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.

February 5, 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.)

Current Conditions

We are still covered up with ice. The freshwater ponds and the Back Bays are iced over and the water temperature at the Delaware Lightship Buoy is 40 degrees. None of my reporting stations have seen a fish for the past few weeks.

Delaware Bay

Patty at Captain Bones said she had no reports from Delaware Bay.

Leipsic

Steve at Smith Bait said he has not seen a fish for the past few weeks due to the ice and cold.

Lewes

Lewes Harbour Marina said it has been really lonely at the shop since no boats have been fishing all week.

Indian River Inlet

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle told us no fish have been caught out of the Inlet

Indian River Bay

Rick’s Bait and Tackle on Long Neck was closed.

Surf Fishing

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said surf fishing continues to be difficult if not impossible.

Inshore Ocean

Burt at Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em did not answer their phone. They may be closed until conditions improve.

Offshore Ocean

Zero reports from offshore.

Freshwater

The ponds are frozen over. Patty at Captain Bones said one customer came in, bought a fishing license and a container of earthworms and left. She did not hear from him after that.

Virginia State Record Bluefin Tuna

Learn more about the Atlantic bluefin tuna. — **Atlantic Bluefin Tuna**

Captain David Wright, Mate Andrew W Flory and angler Mike Rogerso on the High Hopes out of Virginia Beach set the Virginia State Record for bluefin tuna by catching an 832.6-pounder. The new record topped the old one by over 100 pounds.

They caught their monster on a Penn International 80VISW 2-Speed which is a bit small for a fish that large.

I have known David for many years and it is good to see a long-time, experienced captain finally rewarded with a trophy catch.

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.