Kent County, DE · Delaware Bay
South Bowers Beach
South Bowers Beach offers public shoreline and pier access on Delaware Bay in Kent County. Common targets include striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder, white perch, and blue catfish.
Live · updated
Top pick today
Blue Catfish — Check local Blue Catfish regulations before you keep one.
Best conditions of 5 species tracked at South Bowers Beach.
Coastal Flood Advisory issued July 12 at 4:06PM EDT until July 12 at 11:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:21 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:50 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 2:07 PM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 8:20 PM | High | 6.7 ft |
Species at South Bowers 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 Blue Catfish Check local Blue Catfish regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 49/100
We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Blue Catfish in DE on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.
What's helping
- 82°F water — inside blue catfish's active range
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
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.
No regulations on file for Delaware tidal / tidal-delaware. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.
#2 Summer Flounder Skip the Summer Flounder trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- outgoing tide — summer flounder prefers outgoing tide
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 82°F water — above summer flounder's active range (58–75°f) — fish move deep
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
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 81 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.
#2 White Perch Skip the White Perch trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- outgoing tide — white perch prefers outgoing tide
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 82°F water — above white perch's active range (50–78°f) — fish move deep
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
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 81 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 8"
- Daily creel
- 0
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.
#4 Striped Bass Skip the Striped Bass trip today. In season 7/100
What's helping
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 82°F water — above striped bass's active range (50–72°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
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 81 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.
#4 Bluefish Skip the Bluefish trip today. In season 7/100
What's helping
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 82°F water — above bluefish's active range (60–80°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — bluefish prefers incoming tide
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
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 81 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.
Location Info
Water Body
Delaware Bay
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Delaware tidal
Coordinates
Local reports & rules for South Bowers Beach: Delaware DNREC fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisories (EPA directory) →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at South Bowers Beach?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at South Bowers 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 South Bowers Beach?
South Bowers 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 South Bowers 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 South Bowers 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 South Bowers Beach have?
South Bowers Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at South Bowers Beach?
Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) regulations apply at South Bowers 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 South Bowers Beach tidal water?
Yes. South Bowers Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.