Weekly Fishing Report — May 7–13, 2026

🌊 Conditions at a Glance

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Water Temp

58–60°F
Coastal / Bay

☀️

Air Temp

54–66°F
Thu–Sun Range

🌬️

Wind

15–25 kts
Calming Fri

🌊

Wave Height

3–5 ft
Easing by Weekend

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Water Clarity

Average
Ocean Side

🌧️ Forecast: Light rain / drizzle Thursday (54°F). Clearing Friday (63°F). Rain chance returns Saturday (65°F). Winds ease mid-week — boats should be able to get out by Friday–Sunday. Small craft advisories were in effect early this week.

🌙 Tide Schedule — Indian River Inlet (Est.)

Post-full moon (May 1) spring tides — above-average tidal flow and currents this week. Strong water movement = fish activity at structure and inlets. Best windows: 2 hrs each side of high tide for stripers & blues; outgoing tide for flounder drift fishing in the back bays.

Day	Low Tide AM	High Tide AM	Low Tide PM	High Tide PM
Thu 5/7	~3:30 am	~9:30 am FISH	~3:30 pm	~9:30 pm FISH
Fri 5/8	~4:15 am	~10:15 am FISH	~4:15 pm	~10:15 pm FISH
Sat 5/9	~5:00 am	~11:00 am FISH	~5:00 pm	~11:00 pm
Sun 5/10	~5:45 am	~11:45 am FISH	~5:45 pm	~11:45 pm
Mon 5/11	~6:30 am	~12:30 pm	~6:30 pm	~12:30 am

Times approximate (EDT). Verify with NOAA Tides & Currents (tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov) before going out.

🐟 Species Activity Report

🐟 Striped Bass 🔥 HOT

📍Assateague beach, OC surf, Indian River Inlet south jetty, Route 50 Bridge

🪱Cut bunker, sand fleas, bloodworms. Plugs: Bomber, SP Minnow, Rebel at jetty

📊Most fish well above slot — great C&R action. Some slot fish present

📋 DE: 28–31 in., 1 fish/day | MD: Check zone slot rules

🔵 Big Bluefish 🔥 HOT

📍Indian River Inlet, 3Rs Road beach, Assateague/OC surf

🎣Hopkins metal lures, heavy bucktails. Cut bait at beach. Use wire leader!

📊Blues to 12 lbs — first big run in a while! Best on incoming morning tide

📋 No minimum size | 5/angler shore/private, 7/angler for-hire

🐠 Black Sea Bass 🔥 HOT

📍Nearshore/offshore wrecks, artificial reefs, Baltimore Canyon area

🦑Squid strips, Gulp baits on hi-lo rig or double-drop rig. 2–3 oz sinker

📊Season opened May 1 — excellent early-season numbers on structure

📋 12.5 in min (state waters) | 15/angler/day | ⚠️ Check federal water rules

🐋 Summer Flounder 🟡 Moderate

📍Back bays, Isle of Wight Bay, Lewes & Rehoboth Canal, Indian River Bay

🦐Live/fresh minnows, Gulp Alive Grubs (white/chartreuse) on 1/4–3/8 oz jig. Drift channels

📊Season opened May 4 — bite building. Pre-season showed 50+ fish with 9 keepers

📋 DE: 16 in min, 4/angler/day (year-round)

🐡 Tautog (Tog) ⏰ CLOSING SOON

📍OC Inlet, Route 50 Bridge, nearshore wrecks and reef structure

🦀Sand fleas fished directly on bottom near rocks and pilings. Fiddler crabs work too

📊Decent action while it lasts — season closes MAY 16!

📋 16 in min | Season CLOSES May 16 — reopens July 1

🥁 Black Drum 🟡 Moderate

📍Assateague surf, OC beach, Delaware coast from Inlet to 3Rs Road

🦐Sand fleas (top bait!), surf clams, cut crab. 3/0–5/0 circle hook bottom rig

📊Medium-size fish showing in May surf. Mix with big blues and stripers

📋 Check current MD/DE regulations for size & bag limits

📍 Hot Spots This Week

🌊 Surf / Beach

Indian River Inlet Jetties

Best striper and bluefish spot. South jetty at dawn for stripers. Blues crushing metal lures off the point on incoming tide.

3Rs Road Beach (Delaware)

Big bluefish to 12 lbs all week! Hopkins and cut bait. Black drum and stripers mixed in.

Assateague Island

Remote beach driving access. Steady stripers, black drum, and big blues. Fewer crowds = better fishing.

Ocean City Beach / Surf

Consistent striper, drum, and bluefish action. Dogfish and skates also present — be ready to move.

🌊 Bay / Inlet

OC Inlet / Route 50 Bridge

Tautog on sand fleas at rocks; flounder on Gulp & squid strips; large C&R stripers on drifted cut bait.

Isle of Wight Bay / Back Bays

Flounder building — minnows and Gulp on spinner rigs. Work the flats and channel edges.

Lewes & Rehoboth Canal

Small boats drifting for flounder with minnows. Quiet, sheltered option when offshore winds are up.

⚓ Nearshore (3–20 miles)

Nearshore Wrecks & Reefs

Black sea bass, tautog, and mixed flounder. Bottom rigs with squid. Sea bass limits being reported.

Baltimore Canyon Area

Black sea bass action is excellent — up to 15-fish limits. Tautog mixed in. Get out before May 16 tautog closure.

Bass Grounds (~12 mi. OC)

Maryland's top nearshore striper spot outside the Bay. Structure fishing for bass, sea bass, and bluefish.

