This is the Official Delaware Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Delaware state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
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Weather its Delaware Trout fishing, Delaware bass fishing, Delaware striper fishing, Delaware Salmon fishing, Delaware Catfish fishing, Delaware steelhead fishing, Delaware Panfish fishing, Delaware pike/muskie fishing, Delaware Walleye fishing,  Delaware Marlin Fishing, Delaware Salt Water Fishing, Delaware Tuna fishing, Delaware Tarpon fishing, Delaware Snook fishing, Delaware Red fish fishing We have the Delaware state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Delaware fishing maps, Delaware state fishing maps, or just some Delaware fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Delaware Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Delaware, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Andrews Lake, Becks Pond, Betts Pond, Chipman Pond, Concord Pond, Coursey Pond, Garrisons Lake, Griffiths Lake, Haven Lake, Hearns Pond, Horsey Pond, Ingrams Pond, Lums Pond, Masseys Mill Pond, McGinnis Pond, Millsboro Pond, Moores Lake, Mud Mill Pond, Records Pond, Silver Lake, Wagamons Pond, Waples Pond and others. Many of the lakes in Delaware have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Delaware is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Catfish fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Tiger Musky, Chain Pickerel and sunfish including Redear Sunfish, White Perch, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Delaware by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports.

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass
Fishing in Delaware.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Delaware area.

Bass Fishing Lakes In Delaware

Wherever you're at in DE, it's a short drive to a bass fishing lake. Andrews Lake, Becks Pond, Betts Pond, Chipman Pond, Concord Pond, Coursey Pond, Garrisons Lake, Griffiths Lake, Haven Lake, Hearns Pond, Horsey Pond, Ingrams Pond, Lums Pond, Masseys Mill Pond, McGinnis Pond, Millsboro Pond, Moores Lake, Mud Mill Pond, Records Pond, Silver Lake, Wagamons Pond and Waples Pond all have populations of bass. Andrews Lake produced the Delaware state record largemouth bass. The state record smallmouth bass came from the Brandywine River.

Trout Fishing in Delaware

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Trout fishing waters in Delaware

The lakes in DE are not stocked with trout. The state record trout came from White Clay Creek. Visit the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife website for details on trout fishing in Delaware.

Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss

Known for its tasty pink flesh, beauty and gameness, the rainbow trout is a favorite among the vast majority of trout fishing anglers. It also appeals to the fly fisherman as it can be tempted to take properly presented flies as well as other baits and lures. It feeds on small insects, minnows, crustaceans and worms. Rainbow trout fishing is fun for both sport and dining pleasures.

In waters that allow such migration the rainbow trout will remain in streams until it reaches 6" to 9" in length and then travel to lakes or oceans where it will bulk up and then return to the streams or rivers to spawn. Steelhead trout are rainbow trout which have adapted to the salt water environment. Fishing for steelhead is very similar to fishing for rainbows. However in winter the steelhead typically prefer spoons or bait rather than flies.

Walleye Fishing in Delaware

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Walleye Fishing Waters In DE

Delaware lakes are not stocked with walleye which limits your choices to a few rivers. The state record walleye was caught out of Brandywine River.

Delaware walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Fish for Delaware walleye with live bait, crankbaits, spoons, small spinner baits as well as plastic worms and grubs.

Crappie Fishing in Delaware

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In Delaware

You have several choices for crappie in DE. Try your luck at Andrews Lake, Becks Pond, Betts Pond, Noxontown Pond, Wagamons Pond or Waples Pond. The state record came from Noxontown Pond.

Biologists classify the many varieties of this specie into two main categories. Both have been introduced in many waters both north and south and they tend to adapt to most environments.

Catfish Fishing in Delaware

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Waters in DE

Most rivers in Delaware have catfish at one level or another. The only lake with a significant population of catfish is Waples Pond. The state record catfish came out of the C&D Canal.

