It’s a fishing day

Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing fishing conditions · Delaware

Tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. 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, goTap 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. 87
  6. 87
  7. 8710 pm
  8. 87
  9. 87Sun
  10. 921 am
  11. 92
  12. 92
  13. 924 am
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 877 am
  17. 87
  18. 87
  19. 8710 am
  20. 87
  21. 87
  22. 1001 pm
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 1004 pm
  26. 100
  27. 100
  28. 1007 pm
  29. 100
  30. 100
  31. 10010 pm
  32. 100
  33. 100Mon
  34. 1001 am
  35. 100
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

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
57°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

100GoTomorrow 1 pm to 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. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

98GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

61°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep. More on summer flounder

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

78Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

61°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside bluefish's active range. 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. Likes an incoming tide. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

78Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

61°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 12" minimum, no daily limit, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on spotted seatrout

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

37Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below red drum's active range (65–85°F). 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. Likes an incoming tide. 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

Surf fishing along the southernmost Delaware beach, adjacent to the MD border at Ocean City. Fall bluefish and drum runs can be exceptional here. Walk-in beach access from the state park parking area.

Surf-fishing vehicle permit required for drive-on access in off-season; seasonal drive-on access with permit. Walk-in is always free. Check DE DNREC for current permit rules.

Also a beach: swim conditions and water-quality advisories on itsabeachday.com.

Nearby

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

Fenwick Island State Park2 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
Assawoman State Wildlife Area5 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
85Go
Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty9 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 11 am to Monday 4 am
100Go
Delaware Seashore State Park10 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 7 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal
Indian River Inlet11 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 7 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal
Assateague State Park15 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 — Surf Fishing?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing 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 — Surf Fishing?

Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Bluefish, Summer Flounder, Striped Bass, Red Drum, 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 Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing?

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 — Surf Fishing 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 — Surf Fishing have?

Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Surf-fishing vehicle permit required for drive-on access in off-season; seasonal drive-on access with permit. Walk-in is always free. Check DE DNREC for current permit rules.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing?

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) regulations apply at Fenwick Island — Surf Fishing. 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 — Surf Fishing tidal water?

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