It’s a fishing day

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area fishing conditions · Delaware

Now until Monday 4 amWhite perch

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 61°, inside their 50–78° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for white perch, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

White perch, 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. 1004 pm
  2. 96
  3. 96
  4. 967 pm
  5. 96
  6. 96
  7. 10010 pm
  8. 100
  9. 96Sun
  10. 961 am
  11. 96
  12. 96
  13. 964 am
  14. 96
  15. 100
  16. 967 am
  17. 96
  18. 96
  19. 9610 am
  20. 100
  21. 100
  22. 961 pm
  23. 96
  24. 96
  25. 1004 pm
  26. 96
  27. 96
  28. 967 pm
  29. 96
  30. 96
  31. 9610 pm
  32. 100
  33. 100Mon
  34. 961 am
  35. 96
  36. 96
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
61°F

White perch range 50–78°

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.

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

100GoNow until Monday 4 am

Water

61°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

White perch is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. White perch prefers outgoing tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 8" minimum, no daily limit, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on white perch

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 (Jan 1–Jun 30, Sep 1–Dec 31); 20" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day (Jul 1–Aug 31)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware Bay, Delaware River and their tributaries: 1 fish a day, 28–31", except 20–24" from Jul 1 to Aug 31. Catch and release only Apr 1–May 31 on the spawning grounds: the Nanticoke, the Delaware River north of the C&D Canal's south jetty, and the canal itself.

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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

74Worth the tripNow until Monday 4 am

Water

61°
50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside channel catfish's active range. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: catfish of any species have no size limit and no daily limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer29.86 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:54 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:37 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, white perch, 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

Bay shoreline in the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area east of Smyrna, with a fishing pier. White perch and catfish are caught from Augustine Beach down to the Woodland Beach pier, with big striped bass in spring and smaller ones through the summer.

Nearby

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

Port Mahon9 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 6 am to Monday 4 am
100Go
Augustine Beach15 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
94Go
Kitts Hummock Beach15 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
75Worth the trip
Fortescue15 mi · New JerseyBest tomorrow 5 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
55Marginal
Bowers Beach18 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
South Bowers Beach19 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area 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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Channel Catfish. 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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area 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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area have?

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) regulations apply at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area. 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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area tidal water?

Yes. Woodland Beach Wildlife Area sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.