The Delaware Fishing Report offers information on when to fish, where to fish, which species are biting, and how to catch them. It is written weekly by veteran Delaware angler Eric Burnley, Sr.
Find information on fishing in Delaware on the DNREC Fisheries Section page and in the Delaware Fishing Guide. Don’t forget that you will need a Delaware fishing license. Find information on the tides in Delaware tidal waters from NOAA and about Delaware’s freshwater fishing ponds.
Updated: March 14, 2024
It only took a couple of warm-weather days for the fishing to improve and the fishermen to start catching. White perch were the prime catch, but small striped bass were mixed in the catch as well.
Patty at Captain Bones said stripers were caught at Dobbinsville, Battery Park and Woodland Beach on bloodworms and cut bunker. A few have been in the 28- to 31-inch slot.
White perch were taken at those same locations as well as the Saint Jones River on bloodworms.
Catfish showed up at Augustine Beach and Port Penn with cut bait the top producer.
Steve at Smith Bait told us white perch are available in all the tidal rivers and creeks on bloodworms. Striped bass have been caught on bloodworms from the Woodland Beach pier.
Dan at Dan’s Tackle in Milton said white perch and striped bass were caught on bloodworms, minnows and grass shrimp out on the Broadkill River, Ceder Creek and the Mispillion River.
Old Inlet Bait and Tackle told us still no change as no fish from the inlet or beach.
No report.
No report.
Lewes Harbour Marina still did not see any fish last week and all the charter boats are still on the hard. Look for some to go tog fishing in April.
No report.
Patty at Captain Bones in Odessa told us crappie are still available in the local ponds and lakes on live minnows and crappie jigs. Bass are also available on swimbaits and Rat-L-Traps.
Taylored Tackle in Seaford reported white perch caught on bloodworms from the Nanticoke River at Seaford. One customer caught and released a 24-inch striper on bloodworms at Phillips Landing.
Dan at Dan’s Tackle said crappie have been caught on minnows at the town park in Milton.
When you see how many striped bass are available in locations such as New Jersey, and even off our coast, you may wonder why the regulations on the fishery are so strict.
The people who make these regulations do not look at what’s here now, they look at what the young of the year (YOY) has been for the past years. The YOY for the past five years has been dismal. In 2023 it was the second lowest ever recorded.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is charged with managing striped bass. They have learned from experience that if you don’t take action to save the breeding stock you end up with fewer fish and that can lead to a moratorium.
I know from personal experience because I was on the State-Federal Committee that tried to come up with a plan to save the striped bass in the past. We failed.
Finally, Governor Hughes put a moratorium on Maryland striped bass and Delaware soon followed.
Eric Burnley, Sr. is a native Delawarean who has fished local waters for more than 60 years. Eric Burnley has been a full-time outdoor writer since 1978, with articles appearing in most national magazines and many regional publications. He has written three books: Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast, The Ultimate Guide to Catching Striped Bass and Fishing Saltwater Baits.
Related Topics: delaware bay, dfw, fishing, freshwater, indian river inlet, ocean and coasts, outdoors and recreation, surf fishing, wildlife