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 – DNREC 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.

December 18, 2025

Delaware Bay

Odessa

Patty at Captain Bones said she had one customer stop by to purchase fishing equipment last week and he was headed to New York.

Leipsic

Steve at Smith Bait told me he had nothing to report because no one has been fishing. It has been too cold and windy.

Broadkill Beach

Dan at Dan’s Tackle was closed.

Lewes

Lewes Harbour Marina had the most exciting report. The Restless Lady II caught several stripers between 33 and 50 inches on the troll off of Indian River Inlet.

Now if we could only get some decent weather…

Indian River Inlet

Artwork representing a Tautog — **Tautog**

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle told us only tog have been caught out of Indian River Inlet on sand fleas and green crabs. I must say you really must love a tog to fish for them in this weather.

With stripers holding close to the Inlet, it is just a matter of time before they chase bait into the Inlet, I hope.

Indian River Bay

Rick’s Bait and Tackle told us a few small stripers have been caught from Massey’s Landing on Storm lures and paddle tails.

Surf Fishing

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said the surf produced skates and spiney dog sharks.

Inshore Ocean

Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em said several private boats had stripers just outside Indian River Inlet by trolling and jigging.

Offshore Ocean

Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em told us no boats fished the canyons.

Freshwater

Taylored Tackle in Seaford said she had no customers for fishing bait last week.

Good News

Last week the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council met in Washington, DC to map out the recreational fishing regulations for summer flounder, scup (porgies) and black sea bass.

I am happy to report that as far as scup and summer flounder go we will have status quo for 2026 and 2027.

Then the really good news: black sea bass will see a 20% increase for 2026 and 2027. E

xactly how that will settle out for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia remains to be seen, but at least we will see an increase.

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.