Black Sea Bass Fishing in Delaware

When black sea bass are caught across Delaware, season by season, from NOAA’s recreational catch survey (2024).

Peak season
May-Jun
strongest in May-Jun & Jul-Aug
Kept vs released
9% kept
91% released
Caught in 2024
1.1M
#3 most-caught in Delaware
Right now (Jul-Aug), black sea bass catches in Delaware run about 414K.

Black Sea Bass catch through the year

Recreational catch in Delaware by two-month season. The peak window is highlighted.

0
Jan-Feb
29
Mar-Apr
571K
May-Jun
414K
Jul-Aug
85K
Sep-Oct
44K
Nov-Dec

Catch more black sea bass

Seasonal catch, tides, and the day's conditions worth knowing for your spots, plus the occasional PATHR update. No spam.

Catching black sea bass in Delaware

Black Sea Bass catches in Delaware run hardest around May-Jun, with the strongest two-month windows in May-Jun and Jul-Aug. Anglers keep about 9% of what they catch and release the rest. All of this comes from NOAA’s recreational catch survey, so it maps the season rather than any single day.

To turn the season into a trip, line the peak window up with the daily bite. Check the Delaware fishing times for the solunar windows, the tide charts for moving water, and the sunrise and sunset times for first and last light.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to catch black sea bass in Delaware?+

Catches peak around May-Jun (May and June). The strongest two-month windows are May-Jun and Jul-Aug. This is based on NOAA's 2024 recreational catch survey, so it reflects the typical season rather than a live report.

Do anglers keep or release black sea bass in Delaware?+

Across Delaware, about 9% of the black sea bass caught are kept and 91% are released. That works out to roughly 106K kept and 1.0M released in 2024.

How many black sea bass are caught in Delaware?+

NOAA's survey estimated about 1.1M black sea bass caught by recreational anglers in Delaware in 2024, making it the #3 most-caught species in the state. Survey estimates, so read them as the shape of the season.

Where does this black sea bass data come from?+

NOAA's Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), 2024 estimates. Courtesy: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Find the black sea bass bite

Pathr puts the bite windows, tides, wind, and safe routing to your spot on official NOAA charts. Free to try on iOS.

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