Black sea bass rules in Delaware
Size, bag and season for recreational black sea bass in Delaware waters, as published by Delaware DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife.
- Size
- 12.5" minimum
- Bag
- 15
- Season
- May 1 – Dec 31
Also on the agency page: Guide flags this row red ('Changes expected'). Confirmed by DNREC news release (news.delaware.gov, 2026-04-20): 2026/2027 rules reduce size 13 to 12.5", open May 1, eliminate the Oct 1–9 closure, limit remains 15; DNREC update (2026-04-30) says the rules apply in both state and federal waters for Delaware anglers.
Stale: this row was last checked Oct 10, 2026, past our 30-day limit. Treat it as history and go to the agency page.
Rules change in season, sometimes by emergency notice. This page summarizes the agency page on the date shown. If this summary and the agency page disagree, the agency page controls.
What to know before you keep one
Black sea bass seasons often come in several windows with different bag limits. Read the whole season line, not the first date.
State water or federal water
Delaware rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. North of Cape Hatteras, federal recreational measures come from the Mid-Atlantic Council and NOAA Fisheries. South of Cape Hatteras, black sea bass is a South Atlantic snapper-grouper species with its own federal rules. NOAA Fisheries · black sea bass ↗
Across the state line
Rules for the same fish change at the state line. If you run across it or land in the next state, those rules apply.
| State | Size | Bag | Status as of Oct 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 16" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 3 fish (May 16–Aug 31); 6 fish (Sept 1–Dec 31) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| New Jersey | 12.5" minimum (excluding tail filament) | 10 fish (May 15–Jun 21); 1 fish (Jun 22–Sep 22); 10 fish (Sep 23–Oct 31); 15 fish (Nov 1–Dec 31) | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Delaware | 12.5" minimum | 15 | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Maryland | 12.5" (excluding tail filament) | 15 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Virginia | 13" minimum | 15 | Openas of Oct 13 |