Slaughter Beach, Sussex County, DE
Red Drum fishing today
Marginal conditions for Red Drum.
43/100
Why today scores 43
- 55°F water — Below Red Drum's active range (65–85°F)
- incoming tide — Red Drum prefers incoming tide
- 10 mph wind — Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
Right now at Slaughter Beach
- Water temp
- 55°F
- Air temp
- 73°F
- Wind
- 5 to 10 mph NE
- Tide phase
- incoming
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:14 AM / 7:44 PM
- Moon
- first quarter, 33% illuminated
- Solunar windows today
- 12:40 AM - 1:40 AM · 4:40 AM - 6:40 AM · 9:40 AM - 10:40 AM · 5:10 PM - 7:10 PM
- Forecast
- Sunny
About Red Drum
Sciaenops ocellatus. Also called channel bass, redfish, or (as juveniles) puppy drum. Summer and fall target around the lower Bay shoals and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Big "bull reds" cruise the surf in fall.
Preferred water temp: 65–85°F (ideal 75°F). Preferred tide: incoming.
DE regulations
- Minimum size
- 20"
- Maximum size
- 27"
- Daily creel limit
- 5
Delaware Bay and tidal tributaries: 20–27 inch slot, 5 per day. Noticeably looser than MD (18–27 in slot, 1/day) — DE allows a higher creel and a narrower (higher) minimum size. Release all fish outside the slot.
Source: DE regulations. Last verified: 2026-04-22.