USWW Delmarva FishCast — Midweek Delmarva FishCast: surf kingfish, Delaware Bay perch and croaker, Indian River bluefish, and a thin Maryland read

Overview This is the Tuesday mid-week FishCast for 2026-08-04. Summer water temperatures are holding in the mid-70s at the nearshore and bay buoys, which fits the mixed bag of surf kingfish, bay perch and croaker, inlet bluefish, and freshwater snakeheads. MD DNR was unavailable this cycle, so the Chesapeake section is necessarily thin; Friday's main report should add more Maryland detail if the state report returns.

🌊 Atlantic & Surf

Confidence: good. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle reported spot, croaker, and kingfish from the beach this week, with skates and dog sharks still numerous. Bloodworms or Fishbites are the stated baits for the surf panfish. This reads as a steady summer beach bite rather than a one-day flare-up, and anglers should expect a mixed catch if they are working the sand.

🟦 Delaware Bay

Confidence: good. The Delaware Bay report is the most complete part of this week's picture. At Augustine Beach, anglers are catching white perch on bloodworms or Fishbites, while cut bait is picking up catfish. Woodland Beach pier is producing croaker on bloodworms or Fishbites. Farther up the bay, boats leaving Port Mahon and fishing structure in Delaware Bay are finding flounder on minnows, black drum on clams, bluefish on cut bait, and trout on bucktails. That is a useful spread of species for summer bay anglers, and the method notes are specific enough to plan around.

🟩 Chesapeake Bay (MD)

Confidence: limited reports this week. MD DNR's fishing report was unavailable this cycle, so this week's Chesapeake coverage is thin. That means there is not a reliable state-sourced species callout to lean on here, and anglers should treat the upper bay as a conditions-first decision rather than a guaranteed bite. Use the Cambridge tide window and the latest NOAA marine forecast before committing to a run.

🟨 Inland Bays

Confidence: good. Indian River Inlet is the clearest Inland Bays report. Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said bluefish are under the bridge in the morning and run from 3 to 10 pounds, with bucktails or metal lures as the top producers. During the day, sand fleas or green crabs are attracting sheepshead or triggerfish, and flounder are available on the down-current side of structure. Rick’s Bait and Tackle added that Indian River and Rehoboth bays are fishing better early: work the flats on high water and the channels on low water, then get back to the dock by 10 a.m. Heavy boat traffic after that point is part of the pattern.

🟫 Rivers & Freshwater

Confidence: thin. Freshwater reports were scattered across the state. Patty at Captain Bones said fishing at Garrison’s Lake and Lum’s Pond remained about the same, though recent rain may have made the water a bit dirty. Steve at Smith Bait reported snakeheads on surface frogs at Massey’s Mill Pond, with crappie also showing on minnows and crappie jigs. That is enough to show activity, but not enough to call a broad freshwater pattern with confidence.

Water Temperatures (NOAA NDBC)

• Delaware Bay (44009): 75.4°F (24.1°C) @ 2026-08-04 10:30Z
• Long Island offshore (44025): 73.6°F (23.1°C) @ 2026-08-04 10:10Z
• Cape May, NJ (CMAN4): 76.3°F (24.6°C) @ 2026-08-04 10:18Z

Tides (NOAA CO-OPS)

• Lewes, DE: H Tue 00:51 (4.2 ft); L Tue 06:58 (0.3 ft); H Tue 13:22 (4.5 ft); L Tue 19:32 (0.7 ft)
• Ocean City Inlet, MD: H Tue 00:04 (2.3 ft); L Tue 06:09 (0.2 ft); H Tue 12:37 (2.3 ft); L Tue 18:51 (0.5 ft)
• Reedy Point, DE: H Tue 03:20 (5.7 ft); L Tue 10:17 (0.5 ft); H Tue 15:52 (6.0 ft); L Tue 22:59 (0.9 ft)
• Cambridge, MD: L Tue 02:43 (0.7 ft); H Tue 08:16 (2.1 ft); L Tue 14:58 (0.3 ft); H Tue 21:04 (2.1 ft)
• Annapolis, MD: L Tue 03:52 (0.8 ft); H Tue 09:20 (1.4 ft); L Tue 15:58 (0.3 ft); H Tue 22:46 (1.6 ft)

Rivers (USGS)

• Brandywine Creek at Wilmington, DE (01481500): discharge 398 cfs; water 77.4°F (25.2°C); gauge 8.59 ft @ 2026-08-04 06:30-0400
• Murderkill River at Frederica, DE (01484080): discharge 2180 cfs; water 81.3°F (27.4°C); gauge 4.81 ft @ 2026-08-04 06:06-0400
• Pocomoke River near Willards, MD (01485000): discharge 28 cfs; gauge 5.47 ft @ 2026-08-04 06:45-0400
• Nanticoke River near Bridgeville, DE (01487000): discharge 48 cfs; gauge 4.73 ft @ 2026-08-04 06:15-0400
• Choptank River near Greensboro, MD (01491000): discharge 20 cfs; water 77.4°F (25.2°C); gauge 2.37 ft @ 2026-08-04 06:30-0400
• Tuckahoe Creek near Ruthsburg, MD (01491500): discharge 38 cfs; gauge 0.76 ft @ 2026-08-04 05:45-0400

Regulation Notes

• ASMFC posted Tautog Management Board Summer Meeting Supplemental Materials for August 2026 on 2026-07-29.
• No finalized tautog rule change is included in this bundle, so check current MD DNR, DE DNREC, and ASMFC tautog guidance before targeting tautog.
• Because tautog rules are in motion, verify season status, size and creel limits, and any slot or possession rules before keeping fish.

Closing Conditions can change quickly, especially with summer boat traffic, inlet current, and shifting wind. Wear a life jacket and check the NOAA marine forecast before leaving the ramp. This report uses DE DNREC, MD DNR, NOAA, USGS, and ASMFC data as a midweek snapshot, not a live guarantee. — US Weather Warriors 🌪️