Most catfish are considered bottom feeders to one extent or another. They will generally eat anything that can get in their mouth. Their strongest sense is smell which they use to locate potential food sources. Capitalizing on this sense is the primary weapon in your search for these creatures. Aggressive catfish have been caught on most types of fast moving bass lures so don't under estimate their ability to catch live bait.

Sunfish Fishing in Delaware for Redear Sunfish, White Perch, Yellow Perch and Other DE Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Delaware and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Delaware

Panfish are everywhere in Delaware. Major lakes like Andrews Lake, Becks Pond, Betts Pond, Chipman Pond, Concord Pond, Coursey Pond, Garrisons Lake, Griffiths Lake, Haven Lake, Hearns Pond, Horsey Pond, Ingrams Pond, Lums Pond, Masseys Mill Pond, McGinnis Pond, Millsboro Pond, Moores Lake, Mud Mill Pond, Records Pond, Silver Lake, Wagamons Pond and Waples Pond all have populations of panfish.

The Delaware state records for both bluegill and redear sunfish were taken out of Diamond Pond. The DE state record yellow perch came from Red Clay Creek.

Striper & Hybrid Bass Fishing in Delaware

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striper Waters in Delaware

None of the lakes in DE are stocked with striped bass. The coastal waters and rivers draining into the ocean are your best bet to catch a striper in Delaware. The state record striped bass came from Indian River Inlet.

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
World Record: 78.8 lbs

In natural settings striped bass live the majority of their life in the ocean and migrate into freshwater rivers to spawn. Once it was determined that stripers could survive in fresh water they were introduced into fresh water impoundments as a test. Results ranged from complete failure to resounding success. Often successful to the extent of eating the local species out of house and home. Stripers can live up to 30 years if conditions allow.

Striped bass generally spend their time in the middle sections of the lake, in deeper water than most fish. Their primary diet is shad. They prefer the larger shad which are too big to be eaten by the vast majority of other fish in the lake. Stripers will eat just about any fish they can get in their mouth. As a schooling fish which can grow to enormous size they can deplete a school of baitfish in very short order. When you catch a striper you can rest assured that there are probably more close by.

Fishing for Striped Bass in Delaware

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.

Hybrid Bass - Wiper Bass
Morone saxatilis - Morone chrysops
World Record: 27.3 lbs.

A cross between a white bass and striped bass, created by by fertilizing female white bass eggs with sperm from male striped bass. Also known as whiterock bass. They prefer water temperatures from 70 to 78 degrees. Wipers excel in the warmer waters of the southern region. They tend to school like both parent species and feed primarily on shad and other bait fish. They can be caught on light to medium tackle using jigs, spoons, live minnows and most lures imitating bait fish. Look for these hybrid striped bass near the middle sections of the lake over deep water. Fish for them as you would their parent, the striped bass.

Fishing for other Tiger Musky and Chain Pickerel in Delaware.

Tiger Musky - Muskellunge
Esox lucius ~ Esox masquinongy
USA Record: 51.2 lbs.
The tiger muskellunge is a cross of the musky and northern pike. Male Tiger Muskellunge are most often sterile yet some females are fertile. Tiger muskies tend to be smaller than non-hybrid muskies but grow very fast. The body is often quite silvery with brownish fins and tail, without spots but displays broken vertical markings. Like their parent, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures and stout line when fishing for tiger muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
World Record: 9.4 lbs.
A freshwater fish in the pike family easily identified by the "chain-like marking along its sides. It can be found in the northwest, northeast and southeast sections of the USA. Its primary food source is smaller fish and is known to lie in wait to ambush its prey. While it can be eaten it is not considered one of the better sport fishes for table fare. The chain peickere can be caught on fish-imitation lures and live or cut bait. Watch the sharp teeth when handling. Prefers water temperatures from 62 to 70 degrees. Also known as pickerel, eastern pickerel, pike, grass pike, jackfish, jack and others

Delaware Fishing Regulations Info Page     Delaware Fishing Regulations Guidebook