Delaware · United States

Delaware Bay fishing forecast

78 Good of 100

Delaware Bay is a saltwater fishing spot in Delaware, United States. Anglers here target Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish, Red Drum. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, September, October, November.

Quick answer

Best monthsApril, May, June, September

Top speciesStriped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish

Score now78/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #140 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending up — 4 points above this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+24.3Waves+9.0Wind+8.0

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

17:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

minor 07:54

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	25.6 °C
Wind	18 km/h from WSW, gusting 28 km/h
Wave height	0.3 m at 7 s
Current	0.04 m/s toward NW
Pressure	1023 hPa
Depth	13 m
Cloud cover	100%
Chlorophyll	7.04 mg/m³
Salinity	31.3 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	7 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.1 m at 1 s
Ground swell	0.2 m at 7 s from E
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.04 → 0.00 m/s

The water here is 3.9 °C warmer than the September average of 21.8 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 26.7 m, with the thermocline below that.

Indian River Inlet tide chart & times · 38 km from this spot

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Delaware Bay

Delaware Bay currently scores 78 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 25.6 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +24.3: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Waves +9.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +8.0: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Chlorophyll +5.4: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Chlorophyll front +5.0: a plankton edge — classic feeding line
Current +3.8: moving water concentrates bait

What’s biting now

The model expects today: bluefish, striped-bass, bluefin-tuna, weakfish, red-drum, swordfish, scup, chub-mackerel

[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately

Bite windows

Moon

Waning Crescent · 14% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Delaware Bay:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-08-15, 84/100

21 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

4 points below the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Approximate bottom depth: 13 m

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore-only

What you can catch

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis
Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix
Weakfish

Cynoscion regalis
Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

Best months by species at Delaware Bay

Striped BassMorone saxatilis
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix
WeakfishCynoscion regalis
Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
Red Drum	1/day	45.7–68.6 cm slot	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Federal waters Gulf of Mexico: 1 fish/day, 18–27" slot. Atlantic federal rules differ.
Striped Bass	1/day	71.1–78.7 cm slot	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Federal Atlantic EEZ: 1 fish, 28–31" slot limit. State waters have separate rules.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.