Sussex County, DE · Delaware Bay
Broadkill Beach
Broadkill Beach offers public shoreline and pier access on Delaware Bay in Sussex County. Common targets include striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder, white perch, and blue catfish.
Live · updated
Top pick today
White Perch — Great day to fish for White Perch.
Best conditions of 5 species tracked at Broadkill Beach.
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:30 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 8:12 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 2:30 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 8:37 PM | High | 5.9 ft |
Species at Broadkill Beach
5 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top pick is open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 White Perch Great day to fish for White Perch. In season 84/100
What's helping
- 78°F water — inside white perch's active range
- outgoing tide — white perch prefers outgoing tide
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Morone americana — Smaller cousin of the striped bass and arguably the Bay's most popular panfish. Schools heavily in tidal rivers and creeks; hits bottom rigs with bloodworms, grass shrimp, or small jigs. Spring spawning run into the freshwater ends of tributaries is the marquee fishery.
Prefers. Water 50–78°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 3–25 ft.
Last verified 140 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 8"
- Daily creel
- no limit
Delaware tidal waters (Delaware Bay, Delaware River, tributaries, Inland Bays): 8-inch minimum. No daily creel limit. Note: DE applies a size minimum where MD does not for hook-and-line, so the rule is actually more restrictive on the DE side for small fish.
Source: Delaware tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#2 Blue Catfish Great day to fish for Blue Catfish. In season 74/100
What's helping
- 78°F water — inside blue catfish's active range
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Ictalurus furcatus — Invasive apex predator, now abundant throughout the tidal Potomac, Patuxent, and Nanticoke. MDDNR actively encourages harvest. Caught on cut bait (bunker, white perch, gizzard shad) fished on bottom. 50+ lb fish are routine on the Potomac.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 10–60 ft.
Last verified 12 days ago on 2026-08-28. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- no limit
Delaware tidal catfish (any species, includes invasive blue catfish): no size limit, no daily limit, open year-round.
Source: Delaware tidal regulations · verified 2026-08-28.
#3 Bluefish Workable day for Bluefish. In season 68/100
What's helping
- 78°F water — inside bluefish's active range
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — bluefish prefers incoming tide
About. Pomatomus saltatrix — Toothy, aggressive pelagic predator. "Snapper blues" invade the lower Bay and coastal bays in summer; bigger choppers along the Atlantic coast. Hits metal jigs, topwater, and cut bait savagely — wire leaders recommended.
Prefers. Water 60–80°F (ideal 70°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–50 ft.
Last verified 140 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 3
Delaware Bay and tidal tributaries: no size limit. 3 fish/day from shore or private vessel, 5/day from charter or headboat. ASMFC coastwide allocation — may change annually.
Source: Delaware tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#4 Summer Flounder Marginal conditions for Summer Flounder. In season 48/100
What's helping
- outgoing tide — summer flounder prefers outgoing tide
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 78°F water — above summer flounder's active range (58–75°f) — fish move deep
About. Paralichthys dentatus — Locally called "fluke." Flatfish that ambushes bait off sandy and mixed bottom. Drifting bucktails tipped with Gulp! or live minnows through Ocean City and Chincoteague inlets is the classic method.
Prefers. Water 58–75°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 10–100 ft.
Last verified 140 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 16"
- Daily creel
- 4
Delaware Bay and tidal tributaries: size minimum steps up from 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) to 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31). Creel is 4/day year-round. ASMFC/MAFMC-managed — re-verify annually. Matches the MD minimum exactly.
Source: Delaware tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#5 Striped Bass Skip the Striped Bass trip today. In season 32/100
What's helping
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 78°F water — above striped bass's active range (50–72°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide
About. Morone saxatilis — Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–35 ft.
Last verified 140 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 20"
- Max size
- 24"
- Daily creel
- 1
Delaware Bay, Delaware River, and their tributaries. Unique summer slot (20–24 in, 1/day) applies only July 1–August 31. Outside that window, the same 28–31 in slot as coastal Atlantic waters applies. Catch-and-release only on spawning grounds April 1–May 31. DE-tidal-specific summer regulation — this is the slot commonly called the "Delaware Bay summer slot."
Source: Delaware tidal regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
Location Info
Water Body
Delaware Bay
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Delaware tidal
Coordinates
Local reports & rules for Broadkill Beach: Delaware DNREC fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisories (EPA directory) →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Broadkill Beach?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Broadkill Beach you need a Delaware recreational fishing license issued by DNREC, or — for residents 65+ — a free Delaware Fisherman Information Network (FIN) registration. See the agency's current rules: https://dnrec.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/licenses/
What fish are commonly targeted at Broadkill Beach?
Broadkill Beach is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder, White Perch, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Broadkill Beach?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Broadkill Beach against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Broadkill Beach have?
Broadkill Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Broadkill Beach?
Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) regulations apply at Broadkill Beach. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Broadkill Beach tidal water?
Yes. Broadkill Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.