Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

Muskellunge are long, slender fish with a large duckbill shaped mouth full of needle sharp teeth.

They are light colored and usually have dark bars running up and down their long bodies.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	No Limit
Delaware Range	Brandywine Creek and Christina River
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Uncommon
General Habitat and Food Preferences	The Muskellunge can be found from deep open water to shallow weeds and fallen trees. The fish are carnivores to the extreme and, because of their size, will eat most anything that is smaller than they are, including small birds and mammals.
Did You Know?	Muskellunge are non-native to Delaware. They occasionally stray to Delaware from Pennsylvania where they are often stocked. They are the largest member of the pike family. Muskellunge also go by the nickname of "Musky" (singular) or "Muskies" (plural). The Muskellunge is incredibly strong and has a crushing blow as it grabs a lure. They put up a great fight on fresh water tackle.
Common Lures and Baits	Because of the large size of its prey, big jerk baits, large spinners, and topwater lures are often the top choice. Large Golden Shiners or small common carp are favorite live baits for Muskellunge.
Typical Sizes Caught	Muskellunge can be as big as 15 pounds in Delaware.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 30 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 26 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament Award Adult: 10 pounds minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 7.5 pounds minimum Muskellunge are eligible for the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament and Live Release "Musky" awards, but not currently eligible for an individual species award.
Delaware State Record	22 pounds 4.8 ounces Stephen Rutkowski 2022 "Musky" is a general category and can be any Muskellunge species. Muskellunge is not currently eligible for an individual Delaware record.

Delaware's Government