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Delaware › Fishing › Non-Tidal Season, Size & Creel Limits

Non-Tidal Season, Size & Creel Limits

Non-Tidal Waters

Species

Open Season

Minimum Size

Daily Limit
Illustration of a largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a popular freshwater game fish known for its distinctive wide mouth and greenish body with a dark lateral stripe. Largemouth bass are commonly found in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers, making them a prized catch among anglers.

Largemouth bass

All year

12 inches; except 15 inches in Becks Pond

6; except 2 from Becks Pond
Illustration of a smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), a popular freshwater game fish known for its bronze-colored body, vertical dark bars, and smaller mouth compared to the largemouth bass. Smallmouth bass are commonly found in clear, rocky rivers and lakes, prized by anglers for their fighting ability.

Smallmouth bass

All year

None between & including 12 - 17 inches

6 (no more than 1 > 17 inches)
Illustration of a hybrid striped bass, a popular sport fish known for its silver body with distinct horizontal black stripes. This hybrid species, a cross between striped bass and white bass, thrives in freshwater lakes and reservoirs and is prized by anglers for its strong fighting ability.

Striped bass hybrid

All year

15 inches

2
Illustration of five freshwater fish species, including white perch, yellow perch, black crappie, green sunfish, and pumpkinseed sunfish. These popular panfish are commonly found in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, making them a favorite among anglers for recreational fishing.

Panfish (white perch, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill & pumpkinseed)

All year

No Size Limit

50 (no more than 25 of one species)
Illustration of a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a popular freshwater game fish known for its vibrant coloration, including a pinkish-red stripe along its side, black spots, and a silvery body. Rainbow trout are commonly found in cold-water streams, rivers, and lakes, making them a prized catch among anglers.

Trout (special rules apply, see Freshwater Trout Fishing)

Streams open 1st Sat. in April

Ponds open 1st Sat. in March

No Size Limit

6 (4 in fly-fishing only waters)

Measuring Your Catch

Place the fish on a measuring board or stick with the tip of the jaw or snout (the mouth closed) at the end of the instrument. Hold the head down with one hand to keep the fish in place, pinch the upper and lower lobes of the tail together while swiping the tail back and forth across the board. Note the measurement of the longest part of the tail*; that is the “total length.” Keep in mind that fish which barely make the minimum length may shrink after being on ice for an hour or more. Sometimes it is possible to get an accurate measurement while the fish is still in the landing net.

Black-and-white diagram of a fish illustrating the difference between fork length and total length measurements. Fork length is measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail, while total length is measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin. Proper fish measurement is essential for following fishing regulations and conservation practices.
Fish Measurement Guide – This diagram illustrates the difference between fork length and total length when measuring fish. Fork length is taken from the tip of the snout to the fork in the tail, while total length extends to the end of the tail fin. Understanding these measurements is crucial for complying with fishing regulations and conservation efforts.


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