🧭 Delmarva Coastal Fishing
Weekly Fishing Report
Lewes, DE → Ocean City, MD
Delaware Bay · Indian River Bay · Rehoboth Bay · Fenwick Island · Assateague · Atlantic Ocean
May 2026
4–10
Week Report
Conditions Dashboard
Water Temp
55–58°F
OC Inlet (rising)
Air Temp
65–75°F
High Mon; colder Wed–Thu
Wind
SW→S
10–25 kt; gusts 30 kt Tue
Wave Height
2–5 ft
Builds Tue–Wed; calms Thu
Clarity
Clean
Bay: good; ocean may stir midweek
⚠️ SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY: Delaware Bay & Coastal Waters — Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. SW winds 15–25 kt, gusts to 30 kt, seas 3–5 ft offshore. Bay and dock fishing recommended Tue–Wed.
Species Activity — Week of May 4, 2026
Summer Flounder
Back Bay & Ocean
🐠
🔥 HOT
Where
OC Thorofare, Assateague channel, Oceanic Pier
Bait
Deadly Double + Gulp/shiners; Hi-Lo w/ Gulp
Size
16.5–23+ inches; keeper action
📋 16" min, 4 fish (through May 31)
Black Sea Bass
Season Just Opened!
🐟
🔥 HOT
Where
Bass Grounds, nearshore wrecks, reefs
Bait
Squid on Hi-Lo 5/0; Otter Tail trailer
Size
Up to 5.9 lbs reported; many keepers
📋 12.5" min, 15 fish (MD/DE 2026)
Tautog
Act Fast — Season Closes!
🐡
🟡 GOOD
Where
Nearshore ocean structure, bay bulkheads, jetties
Bait
Green crabs, Asian shore crabs, worms; tog jigs
Size
Up to 18 lbs released; many keepers 7–14 lbs
⚠️ DE Season closes MIDNIGHT May 11!
Striped Bass
Mostly C&R
🎣
🟡 MOD
Where
Bridges (Rt. 50/90/Verrazzano), Indian River Inlet, Broadkill Beach
Bait
Black bucktails/plugs (night), bunker, bloodworms
Size
32–42 inches reported; slot fish at IRI at night
📋 28"–<31" slot, 1 fish. Many areas C&R only.
Black Drum
Surf
🥁
🟡 MOD
Where
Delaware surf, Cape Henlopen, Assateague beach
Bait
Sand fleas, cut bunker; fishfinder rig
Size
25–35 inches in the surf
📋 No closed season; check size limits
Bluefish
Improving
🔵
🔵 SLOW
Where
Rt. 50 bridge, surf; beginning to show
Bait
Metal jigs, poppers, X-Rap lures
Note
Pre-blitz; watch for bunker schools
📋 No size limit; 3-fish bag
Offshore (Tuna/Mahi)
Season Coming
🌊
🔵 SLOW
Where
Baltimore Canyon, Jackspot (late May+)
Note
Water too cool for consistent action yet
Prep
Watch SST charts for warm water intrusions
📋 Monitor NOAA offshore SST maps
White Perch / Weakfish
Tidal Creeks
🐟
🔵 SLOW
Where
Tidal creeks, rivers, Delaware Bay tributaries
Bait
Bloodworms, live minnows
Note
Good numbers available for casual anglers
📋 White perch: 30 fish, 7" min
Hot Spots This Week
Bay / Inshore
📍
OC Thorofare & Assateague Channel
Best flounder bite in the region; 16–23"+ fish on Deadly Doubles
📍
Oceanic Pier (Ocean City)
Keeper flounder on moving tides; accessible for shore anglers
📍
Route 50 / 90 / Verrazzano Bridges
Stripers including a released 42" fish; bluefish showing
📍
Lewes & Rehoboth Canal
Early-season flounder in the canal — evening sessions producing
Surf
📍
Assateague Island Beach
Black drum 25–35", sharks, skates; traditional NJ-style surf rigs
📍
Cape Henlopen State Park (The Point)
Slot stripers 28–32" on eels and bunker; night sessions best
Nearshore / Ocean
📍
Bass Grounds (12 mi. off OC)
Sea bass, flounder & rockfish on bottom; top sea bass spot
📍
Indian River Inlet (North Jetty)
Night striper fishing; black bucktails & black plugs at night
Tide Schedule — Indian River Inlet / OC Inlet
| Day | Low AM | High AM | Low PM | High PM | Best Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 5/4 | 2:57a (0.1') | 9:11a (2.4') | 2:45p (0.1') | 9:33p | Incoming AM/PM |
| Tue 5/5 | 3:40a | 9:55a | 3:30p | 10:15p | SCA — Bay Only |
| Wed 5/6 | 4:25a | 10:40a | 4:18p | 11:00p | SCA — Bay Only |
| Thu 5/7 | 5:15a | 11:30a | 5:10p | 11:50p | Incoming afternoon ✓ |
| Fri 5/8 | 6:05a | 12:20p | 6:00p | — | Early AM outgoing |
| Sat 5/9 | 6:55a | 1:10p | 6:50p | 1:00a | Classic flood tide ✓✓ |
| Sun 5/10 | 7:45a | 2:00p | 7:40p | 2:00a | Late afternoon flood |
🌕 Full Moon: High tidal coefficient this week — strong currents & maximum tidal range. Flounder respond well to flooding tides. IRI striper fishing peaks on the outgoing. Best ocean fishing: Mon & Thu–Sun when SCA is not in effect.
