It’s a fishing day

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area fishing conditions · Delaware

Now until 7 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 93. Water is 61°, 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
61°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the west

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:22 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
50°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

61°
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

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

65MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

61°
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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

59MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

61°
50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside channel catfish's active range. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Delaware tidal waters: catfish of any species have no size limit and no daily limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Delaware tidal

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer30.40 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:22 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 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

Bay shoreline in the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area east of Smyrna, with a fishing pier. White perch and catfish are caught from Augustine Beach down to the Woodland Beach pier, with big striped bass in spring and smaller ones through the summer.

Nearby

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

Port Mahon9 mi · DelawareBest now until 7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Augustine Beach15 mi · DelawareBest today 5 am–7 amFrost Advisory
75Worth the trip
Kitts Hummock Beach15 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Fortescue15 mi · New JerseyBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Bowers Beach18 mi · DelawareBest today 5 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
South Bowers Beach19 mi · DelawareBest today 5 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area 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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, White Perch, Channel Catfish. 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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area 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 Woodland Beach Wildlife Area have?

Woodland Beach Wildlife Area has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area?

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

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