USWW Delmarva FishCast — Warm Delaware waters keep sheepshead, croaker, flounder, and inlet stripers in the mix as of 2026-07-03

Overview As of 2026-07-03, this Friday main report is shaped by warm water and a strong Delaware/inlet bite. NOAA buoy readings are in the low-to-mid 70s offshore and in the bay, while USGS gauges show warm tidal-river water and low freshwater flows in several systems. DE DNREC supplied the fresh weekly report; MD DNR was unavailable this cycle, so Maryland saltwater coverage is limited and should be cross-checked locally.

🌊 Atlantic & Surf

DE DNREC reports kings from the beach along with spot and croaker. Bloodworms and FishBites have been the steady surf baits, with some sand fleas also producing. The report points to first light as the best window before summer heat takes over. Confidence: good.

🟦 Delaware Bay

Sheepshead were the highlight at the Outer Wall off Lewes, with two citations reported for 13-year-old Chance Rogers on shrimp and sand fleas. Croaker are being caught from the Woodland Beach fishing pier on bloodworms, FishBites, shrimp, and squid. Augustine Beach has catfish on cut bait and white perch on bloodworms or FishBites. DE DNREC also surfaced flounder at Bowers Beach with a few slot striped bass, and the agency note on Leipsic suggests some of the local action is still centered on sites 3 and 4 in the bay. Confidence: good.

🟩 Chesapeake Bay (MD)

MD DNR was unavailable this cycle, so there is no fresh Maryland saltwater species call to work with here. For Chesapeake anglers, treat this as a conditions-only zone: fish the moving water, watch the tide change, and confirm any local bite with NOAA and nearby tackle shops before running south or west. Confidence: limited reports this week.

🟨 Inland Bays

Indian River Inlet remains the strongest inland-water destination in the report. Gray triggerfish have joined sheepshead at the rocks, and both are taking sand fleas and green crabs fished tight to the structure. Bluefish are still moving through on incoming water and can be taken on metal lures, while striped bass are showing on night tides with bucktails and plugs. Summer flounder are still the main draw out of Indian River Bay, with minnows named as the top bait. Confidence: good.

🟫 Rivers & Freshwater

Freshwater reports are steady rather than broad. Garrisons Lake and Massey’s Pond produced largemouth bass on chatterbaits and swim baits. Near Silver Lake in Dover, bass ate minnows and swim baits, and crappie took minnows and crappie jigs. As the DE DNREC report notes, first light is the best window when temperatures climb; the bite after 10 a.m. drops quickly in midsummer. Confidence: thin.

Water Temperatures (NOAA NDBC)

• Delaware Bay (44009): 73.6°F (23.1°C) @ 2026-07-03 09:40Z
• Long Island offshore (44025): 71.6°F (22.0°C) @ 2026-07-03 09:10Z
• Cape May, NJ (CMAN4): 74.3°F (23.5°C) @ 2026-07-03 09:18Z

Tides (NOAA CO-OPS)

• Lewes, DE: L Fri 05:33 (0.4 ft); H Fri 11:44 (3.6 ft); L Fri 17:24 (0.5 ft); H Fri 23:56 (4.5 ft)
• Ocean City Inlet, MD: L Fri 04:51 (0.4 ft); H Fri 10:55 (1.9 ft); L Fri 16:32 (0.2 ft); H Fri 23:19 (2.4 ft)
• Reedy Point, DE: H Fri 01:47 (6.1 ft); L Fri 08:57 (0.5 ft); H Fri 14:21 (5.1 ft); L Fri 20:47 (0.8 ft)
• Cambridge, MD: L Fri 00:40 (0.4 ft); H Fri 06:50 (2.2 ft); L Fri 13:47 (0.5 ft); H Fri 19:12 (1.7 ft)
• Annapolis, MD: L Fri 01:34 (0.5 ft); H Fri 08:11 (1.6 ft); L Fri 14:54 (0.6 ft); H Fri 20:37 (1.2 ft)
• Cape May, NJ: L Fri 05:27 (0.4 ft); H Fri 11:35 (4.3 ft); L Fri 17:21 (0.6 ft); H Fri 23:49 (5.3 ft)

Rivers (USGS)

• BRANDYWINE CREEK AT WILMINGTON, DE (01481500): discharge 145 cfs @ 2026-07-03 05:30-0400
• MURDERKILL RIVER AT FREDERICA, DE (01484080): discharge 2370 cfs; water 84.2°F (29.0°C); gauge 4.81 ft @ 2026-07-03 05:06-0400
• POCOMOKE RIVER NEAR WILLARDS, MD (01485000): discharge 7 cfs; gauge 4.49 ft @ 2026-07-03 05:45-0400
• NANTICOKE RIVER NEAR BRIDGEVILLE, DE (01487000): discharge 13 cfs; gauge 3.62 ft @ 2026-07-03 05:15-0400
• CHOPTANK RIVER NEAR GREENSBORO, MD (01491000): discharge 2 cfs; water 83.7°F (28.7°C); gauge 1.48 ft @ 2026-07-03 05:30-0400
• TUCKAHOE CREEK NEAR RUTHSBURG, MD (01491500): discharge 12 cfs; gauge 0.40 ft @ 2026-07-03 04:45-0400

Regulation Notes

• ASMFC: Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass AP Agenda — June 2026.
• DE DNREC surfaced flounder at Bowers Beach and a few slot striped bass; no size or creel values were provided in the source bundle, so confirm current Delaware regulations before keeping fish.
• MD DNR was unavailable this cycle, so Maryland rule checks should be made directly with the state before targeting Chesapeake fish.

Closing

Conditions can change quickly with summer heat, inlet current shifts, and afternoon weather. Wear a life jacket, check the forecast before you launch, and use NOAA marine products for the latest wind and sea conditions. DE DNREC, NOAA, and USGS sources this week; MD DNR was unavailable. — US Weather Warriors 🌪️