During the first week of July, the smaller "summer weakfish" should put in their appearance. As a rule, these fish range from 1 to 3 pounds, with a few larger specimens thrown in for good measure. It is possible to tangle with some nice fish if you toss a large chunk of shedder crab just off the sod banks and grassbeds that dot the shorelines of both states.

The top bait for weakfish remains shedder crab, or peelers, as they are known in the First State. You should always fish your bait on or somewhere near the bottom, since that's where most weakfish in Delaware Bay do their feeding. That's where they'll search for grass shrimp, mantis shrimp, and small crabs, especially those that are in the shedding stage. Bloodworms can be used as well, and even some of the substitutes such as Fishbites Bag O' Worms and Berkley Gulp! worms will attract sea trout.

Where are some of the top locations where these summer weakfish can be found?

According to well-known Delaware writer and fisherman Eric Burnley of Milton, there are always some weakfish feeding around the inner and outer walls off Lewes. Heading up the bay, the Coral Oyster Beds off Slaughter Beach are well within range of small-boat anglers out of Mispillion River. Of course, there's always the Mohawk Wreck that holds weakfish and probably lots of hung-up bucktails and other fishing rigs as well.

Then there are the reefs and rubble on the Delaware side, with the area in upper Blake's Channel being a fine spot, despite the heavy current. In fact, anywhere along the edge of the channel from the mouth of the bay, up to off Woodland Beach can be utilized for some good results. Likewise, fishing the sloughs running parallel with the channel are good bets anytime.

Turning to New Jersey, the jetties at Cape May will produce weakfish throughout the summer, but they are of the regular variety and not the tiderunners taken during the spring. Up the bay, the 20- and 60-foot sloughs see lots of fishing pressure, as does the entire Maurice River Cove up to the No. 1 buoy. To find weakfish, many small-boaters head for the waters around the EP Tower and the dropoff just west of it.

Out in front of Fortescue, you'll find weakies in the first and second dropoffs. And the holes near the No. 6 buoy are favorite weakie spots as well. Heading north, the Jersey side of the 35 buoy and around the 32 and 34 buoys will likely have many boats anchored there, often from Delaware ports as well as the Jersey marinas. There are still some places to the north that attract sea trout, especially later in the summer. These areas are off the Cohansey River and up as far as the Hope Creek Jetty. The farther you go up the bay where it narrows, the more you'll see Delaware and New Jersey boats sharing the same locations.