Delaware offers exhilarating fishing adventures. The First State provides freshwater, river, sea, and ocean fishing. You may catch prize striped bass, delectable flounder, and elusive trout in Delaware. You’ll have an unforgettable fishing experience with the Delaware Bay Bridge as your background. Here is a complete guide on Delaware fishing including fresh and salt water.
Delaware Fishing Season & Regulation
Freshwater
| Species | Season Dates |
|---|---|
| Trout | March 6 – November 30 (designated trout streams and ponds) |
| Bass | Year-round (catch and release only from April 1 – June 30 in non-tidal waters) |
| Catfish | Year-round |
| Crappie | Year-round |
| Perch | Year-round |
Hotspots:
Freshwater fishing places abound in Delaware, ranging from picturesque lakes and ponds to meandering rivers and streams. Here are a few locations where you may enjoy your freshwater fishing:
Lums Pond State Park: At 200 acres, Lums Pond State Park is Delaware’s biggest freshwater pond. Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and pickerel may all be found there. Fishing may be done from a pier, a boat, or the beach. The park also has hiking trails, a nature center, and campgrounds.
White Clay Creek: White Clay Creek is a recognized trout stream that passes through Pennsylvania and Delaware. In the spring and autumn, rainbow and brown trout are supplied. In the stream, you may also catch sunfish, smallmouth bass, and wild trout. Fishing may be done from a kayak, canoe, or the bank. The White Clay stream State Park has routes for equestrian riding, bicycling, and hiking, and the stream is one of its features.
Trap Pond State Park: The nation’s northernmost natural stand of bald cypress trees may be seen at Trap Pond State landscape, a stunning landscape. Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish are all stocked in the pond. Fishing is possible from a boat, a rented pontoon, or the beach. In addition, the park has a disc golf course, a nature center, and a campsite.
Trout Fishing
| Species | Season Dates | Minimum Size | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout | March 6 – November 30 (designated trout streams and ponds) | No Size Limit | 6 |
Saltwater
| Species | Season Dates |
|---|---|
| Striped bass | Year-round (minimum size 28 inches, daily limit 1) |
| Flounder | March 1 – December 31 (minimum size 16.5 inches, daily limit 4) |
| Black sea bass | May 15 – September 21 (minimum size 12.5 inches, daily limit 15) |
| Tautog | January 1 – May 15, July 17 – August 31, October 8 – December 31 (minimum size 16 inches, daily limit 5) |
| Bluefish | Year-round (no minimum size, daily limit 10) |
Hotspots:
Delaware’s saltwater fishing areas include Delaware Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and coastal rivers. Some places to discover saltwater savvy:
Delaware Bay: This huge river divides Delaware and New Jersey. Its marine life and fishing chances are abundant. Striped bass, flounder, black drum, weakfish, croaker, spot, and more are available. You may fish from beach, boat, or charter. Popular bay fishing areas include the Outer Wall, Brown Shoal, and Overfalls Shoal.
Atlantic Ocean: Delaware borders the enormous Atlantic Ocean. Many pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish live there. Tuna, mahi-mahi, marlin, shark, black sea bass, tautog, and more are available. You may fish from beach, boat, or charter. Some popular ocean fishing places include the Indian River Inlet, Old Grounds, and Del-Jersey-Land Reef.
Coastal Rivers: Coastal rivers enter Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Tides affect their freshwater and saltwater fish selection. Fish for striped bass, flounder, bluefish, perch, shad, and more. Fishermen may fish from beach, boats, or kayaks. Indian River Bay, Lewes Canal, and Broadkill River are excellent coastal fishing areas.
Flounder season & limits
| Species | Season Dates | Minimum Size | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flounder | All year | 16 inches | 4 |
Sea Bass Season & limits
| Species | Season Dates | Minimum Size | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black sea bass | May 15 – Sep. 30 Oct. 10 – Dec. 31 | 13 inches | 15 |
Striper Season & Limits
| Species | Season Dates | Minimum Size | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bass | All year, except catch & release only on spawning grounds Apr 1 – May 31 | 28 – 31 inches; except 20 – 25 inches only – Jul 1 – Aug 31 in the DE Bay, River and their tributaries | 1, except catch & release only on spawning grounds April 1 – May 31 |
Blue Crabs, Clams, Conchs & Oysters season & limits
| Species | Season Dates | Minimum Size | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue crab | Pots: Mar. 1 – Nov. 30; other gears year around | Peeler – 3 inches Soft-shell – 3.5 inches Hard-shell – 5 inches Mature females – no size limit | 1 bushel |
| Jonah crab | All year | 4 3/4 inches | 50 |
| Hard clams | All year | 1.5 inches | 100/resident 50/non-resident |
| Knobbed whelk | All year | 5 inches / 3 inch whorl | 5 bushels |
| Channeled whelk | All year | 6 inches / 3.125 inch whorl | 5 bushels |
| Oysters | All year | 3 inches | 1/2 bushel |
Tidal and Non-Tidal Calendar
| SpeciesTidal Season DatesNon-Tidal Season Dates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trout | N/A | March 6 – November 30 (designated trout streams and ponds) |
| Bass | Year-round (catch and release only from April 1 – June 30 in non-tidal waters) | Year-round (catch and release only from April 1 – June 30 in non-tidal waters) |
| Catfish | Year-round | Year-round |
| Crappie | Year-round | Year-round |
| Perch | Year-round | Year-round |
| Flounder | All year | N/A |
| Black sea bass | May 15 – Sep. 30 Oct. 10 – Dec. 31 | N/A |
| Bluefish | All year | N/A |
| Striped bass | All year, except catch & release only on spawning grounds Apr 1 – May 31 | All year, except catch & release only on spawning grounds Apr 1 – May 31 |
| Tautog | Jan. 1 – May 15 July 1 – Dec. 31 | N/A |
- Delaware Fishing Season & Regulation 2024 Outline! - January 24, 2024