story going around about the funky tripletail, whose “prehistoric looks” (according to one local source) belies its reputation as perhaps the finest tasting swimmer within reach.

“This time of year, tripletail invade the intracoastal waterway,” says Craig Patterson (Donald’s Bait & Tackle in Port Orange). “Find them around channel markers, sign posts, buoys, or anything floating near the channel — especially between the Dunlawton and Orange Avenue bridges.”

Most tipsters suggest quietly drifting a live shrimp or cutbait past the structure. Tripletail have a reputation for coming to the boat reluctantly, so prepare for a nice little battle. If the legalities are in place (18-inch minimum, daily bag limit of two), you’re looking at an amazing offering of flaky white meat with practically nothing else needed in the skillet (OK, maybe a squeeze of lemon).

Elsewhere in the ICW, Ike Leary (Granada Pier Bait & Tackle) says from his planks south to LPGA Boulevard, he’s been getting reports of reds, trout, mangroves and snook. “Fish don’t care if it’s windy,” Ike insists.

Gene Lytwyn confirms the snook chatter — “steady around area bridges and docks,” he says.

Surf/Piers

B.J. Taylor operates Southern Bred Charters, which specializes in regular surf-fishing as well as land-based shark fishing. He’s preaching the old sermon of early-mornings and late afternoons — “the summertime pattern is starting,” he says, while also suggesting a little more beef on the line to deal with current currents.

“In most areas throughout Volusia County we’ve been dealing with stronger current, but weights of four and five ounces have been holding,” he says. 

Big whiting, flounder, jacks and a stray pompano have been hitting south of Ponce Inlet, Taylor says, while the pompano bite has been better northward toward Jacksonville. 

“The main baits of choice have been salted and fresh clams, live sand fleas if you can get them, and all colors and flavors of Fishbites,” he says.

Back uptown at The Fishin’ Hole, Lytwyn is still hearing talk of pompano, as well as flounder around the ocean piers, jetties, nearby reefs and inshore structure.

Roy Mattson (Roy’s Surf Fishing Service) is still targeting and catching some pompano, but also says he beached a 26-inch flounder recently. Roy also reminds everyone he’ll be shutting down for the summer beginning May 11.

St. Johns

The big lakes are a tough sell in these winds, but the main river is calmer and offering lots of panfish opportunities.

“We had some guys get into some bream and caught their limit,” says Kerry McPherson (South Moon Fish Camp in Astor). 

Different freshwater fishermen might have different interpretations of "bream," and for McPherson he's talking bluegill. That limit is 50 per day, per angler, and worms and crickets are the time-honored temptations.

“Stripers are still hitting in the river, mostly on artificials,” McPherson adds. “Largemouth bass still doing good on shiners. The river isn’t too bad but it’s a little hard to fish Lake George right now.”

Lake George, he says, is where you’ll find most of the bedding bream. Most, but not all. He had a couple of visitors this week get their limit just south of Lake George. “Just south,” was as specific as they got. Imagine that.

This & That

• The rescheduled Offshore Challenge is poised for its three-day run next Friday-Sunday (April 29-May 1). The event is conducted by the Halifax Sport Fishing Club and the targets are mahi, kingfish and wahoo.

Captain’s meeting is next Tuesday, so get after it soon if interested. 

More info on the club’s website (HSFC.com) or by calling tournament director Mark Hudimac at 919.306.3340.

• The HSFC is also hosting its annual Special Needs Fishing Tournament on May 7 at the pier under the Dunlawton bridge, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (registration runs from 8:30-9). Fishing gear and bait is provided, as is lunch and beverages. Club members will be on hand to assist the anglers.

It’s free, by the way!

More info available on the club’s Facebook page or the website at hsfc.com.

Hook, Line and Clicker

We want to see your most recent catch. Email your fish photos to ken.willis@news-jrnl.com.

Please include first and last name of angler(s), as well as type of fish (we're occasionally stumped). All are included with our online fishing report, and some occasionally make the print edition.