What's Working This Week — Baits, Lures & Techniques
🌊 Bay / Back-Bay Flounder
Deadly Tackle "Deadly Double" rigs w/ Gulp Swimming Mullet — #1 producer
Hi-Lo rigs (1/0–2/0) baited with fresh Gulp Shrimp or live shiners
Drift structure edges & channel drops on the incoming (flooding) tide
Keep it slow — use a sea anchor if wind is pushy
⚓ Nearshore Bottom (Sea Bass / Tautog)
Deadly Tackle Hi-Lo 5/0 rig + squid strip (sea bass) — proven winner opening week
Otter Tail as a teaser trailer on Hi-Lo rig for extra attraction
Green crabs, Asian shore crabs for tautog — bottom jig presentation
2–6 oz weight depending on current at Bass Grounds or wreck
🌙 Night Fishing — Indian River Inlet (Stripers)
ALL black is the magic formula: black bucktails (1–2 oz) after dark
Black Wind Cheater plugs, black Rapalas, black Rebels — commit to the color
Fish the outgoing tide off the north jetty; have a good flashlight handy
Bring coffee, bring patience — it pays off 1 in 3 nights
🏖️ Surf Fishing (Drum, Drum & More Drum)
Fresh sand fleas: #1 bait for black drum — pick at low tide on the beach
Cut bunker (menhaden) chunks on a fishfinder rig: 3–5 oz pyramid sinker
Bloodworms (circle hooks required in DE tidal estuary) for stripers in surf
Night surf sessions at Assateague: less competition, more drum & sharks
Regulations Reminder — 2026 (MD & DE)
🐠 Summer Flounder
Min: 16" (Jan 1–May 31)
Bag: 4 fish per angler
Size increases to 17.5" on June 1 — plan accordingly
Bag: 4 fish per angler
Size increases to 17.5" on June 1 — plan accordingly
🐟 Black Sea Bass
Season: May 1 – Dec 31 (MD/DE 2026)
Min: 12.5"
Bag: 15 fish per person
Season just opened — get out there!
Min: 12.5"
Bag: 15 fish per person
Season just opened — get out there!
🐡 Tautog
Min: 16"
Bag: 4 fish (through May 15)
Bag: 4 fish (through May 15)
⚠️ DE Season CLOSES May 11 at midnight!
🎣 Striped Bass
Atlantic slot: 28"–<31", 1 fish
Spawning rivers (MD): Closed thru May 31
Hook req: Non-offset circle hooks w/ bait (DE)
Many bridge fish are sub-slot; catch & release
Spawning rivers (MD): Closed thru May 31
Hook req: Non-offset circle hooks w/ bait (DE)
Many bridge fish are sub-slot; catch & release
🔵 Bluefish
Size: No minimum
Bag: 3 fish (private/shore)
No closed season — fish freely
Bag: 3 fish (private/shore)
No closed season — fish freely
🎏 Weakfish / White Perch
Weakfish: 13" min, 1 fish, no closed season
White perch: 7" min, 30-fish limit
Both species active in tidal creeks & rivers
White perch: 7" min, 30-fish limit
Both species active in tidal creeks & rivers
Angler Tips & Local Intel
Small Craft Advisory Tue–Wed: Conditions build to 3–5 ft seas offshore with 15–25 kt winds. Save the ocean trips for Monday or wait until Thursday. The bays will be fishable — focus on back-bay flounder or bridge fishing on those days.
Sea Bass opener was a hit: The May 1 season opening drew big numbers and even bigger fish — a 5.9-lb monster was landed by OCPD Mike Dzurnak aboard the Angler. Head to the Bass Grounds or nearshore wrecks ASAP this week for the early-season bonanza before pressure builds.
Tautog season is ending in Delaware — act fast! The DE season closes at midnight May 11. Tautog have been fantastic all spring, with releases up to 18 lbs. If you haven't hit the nearshore wrecks yet for tog, Monday is your best ocean weather window this week.
Flounder bite is the best of spring: The OC back bays are producing consistent keeper action across multiple boats and shore anglers. The Thorofare and the channel behind Assateague Island are top addresses. Deadly Double rigs with Gulp or live shiners on a drifting boat is the play.
Youth Fishing Tournament: DNREC's 2026 Youth Fishing Tournament is June 6, 10am–1pm, at freshwater ponds across Delaware. Registration deadline: May 29. A great way to get the next generation hooked (pun absolutely intended).
Offshore is coming: Water temps are creeping up. Keep an eye on NOAA SST charts for warm water pushing north from the Gulf Stream toward Baltimore Canyon and the Jackspot. When that 68°F+ water arrives, mahi and early bluefin won't be far behind. Late May is the target window.
