USWW Delmarva FishCast — Delaware Bay perch and catfish lead a DE-heavy midweek report, with surf spot/croaker and jetties stripers on eels.

Overview

As of Sept. 1, 2026, this week's reports are a Delaware-heavy midweek snapshot. The strongest reads come from warm inshore water, steady tide movement, and a clear contrast between the Bay buoy at 78.6°F (44009) and the cooler offshore reading at 72.5°F (44025), which fits the mixed mix of beach fish, reef fish, and boat-dependent offshore catches. This is the Tuesday midweek cadence, so treat it as a current snapshot rather than a full Friday main.

🌊 Atlantic & Surf

DE DNREC's surf report from Old Inlet Bait and Tackle kept the beach picture fairly broad: spot, croaker, small blues, and sharks were caught at different times during the week. One day produced 4- to 5-foot sharks breaking water as they chased bait on the surface, which is a good sign that the wash still has enough forage to pull predators in close.

In the ocean, DNREC said flounder action has been decent. Head boats and some charter/private boats were also reporting sea bass and flounder over reef sites 10 and 11 and the Old Grounds, while Fenwick Shoal gave up Spanish mackerel and small blues to anglers trolling Drone or Clark spoons. DNREC also noted that the ocean side of Cape Henlopen reopens to surf fishing on Sept. 1 after the nesting-bird closure. Confidence: good.

🟦 Delaware Bay

Patty at Captain Bones said it was the same old song for white perch from the tidal creeks and rivers, with bloodworms and grass shrimp doing the work. Catfish were active in the Upper Bay from Augustine Beach down to Dobbinsville and in the C&D Canal, with cut bait the best bait. That is the clearest Delaware Bay pattern in this week's reports and a reliable late-summer starting point for anglers who want a simple bait-and-wait program.

Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic had reports from boats leaving Port Mahon and fishing the closer reef sites, where anglers were catching flounder and a few trout. Peeler crab, minnows, squid, and shrimp were all productive. The Jetty at Bowers Beach also saw flounder, croaker, and spot on minnows. Confidence: good.

🟩 Chesapeake Bay (MD)

MD DNR was unavailable this cycle, so the Maryland Bay section is limited. That means there is no fresh state-report species list to lean on, and the best technical guidance in the bundle is tide timing from NOAA CO-OPS stations such as Cambridge, Annapolis, and Reedy Point. Conditions are thin this week — see NOAA and the next MD DNR update before planning a specific Maryland-side trip. Confidence: thin.

🟨 Inland Bays

Old Inlet Bait and Tackle said live eels have been the secret bait for success when fishing for larger striped bass at night from the jetties. Blues were active around the bridge early in the morning and were taking bucktails or metal lures. During the day, small tog, sheepshead, and triggerfish were showing on sand fleas, peeler crab, and green crabs, which gives this zone a solid mixed-bag feel.

Rick's Bait and Tackle also had reports of a few keeper flounder in Indian River Bay, with a better chance of catching a keeper out at the Old Grounds. Massey's Landing saw a few spot and croaker as well. Confidence: good.

🟫 Rivers & Freshwater

Patty at Captain Bones reported bass at Lum's Pond and Garrison's Lake on minnows and soft plastics. Steve at Smith Bait in Leipsic added that snakeheads have been caught out of Garrison's Lake on surface frogs. The inland freshwater read is thinner than the bay and surf reports, but it still gives local anglers a couple of clear tackle choices and water bodies to start with. Confidence: thin.

Water Temperatures (NOAA NDBC)

• Delaware Bay buoy 44009: 78.6°F (25.9°C) at 2026-09-01 10:30Z
• Long Island offshore buoy 44025: 72.5°F (22.5°C) at 2026-09-01 10:10Z
• Cape May, NJ buoy CMAN4: 77.9°F (25.5°C) at 2026-09-01 10:18Z

Tides (NOAA CO-OPS)

• Lewes, DE: low Tue 05:41 (0.3 ft); high Tue 12:08 (4.9 ft); low Tue 18:19 (0.5 ft)
• Ocean City Inlet, MD: low Tue 04:52 (0.2 ft); high Tue 11:26 (2.6 ft); low Tue 17:38 (0.5 ft); high Tue 23:39 (2.3 ft)
• Reedy Point, DE: high Tue 02:16 (5.9 ft); low Tue 09:09 (0.6 ft); high Tue 14:38 (6.3 ft); low Tue 21:53 (0.9 ft)
• Cambridge, MD: low Tue 01:36 (0.7 ft); high Tue 07:07 (2.2 ft); low Tue 13:42 (0.3 ft); high Tue 19:47 (2.3 ft)
• Annapolis, MD: low Tue 02:49 (0.8 ft); high Tue 08:15 (1.5 ft); low Tue 14:44 (0.4 ft); high Tue 21:29 (1.7 ft)

Rivers (USGS)

• Brandywine Creek at Wilmington, DE (01481500): discharge 306 cfs; water 77.2°F (25.1°C); gauge 8.54 ft at 2026-09-01 06:30-0400
• Murderkill River at Frederica, DE (01484080): discharge 2590 cfs; water 80.8°F (27.1°C); gauge 4.81 ft at 2026-09-01 06:06-0400
• Pocomoke River near Willards, MD (01485000): discharge 18 cfs; gauge 5.12 ft at 2026-09-01 06:45-0400
• Nanticoke River near Bridgeville, DE (01487000): discharge 28 cfs; gauge 4.13 ft at 2026-09-01 06:15-0400
• Choptank River near Greensboro, MD (01491000): discharge 15 cfs; water 76.3°F (24.6°C); gauge 2.19 ft at 2026-09-01 06:30-0400
• Tuckahoe Creek near Ruthsburg, MD (01491500): discharge 18 cfs; gauge 0.49 ft at 2026-09-01 05:45-0400

Regulation Notes

• DE DNREC says croaker carry a 9-inch minimum size limit.
• DE DNREC also says the ocean side of Cape Henlopen reopens to surf fishing on Sept. 1 after the nesting-bird closure.

Closing

Conditions can change quickly with late-summer heat, tide stage, and surf height, so use this as a snapshot and recheck before you leave the dock or ramp. Wear a life jacket, check the weather and marine forecast, and keep NOAA NDBC, NOAA CO-OPS, and USGS in the loop for current conditions. DE DNREC, NOAA, and USGS provided the source data for this report; MD DNR was unavailable this cycle. — US Weather Warriors 🌪️