Delaware Fishing Report

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 Eric Burnley, Sr.

Find information on fishing in Delaware on the new Recreational Fishing page and the updated 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.

January 29, 2026

Harvest of bivalve shellfish in Indian River Bay is closed until Feb. 6, 2026 for the protection of public health due to a wastewater spill. Oysters aquacultured in Rehoboth Bay are not affected and remain suitable for raw consumption by healthy individuals. (Updated Jan. 23, 2026 at 11:38 a.m.)

Delaware Bay

Odessa

Patty at Captain Bones said when school was closed on Monday a mother and her son stopped by and bought some worms to try fishing on a local pond. When they arrived at the pond, they found it frozen over. So they went sledding instead.

Leipsic

Steve at Smith Bait told us everything is frozen over and he is only open to serve goose hunters.

Broadkill Beach

Dan at Dan’s Tackle is closed until ice-out.

Lewes

Lewes Harbour Marina was closed on Thursday.

Indian River Inlet

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle had nothing to report due to the cold weather and cold water.

Indian River Bay

Rick’s Bait and Tackle told me fishing has been at a standstill due to the weather.

Surf Fishing

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle had no reports from the surf during the past week.

Inshore Ocean

Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em is closed. The water temperature at the Delaware Lightship Buoy remained at 40 degrees.

Offshore Ocean

Zero reports from offshore.

Freshwater

Taylored Tackle in Seaford was closed on Thursday.

Thin Ice

I heard on the TV news where three brothers were lost when they fell through thin ice. I couldn’t catch all the details, but I suspect one brother fell through and the other two died trying to save their sibling.

Ice on Delaware ponds and rivers seldom gets thick enough to support a grown person or even a child. Please do not even try to go out on any frozen waterway. Don’t even think about ice fishing!

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.