🚢 Offshore (Canyon)

Baltimore / Washington Canyons

NOT YET in season for pelagics. Water temps still rising. Monitor for late May / early June for first mahi and yellowfin action.

Jackspot / The Lumps

No confirmed offshore pelagic reports yet this week. Canyon season typically picks up late May through September.

🎣 What's Working This Week

🏖️ Surf Fishing

Bluefish: Hopkins Shorty, Swedish Pimple metal lures. Retrieve fast. Wire leader mandatory.

Stripers: Fresh cut bunker on fish-finder rig. Bomber Long A / SP Minnow from jetty rocks at dawn.

Black Drum: Sand fleas are #1 bait. Also surf clams, cut crab on 3/0–5/0 circle hooks.

All species: Fish the first two hours of incoming and last two hours of outgoing tides. Dawn is prime.

🌊 Bay / Inlet

Flounder: Gulp Alive Grubs (white/chartreuse) on 1/4 oz jig. Drift channels. Also minnow on spinner rig.

Tautog: Sand fleas fished on bottom near rocks, piers, jetty. Keep rod tip sensitive — light taps!

Stripers (structure): Bucktails 3/4–1 oz + sassy shad/twistertail trailer. Or drift cut bunker near pilings.

White Perch: Small jig heads tipped with grass shrimp, bloodworm, or minnow pieces on bottom rig.

⚓ Nearshore Bottom

Black Sea Bass: Squid strips or Gulp on hi-lo rig. 2–3 oz bank sinker. Anchor or slow drift over structure.

Mixed bottom: Clam strips, cut squid, sea worms on double-hook dropper loop. Get on structure!

Tautog nearshore: Same as bay — sand fleas or fiddler crabs on bottom rig right at wreck edges.

Boat tip: Mark your wreck, drop anchor up-current, let bait drift back to the structure naturally.

💡 Pro Tips This Week

Bluefish wire leader: Blues will cut 30 lb mono instantly. Use 6–12 inches of 30 lb single-strand wire or 80 lb mono.

Circle hooks required: For natural bait striper fishing in many jurisdictions. Carry 3/0–5/0 circles.

Dogfish & skates: Thick in the surf this week. If they take over your spot, move 200 yards and try fresh ground.

Tautog deadline: Only until May 16! Season closed June 1–July 1. Get your tog fix in this weekend.

📋 Regulations Reminder

🦞 Delaware (DNREC) — Tidal Waters

Species	Season	Min. Size	Bag Limit
Summer Flounder	Year-round (opened May 4)	16 inches	4/angler/day
Striped Bass	Open (no spring spawning harvest)	28–31 inches (slot)	1/angler/day
Black Sea Bass	May 1 – Dec 31	12.5 inches (state)	15/angler/day
Tautog	Open until MAY 16!	16 inches	Verify with DNREC
Bluefish	Year-round	No minimum	5/angler (private/shore)

🦀 Maryland DNR — Atlantic Coast / Ocean City

Species	Notes	Min. Size	Bag Limit
Summer Flounder	Open season	16 inches	Verify with MD DNR
Striped Bass	Slot regulations by zone	19–24 in (Bay slot) / 28–31 in (coast)	Check zone rules
Black Sea Bass	Season open May 1	12.5 inches	15/angler/day
Tautog	Closes MAY 16!	Verify with MD DNR	Verify with MD DNR

⚠️ FEDERAL WATERS BLACK SEA BASS WARNING: NOAA has been delayed implementing updated federal regulations for waters 3+ miles offshore. Default federal rules may require 15-inch minimum, season May 15–Sept 8, and only 5 fish/day. Situation "still evolving" per DNREC. Verify before heading offshore for sea bass!

⚠️ STRIPED BASS SPAWNING CLOSURE: No harvest permitted from spawning grounds April 1–May 31. Know your zones before keeping any stripers.

📞 DNREC Fisheries: 302-739-9914 | Maryland DNR: dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries

💡 Angler Tips & Notes

Wind Advisory Update: Small craft advisories were up through early this week. Winds ease Friday–Sunday — plan your boat trips for the weekend. Always check the marine forecast before launching.
Tautog Deadline — This Weekend! Tautog season closes May 16 and doesn't reopen until July 1. If blackfish is on your list, you have a very short window. Hit the OC Inlet rocks or nearshore wrecks with sand fleas NOW.
Big Bluefish Alert: First significant bluefish run in quite a while according to Old Inlet Bait & Tackle. Blues to 12 lbs are crashing the inlet and beach. Use metal lures and a short wire leader — these fish WILL cut mono. Excellent fast action for all skill levels.
Flounder Season Just Opened: DE season opened May 4. The back bay bite is building. A pre-season trip on May 1 found 50+ flounder with nearly a limit's worth of keepers. Expect steadily improving action as bay temps climb into the mid-60s over the coming weeks.
Best Bet This Weekend: Saturday morning incoming tide at the Indian River Inlet south jetty with a mix of striper plugs and bluefish metal — could be an epic session if wind cooperates. Bring extra tackle; blues are notorious for cutting off rigs.
Striper Run: The run is full swing per reports from Lewes to OC. Most fish are oversized catch-and-release. However, the slot fish (28–31" in DE) are present. Use circle hooks with natural bait and handle large fish quickly in the warm water.
Offshore Timing: No canyon trips worth reporting yet this week. Water temps offshore are still in the 58–62°F range. Watch for late May through early June for the first mahi and yellowfin arrivals at the canyons. The OC Tuna Tournament season is around the corner.

Weekly Fishing ReportLewes, DE to Ocean City, MD

Weekly Fishing Report
Lewes, DE to Ocean City, MD