It’s a fishing day

Fenwick Island State Park fishing conditions · Delaware

Now until Monday 4 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 92. Water is 61°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 92 for striped bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 924 pm
  2. 92
  3. 92
  4. 927 pm
  5. 92
  6. 92
  7. 9210 pm
  8. 92
  9. 92Sun
  10. 921 am
  11. 92
  12. 92
  13. 924 am
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 927 am
  17. 92
  18. 92
  19. 9210 am
  20. 92
  21. 92
  22. 921 pm
  23. 92
  24. 92
  25. 924 pm
  26. 92
  27. 92
  28. 927 pm
  29. 92
  30. 92
  31. 9210 pm
  32. 92
  33. 92Mon
  34. 921 am
  35. 92
  36. 92
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
61°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
15 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:54 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
56°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Delaware tidal regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

92GoNow until Monday 4 am

Water

61°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware ocean coast and Inland Bays: 1 fish a day, 28–31", open all year. No striped bass may be kept in federal waters more than 3 miles out.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an incoming tide. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

61°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside bluefish's active range. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: no size limit; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 from a charter boat or headboat. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on bluefish

Black Drum

Black drum

Pogonias cromis

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

61°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside black drum's active range. Black drum prefers incoming tide. Holds 2–40 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 16" minimum, 3 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–May. More on black drum

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

27Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below red drum's active range (65–85°F). Red drum prefers incoming tide. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 27" maximum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 5 a day, only fish from 20 to 27" may be kept. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Nov. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer29.87 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:54 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:34 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Delaware DNREC report, undated

Names striped bass, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at Delaware DNREC

Licenses and rules: DE DNREC · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

An ocean beach between Bethany and Fenwick Island, with Little Assawoman Bay behind it. Black drum come to sand fleas in the Fenwick surf in April, red drum show in the fall, and the Delaware surf to the north gives up striped bass and big bluefish in spring.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing2 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am
100Go
Assawoman State Wildlife Area7 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
85Go
Delaware Seashore State Park9 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 7 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal
Indian River Inlet10 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 7 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal
Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty10 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 11 am to Monday 4 am
100Go
Assateague State Park16 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
85Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Fenwick Island State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Fenwick Island State Park 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 Fenwick Island State Park?

Fenwick Island State Park is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Red Drum, Black Drum. 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 Fenwick Island State Park?

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 Fenwick Island State Park 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 Fenwick Island State Park have?

Fenwick Island State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Fenwick Island State Park?

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) regulations apply at Fenwick Island State Park. 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 Fenwick Island State Park tidal water?

Yes. Fenwick Island State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.