It’s a fishing day

Slaughter Beach fishing conditions · Delaware

Now until 7 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 93. Water is 60°, close to the 62° striped bass like best.

Frost Advisory until Monday 9 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 93 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. 933 am
  2. 93
  3. 93
  4. 936 am
  5. 83
  6. 87
  7. 839 am
  8. 83
  9. 83
  10. 8712 pm
  11. 87
  12. 87
  13. 833 pm
  14. 83
  15. 83
  16. 876 pm
  17. 83
  18. 83
  19. 839 pm
  20. 83
  21. 83
  22. 83Tue
  23. 87
  24. 87
  25. 833 am
  26. 83
  27. 83
  28. 836 am
  29. 83
  30. 83
  31. 879 am
  32. 83
  33. 83
  34. 8312 pm
  35. 87
  36. 87
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 west

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:21 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

93GoNow until 7 am

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

69MarginalNow 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

69MarginalNow 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

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

65MarginalNow until 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

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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

40Sit it outNo window clears the bar

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 today7:21 am
  • Sunset today6:08 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 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, 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

Delaware Bay shoreline with strong spring striper and bluefish runs; famous as a horseshoe crab spawning beach. Bank fishing along the beach road with good access for wade fishing in calm conditions.

Respect horseshoe crab spawning season (May–June) — DE DNREC may restrict certain beach access during peak spawn. Free public beach.

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.

Broadkill Beach5 mi · DelawareBest today 4 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
South Bowers Beach10 mi · DelawareBest today 5 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Bowers Beach10 mi · DelawareBest today 5 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Lewes Canal13 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Kitts Hummock Beach13 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Cape Henlopen State Park16 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Slaughter Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Slaughter Beach 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 Slaughter Beach?

Slaughter Beach is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Bluefish, Striped Bass, White Perch, 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 Slaughter Beach?

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 Slaughter Beach 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 Slaughter Beach have?

Slaughter Beach has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Respect horseshoe crab spawning season (May–June) — DE DNREC may restrict certain beach access during peak spawn. Free public beach.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Slaughter Beach?

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

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