It’s a fishing day

Lewes Canal 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
0 mph

From the

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:20 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
46°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 (Jan 1–Jun 30, Sep 1–Dec 31); 20" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day (Jul 1–Aug 31)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware Bay, Delaware River and their tributaries: 1 fish a day, 28–31", except 20–24" from Jul 1 to Aug 31. Catch and release only Apr 1–May 31 on the spawning grounds: the Nanticoke, the Delaware River north of the C&D Canal's south jetty, and the canal itself.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

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

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

94GoToday, 5 am–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

94GoToday, 5 am–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

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

90GoToday, 5 am–7 am

Water

60°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

White perch 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 3–25 ft down.

Keep

8" minimum · no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: 8" minimum, no daily limit, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an outgoing tide. More on white perch

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

78Worth the tripToday, 5 am–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

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 striped bass, white perch, 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

Protected canal connecting Delaware Bay to Rehoboth Bay through the town of Lewes. Good bank access along the canal walkway; wadable margins in spots. White perch and flounder are the main draw.

Free bank access. Town parking nearby. Canal receives commercial boat traffic — be aware of wakes and propeller wash.

Nearby

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

Cape Henlopen State Park3 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Broadkill Beach8 mi · DelawareBest today 4 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Indian River Inlet12 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Delaware Seashore State Park13 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Slaughter Beach13 mi · DelawareBest now until 7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Cape May16 mi · New JerseyBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lewes Canal?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lewes Canal 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 Lewes Canal?

Lewes Canal is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: White Perch, Striped Bass, Summer Flounder, Bluefish, and 1 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 Lewes Canal?

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 Lewes Canal 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 Lewes Canal have?

Lewes Canal has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Free bank access. Town parking nearby. Canal receives commercial boat traffic — be aware of wakes and propeller wash.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lewes Canal?

Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) regulations apply at Lewes Canal. 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 Lewes Canal tidal water?

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