Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

The Yellow Jack is a pale yellow-green-blue above fading to silver on the underside.

The fins are yellow in color.

Larger fish tend to be more yellow in color.

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	Yellow Jacks are found around offshore artificial reefs and wrecks or in open water, either individually or in schools. They feed on small fishes, squids, and shrimps.
Did You Know?	Yellow Jacks have been observed following dolphins to scavenge scraps left by dolphins during feeding activity.
Common Lures and Baits	Yellow Jacks are surface swimmers and can be caught while trolling feathered jigs, shiny spoons, or live bait. They can be jigged with shiny spoons, bucktails, or diamond jigs. Preferred natural baits include strips of squid, pieces of cut fish or whole baitfish.
Typical Sizes Caught	In general, Yellow Jacks caught by anglers weigh between 1 and 6 pounds.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Yellow Jacks 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	Yellow Jacks are not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

Delaware's Government