USWW Delmarva FishCast — Spot, croaker, surf kings, and inlet bluefish lead Delaware’s early-summer bite

Overview

This Friday main FishCast is a snapshot as of 2026-06-26, built around the fresh Delaware DNREC report posted 2026-06-25 18:24 UTC. The pattern is classic early summer: water has warmed enough to bring inshore saltwater fish into a more predictable mix of spot, croaker, inlet bluefish, flounder, and a few beach kings, while Delaware freshwater ponds and lower tidal rivers are giving up bass and crappie. Maryland DNR was unavailable this cycle, so this update leans more heavily on Delaware report detail plus NOAA and USGS current values.

🌊 Atlantic & Surf

Delaware’s surf report is straightforward this week. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said kings are being caught from the beach along with spot and croaker, with bloodworms, Fishbites, and sand fleas used successfully. That is the kind of bait spread that fits a warming beach bite: natural baits first, with fish holding close enough to the wash to take a simple presentation.

Indian River Inlet adds a second layer to the surf zone. Bluefish are still moving through on incoming water and can be taken on bucktails, plugs, or metal lures. Flounder are available there too, and the report specifically calls out minnows, Gulp!, or a strip of squid fished on a jig head or white bucktail in the calm eddy around the rocks. Sheepshead are tight to the rocks and want green crabs or sand fleas. Confidence: thin, but the methods are clear and the inlet pattern is consistent.

🟦 Delaware Bay

This is the strongest saltwater zone in this week’s Delaware report. Patty at Captain Bones said croaker and spot were taken from the pier at Woodland Beach on bloodworms, Fishbites, squid, and shrimp. Augustine Beach also produced catfish on cut bait and special catfish bait. Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic said spot and croaker were abundant at several locations, including Woodland Beach, the Bowers Beach Jetty, Port Mahon, and reef sites out in the bay, with bloodworms, Fishbites, squid, and peeler crab all drawing bites.

The larger takeaway is that Delaware Bay has moved into its summer pattern: bottom fish on the standard bait spread, with the more reliable action around piers, jetties, and reef structure. Confidence: good.

🟨 Inland Bays

The inland bays report is thinner than the bay report, but it still points to useful targets around the Indian River system. Bluefish are moving through the inlet on incoming water, and flounder remain available on minnows, Gulp!, or a strip of squid on a jig head or white bucktail. The report also notes sheepshead close to the rocks, where green crabs or sand fleas are the right starting point.

For anglers working the back side of the system, the key is to fish structure and moving water rather than covering open water. Confidence: thin.

🟫 Rivers & Freshwater

Delaware’s freshwater report is small but productive. Patty at Captain Bones said largemouth bass have been caught at Garrisons Lake and Massey’s Pond on chatter baits and swim baits. Steve at Smith Bait reported bass and crappie near Silver Lake in Dover; the bass hit minnows and swim baits, while the crappie went after minnows and crappie jigs.

This is a limited freshwater report, but it is enough to show the early-summer shift toward active baitfish presentations and shallow cover. Confidence: thin.

Water Temperatures (NOAA NDBC)

• Delaware Bay buoy 44009: 72.0°F (22.2°C) at 2026-06-27 17:00Z
• Cape May, NJ CMAN4: 70.2°F (21.2°C) at 2026-06-27 15:30Z
• Long Island offshore 44025: 68.9°F (20.5°C) at 2026-06-27 14:50Z

Tides (NOAA CO-OPS)

• NOAA CO-OPS tide predictions were unavailable this cycle for Lewes, Ocean City Inlet, Cambridge, Annapolis, Reedy Point, and Cape May.
• No high/low timing to list this week; see NOAA marine forecast for current wind, sea, and tide context.

Rivers (USGS)

• Brandywine Creek at Wilmington, DE (01481500): discharge 160 cfs at 2026-06-27 12:30-0400
• Murderkill River at Frederica, DE (01484080): discharge 2140 cfs; water 78.8°F (26.0°C); gauge 4.81 ft at 2026-06-27 13:06-0400
• Pocomoke River near Willards, MD (01485000): discharge 8 cfs; gauge 4.58 ft at 2026-06-27 12:45-0400
• Nanticoke River near Bridgeville, DE (01487000): discharge 16 cfs; gauge 3.76 ft at 2026-06-27 12:15-0400
• Choptank River near Greensboro, MD (01491000): discharge 5 cfs; water 77.5°F (25.3°C); gauge 1.73 ft at 2026-06-27 12:30-0400
• Tuckahoe Creek near Ruthsburg, MD (01491500): gauge 0.50 ft at 2026-06-27 12:45-0400

Regulation Notes

• ASMFC posted the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass AP Agenda — June 2026.
• Anglers should verify current size, bag, possession, and season rules with MD DNR and DE DNREC before keeping any of these species.

Closing

Conditions can change quickly, especially when a warming trend brings new fish into shallow water and inlet current starts to dominate the bite. Wear a life jacket, check the weather, and read the NOAA marine forecast before you run. This report is based on MD DNR, DE DNREC, NOAA, and USGS source data available as of 2026-06-27.

— US Weather Warriors 🌪️