Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

The Rock Hind is tan and covered in many red or orange spots, with large darker blotches on its upper sides.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	No Limit
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Rare - this species is more common south of Delaware.
General Habitat and Food Preferences	The Rock Hind is usually solitary and prefers artificial reefs, wrecks, and other structure in water depths ranging from nearshore to 150 feet. They feed mostly on crabs but will also eat squids, shrimps, and fishes.
Did You Know?	All Rock Hinds begin life as a female; however, some change to males while maturing.
Common Lures and Baits	Rock Hinds are usually caught accidentally by anglers fishing for other species, such as black sea bass. They can be caught by drifting and bouncing on the bottom near structure with jigs, or bottom fishing with squid strips or cut pieces of fish.
Typical Sizes Caught	Generally, Rock Hinds are caught by anglers in the range of 1 to 2 pounds.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Rock Hinds are not currently eligible for a Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament or Live Release award, but a large specimen may qualify for an “Unusual Species” award.
Delaware State Record	Rock Hinds are not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

Delaware's Government