Delaware saltwater fishing rules
Recreational size, bag and season for Delaware Bay, the Inland Bays and the ocean coast, from Delaware DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife. Open as of Oct 13, 2026: striped bass, summer flounder, black sea bass, bluefish, red drum, tautog, scup, spotted seatrout, weakfish, black drum, spanish mackerel.
| Species | Size | Bag | Season | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 28"–31" (slot); 20"–24" only Jul 1–Aug 31 in DE Bay, River and tributaries | 1 per day | All year, except catch-and-release only on spawning grounds Apr 1 – May 31 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Summer flounderChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 16" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31) | 4 | All year | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Black sea bassChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 12.5" minimum | 15 | May 1 – Dec 31 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| BluefishChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | No minimum size | 5 (private vessel or shore); 7 (charter boat or headboat) | All year | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Red drumChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 20"–27" (slot) | 5 | All year | Openas of Oct 13 |
| TautogChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 16" minimum | 4 | Jan 1 – May 15 and Jul 1 – Dec 31 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| ScupChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 9" minimum | 30 | All year | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Spotted seatroutChecked Oct 10, 2026 · STALE | 12" minimum | No daily limit | All year | Openas of Oct 13 |
| WeakfishChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 13" minimum | 1 fish per angler per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Black drumChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 16" minimum | 3 fish per angler per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Spanish mackerelChecked Oct 12, 2026 · STALE | 14" minimum | 15 fish per angler per day | Open year-round | Openas of Oct 13 |
This table summarizes Delaware DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife pages on the dates shown, and status is derived from each row's season dates on Oct 13, 2026. Rules change in season. The agency page controls:Delaware DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife ↗
Not on this list?
We publish a row only after checking it against the agency's own page. A species missing here is one we have not verified yet. That does not mean it has no rule. Use the agency link above, and see how we source.
Delaware portsLewes / Indian River Inlet