Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

The Golden Tilefish is a beautiful fish, being blue-green and iridescent on top, and changing to yellow or rose on the lower sides.

The back and upper sides are dotted with brilliant yellow spots, and the belly is white.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round Charter/party vessels must hold a valid open access Golden Tilefish permit to land Blueline Tilefish. Questions? Contact the NOAA Greater Atlantic Region Permits Office at (978) 282-8438 or Email: NMFS.GAR.Permits@noaa.gov
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	8
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Common
General Habitat and Food Preferences	The Golden Tilefish is a bottom dweller found in water ranging from 250 to 1500 feet deep. They prefer irregular bottom with sand, mud, and shell where they live in cone-shaped burrows, and concentrate in small groups or pods. They feed on bottom creatures, such as crabs, shrimps, sea snails, marine worms, and small fishes.
Did You Know?	Golden Tilefish will burrow head first in cone-shaped sand and clay piles on the ocean floor. They are long lived, living up to 45 years.
Common Lures and Baits	Golden Tilefish are caught on bottom rigs baited with cut pieces of fish or whole squid. Because of the great depth of water, five-pound weights are often used on the bottom rigs.
Typical Sizes Caught	Golden Tilefish are commonly caught in the range of 10 to 25 pounds by Delaware anglers.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 40 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 35 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament Award Adult: 35 pounds minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 26.5 pounds minimum
Delaware State Record	52 pounds 12.8 ounces Dylan Baker 2020

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