It’s a fishing day

Cape Henlopen State Park fishing conditions · Delaware

Now until tomorrow 3 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 60°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for striped bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 1003 am
  2. 100
  3. 100
  4. 1006 am
  5. 100
  6. 100
  7. 1009 am
  8. 100
  9. 100
  10. 10012 pm
  11. 100
  12. 100
  13. 1003 pm
  14. 100
  15. 100
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 100
  18. 100
  19. 1009 pm
  20. 100
  21. 100
  22. 100Tue
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 1003 am
  26. 100
  27. 100
  28. 1006 am
  29. 100
  30. 100
  31. 1009 am
  32. 100
  33. 100
  34. 10012 pm
  35. 100
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
60°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the northwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:20 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
49°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Delaware tidal regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

100GoNow until tomorrow 3 pm

Water

60°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware ocean coast and Inland Bays: 1 fish a day, 28–31", open all year. No striped bass may be kept in federal waters more than 3 miles out.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

94GoNow until 7 am

Water

60°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: no size limit; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 from a charter boat or headboat. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: May–Oct. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

94GoNow until 7 am

Water

60°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 12" minimum, no daily limit, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: May–Oct. More on spotted seatrout

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

90GoNow until 7 am

Water

60°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Sheepshead is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware sets no species-specific sheepshead size or possession limit — legally harvested year-round.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: May–Oct. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

78Worth the tripNow until 7 am

Water

60°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside summer flounder's active range. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: May–Sep. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

65MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

60°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Red drum prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 27" maximum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 5 a day, only fish from 20 to 27" may be kept. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: Jun–Nov. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature60°F
  • Barometer30.39 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:20 am
  • Sunset today6:07 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Delaware DNREC report, undated

Names red drum, sheepshead, striped bass, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at Delaware DNREC

Licenses and rules: DE DNREC · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

Landmark Atlantic surf and fishing pier at the mouth of Delaware Bay. A free lighted fishing pier extends into the Atlantic; surf fishing along the beach and jetty access round out the options.

Day-use fee in-season; pier is free. Strong currents at the pier tip — use heavier sinkers.

Also a beach: swim conditions and water-quality advisories on itsabeachday.com.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lewes Canal3 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Broadkill Beach10 mi · DelawareBest today 4 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Indian River Inlet11 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Delaware Seashore State Park12 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Cape May14 mi · New JerseyBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Slaughter Beach16 mi · DelawareBest now until 7 amFrost Advisory
93Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cape Henlopen State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cape Henlopen State Park you need a Delaware recreational fishing license issued by DNREC, or — for residents 65+ — a free Delaware Fisherman Information Network (FIN) registration. See the agency's current rules: https://dnrec.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/licenses/

What fish are commonly targeted at Cape Henlopen State Park?

Cape Henlopen State Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder, Spotted Seatrout, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cape Henlopen State Park?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cape Henlopen State Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cape Henlopen State Park have?

Cape Henlopen State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Day-use fee in-season; pier is free. Strong currents at the pier tip — use heavier sinkers.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cape Henlopen State Park?

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) regulations apply at Cape Henlopen State Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cape Henlopen State Park tidal water?

Yes. Cape Henlopen State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.

Is there parking or an entry fee at Cape Henlopen State Park?

Day-use fee in-season; pier is free. Strong currents at the pier tip — use heavier sinkers.