Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

Striped Bass are a silvery/white fish that gets its name from the seven or eight dark, horizontal stripes that run the length of its body.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round in State of Delaware waters (coast to 3 miles offshore) except catch & release only on spawning grounds April 1 to May 31 (see Delaware Fishing Guide) CLOSED in Federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore)
Size Limit	In State of Delaware waters (coast to 3 miles offshore), 28 inches to 31 inches, except 20 inches to 24 inches from July 1 through August 31 in the Delaware River, Delaware Bay and their tributaries. CLOSED in Federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore)
Daily Limit / Person	1 in State of Delaware waters (coast to 3 miles offshore), except catch & release only on spawning grounds April 1 to May 31 (see Delaware Fishing Guide) CLOSED in Federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore)
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay/tributaries, Nanticoke River/tributaries, and Inland Bays
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Common
General Habitat and Food Preferences	Striped Bass are anadromous fish, spending the majority of their life at sea and entering freshwater in the spring to spawn. Striped Bass inhabit coastal waters and are commonly found in bays and rivers. They feed on a wide variety of fishes, crabs, squids, mussels, and marine worms.
Did You Know?	Most really big Striped Bass, specifically those over 30 pounds, are likely to be female. These big fish are often referred to as "cows." Striped Bass were so plentiful at one time; they were used to fertilize farmers fields.
Common Lures and Baits	Striped Bass are caught by trolling, or casting fish imitating artificial lures. Cut pieces of fish (like mullet or bunker) are good for catching Striped Bass. In 2021, a new regulation requires using inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass using “Bait” which means any marine or aquatic organism live or dead, whole or parts thereof. Using inline circle hooks significantly increases survival of released striped bass by reducing occurrences of gut hooking. If you catch a tagged Striped Bass, please always call in the tag number to the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 302-739-9914.
Typical Sizes Caught	Striped Bass are commonly caught at lengths of less than 20 inches (2 to 3 pounds) by Delaware anglers in tidal tributaries. In the Delaware Bay and along the Atlantic coast of Delaware, anglers commonly catch Striped Bass between 28 and 45 inches in length (10 to 40 pounds).
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 44 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 37 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament: None Youth (age 15 and under): None
Delaware State Record	52 pounds Benjamin Smith 2012

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