Striped bass rules in Delaware
Size, bag and season for recreational striped bass in Delaware waters, as published by Delaware DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife.
- Size
- 28"–31" (slot); 20"–24" only Jul 1–Aug 31 in DE Bay, River and tributaries
- Bag
- 1 per day
- Season
- All year, except catch-and-release only on spawning grounds Apr 1 – May 31
Also on the agency page: Summer 20–24" slot applies only in the Delaware Bay, River and tributaries; 28–31" applies the rest of the year and in other waters.
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
Striped bass rules along the coast are built around a slot. A fish below the minimum or above the maximum goes back, so a measuring device on board is part of the rig.
State water or federal water
Delaware rules apply in state waters, generally out to 3 nautical miles. Possession of striped bass is prohibited in federal waters (the EEZ, beyond 3 nautical miles). Fishing for them there is also prohibited. Only state waters can be fished. 50 CFR Part 697 · eCFR ↗
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 | 28"–31" total length (slot) in marine waters | 1 fish | Openas of Oct 13 · Open through Dec 15 |
| New Jersey | 28"–31" (slot) | 1 fish | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Delaware | 28"–31" (slot); 20"–24" only Jul 1–Aug 31 in DE Bay, River and tributaries | 1 per day | Openas of Oct 13 |
| Maryland | Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot); Atlantic/Coastal Bays: 28"–31" (slot) | 1 fish per person per day | Openas of Oct 13 · Open in part from Dec 6 |
| Virginia | Coastal: 28"–31" (slot); Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot) | 1 fish per person | Openas of Oct 13 |