Weekly Fishing Report — May 21–27, 2026

🌊 Conditions at a Glance

🌡️

Water Temp

57–60°F
Nearshore & bay

🌬️

Wind

SW/S 10–20
Breezy all week

🌊

Seas

2–4 ft
Wind-limited offshore

👁️

Clarity

Improving
Fair–Good

☀️

Outlook

70s–80s
Warm & sunny

🌙 Tide Schedule — Ocean City Inlet

Day	High AM	Low AM	High PM	Low PM
Thu May 21	12:16 AM	6:34 AM	12:28 PM	6:22 PM
Fri May 22	1:19 AM	7:34 AM	1:37 PM	7:29 PM
Sat May 23	2:28 AM FISH	8:30 AM	2:54 PM FISH	8:37 PM
Sun May 24	3:35 AM FISH	9:24 AM	4:07 PM FISH	9:44 PM
Mon May 25	4:32 AM FISH	10:15 AM	5:06 PM FISH	10:48 PM
Tue May 26	5:20 AM	11:03 AM	5:55 PM	11:47 PM
Wed May 27	5:59 AM	11:48 AM	6:38 PM	—

🎯 Best fishing windows: Dawn outgoing → low slack for back-bay flounder drifts. Last 2 hrs incoming → high tide for surf stripers, drum & blues (esp. Sun–Wed PM highs). Night incoming at OC Inlet for over-slot stripers on drifted cut bait. Moving toward new moon (6/5) — softer tidal swings = easier boat drifts.

🐟 Top Species This Week

🐡 Summer Flounder 🔥 HOT

📍OC Inlet, back bays, Lewes & Rehoboth Canal

🎣Live minnows, Gulp! 4–5" swimming mullet, squid strips

📊MD 16" min / 4 per day — jumps to 17.5" on June 1

📋 16" min thru May 31, then 17.5" | 4 fish/day

🐟 Striped Bass 🔥 HOT

📍Assateague & OC surf, OC Inlet at night, bridge pilings

🎣Cut bunker for big fish; soft plastic paddletails for schoolies

📊28–31" slot, 1/day ocean. Most fish over-slot (release)

📋 28–31" slot, 1/day ocean | Most over-slot = C&R

🦈 Bluefish 🔥 HOT

📍Indian River Inlet, OC surf, Cape Henlopen Pier

🎣Hopkins, Stingsilvers, bucktails, cut mullet

📊DE 2026: 5/day private & shore, 7/day for-hire

🥁 Black Drum 🟡 MODERATE

📍Coral Beds off Slaughter Beach, Broadkill Beach

🎣Clams, sand fleas on fish-finder rigs

📊Check DNREC / MD DNR current regs

🎣 Red Drum 🟡 SHOWING

📍Assateague & OC surf — bull reds at night

🎣Cut bait on the beach after dark

📊Check current MD DNR slot

🪨 Tautog 🟡 GOOD

📍OC Inlet jetty, bulkheads, bridge piers

🎣Sand fleas, green crabs

📊Check current state seasonal rules

🐠 Black Sea Bass 🟡 WIND-LIMITED

📍Offshore wrecks & reefs (long runs)

🎣Squid, clams, Gulp! on high-low rigs

📊Season open MD & DE. 12.5" min, 15/day

📋 12.5" min | 15/angler/day

🐟 Tuna / Mahi 🔵 EARLY

📍Baltimore Canyon, Poorman's — when wind allows

🎣Spreader bars, ballyhoo, cedar plugs at 6–8 kts

📊Expect a flip soon as water warms

📍 Hot Spots This Week

🏖️ SURF

Assateague National Seashore

Prime striper surf action with blues and drum mixed in.

Ocean City Beaches

Consistent striper and bluefish action in the surf.

Broadkill Beach (DE)

Black drum on sand fleas and clams.

Cape Henlopen Pier

Bluefish and stripers from the pier.

🌉 BAY / INLET

OC Inlet (jetty & channels)

Flounder drifts through the channels. Stripers on cut bait at night.

Indian River Inlet

Bluefish on metal lures. Strong tidal action producing bites.

Lewes & Rehoboth Canal

Flounder and small stripers. Sheltered option on windy days.

Rt 50, 90 & Verrazzano Bridges

Schoolie stripers on paddletails around pilings.

Masseys Landing / Fenwick Ditch

Schoolie stripers in sheltered water.

Coral Beds (Slaughter Beach)

Black drum on clams and sand fleas.

🚤 NEARSHORE

Old Grounds

Bottom fishing for sea bass and mixed species.

Inshore Wrecks & Reefs

Black sea bass limits when weather allows the run.

Fenwick Shoals

Sea bass when calm enough to get out.

⛵ OFFSHORE

Baltimore Canyon

Early-season mahi and yellowfin staging when wind allows.

Poorman's Canyon

Wind-limited access this week. Pelagic season building.

Hot Dog

Mostly wind-bound this week.

🎣 What's Working — By Technique

🏖️ Surf Fishing

Bait: Cut bunker, fresh mullet, clams, sand fleas

Rig: Fish-finder w/ 6–8 oz pyramid sinker

Tip: Night fishing producing biggest stripers & bull reds

Note: Circle hooks required in DE for stripers w/ natural bait

🌉 Bay & Inlet

Flounder: Live minnows + Gulp! drifts through channels & inlet edges

Stripers: Soft plastic paddletails tight to bridge pilings

Tog: Sand fleas on jetty rocks — work them tight to structure

🚤 Nearshore

Sea Bass: High-low rig w/ squid & clams, 6–10 oz sinker

Bluefish (IRI): Metal lures & bucktails worked fast

Note: Wind has limited offshore runs — fish nearshore when you can

⛵ Offshore Trolling

Trolling: Ballyhoo on spreader bars, cedar plugs at 6–8 kts

Mahi: Pitch ballyhoo to weed lines

Note: Watch the wind window! Offshore access limited this week

Weekly Fishing ReportLewes, DE to Ocean City, MD

Weekly Fishing Report
Lewes, DE to Ocean City, MD