Rehoboth Beach is a timeless example of the great coastal tourist town. With its scenic boardwalk, great seafood restaurants, and many shops and amusements, it’s the perfect place to while away a week on your summer vacation. “The Nation’s Summer Capital” has a lot more going on than just beach breaks and seaside strolls, though. Nowhere more so than aboard Rehoboth Beach Fishing Charters.
Rehoboth Beach is surrounded by shallow flats and productive backcountry, where an inshore angler could spend years perfecting their casts and trying for that trophy Striped Bass or Redfish. In fact, many local guides have done just that. Head out past the Indian River Inlet and into open water, and your target species are limited only by your trip time and your ambition. Monster Sharks patrol the deep waters offshore and during the summer several species of Tuna and Marlin join the mix to make for seriously productive big game battles. The hard part is choosing what to target!
Types of Fishing
Rehoboth Beach fishing has everything, from kayak trips in a few inches of water to overnight adventures out to the continental shelf. You will find a variety of trip options aboard most local charter boats, letting you get the most out of its many productive habitats.
Bay Fishing
Rehoboth Beach is surrounded by shallow bays and sheltered flats. Step aboard a charter boat in Rehoboth Bay Marina and you’ll already be standing in one of the best shallow-water fisheries in the state - Rehoboth Bay itself. Spend a day exploring its hidden bayous and rich mud flats and you’ll find Red and Black Drum, Flounder, Spotted Seatrout, Weakfish, Croaker, and Delaware’s favorite game fish - Striped Bass.
And that’s just one bay! Just a couple of miles further south you have Indian River Bay, head north from town and you hit the more open waters of Delaware Bay. The “bayside” fishing is so good here that many guides never bother with open water at all - and we really can’t blame them!
Coastal Fishing
But if you’re feeling the urge for open water and want to head out past Indian River Inlet you definitely won’t regret it. Rehoboth Beach’s coastal waters are visited every year by big, mean, migratory Stripers (known locally as Rockfish). These guys are just starting their migration north and are gobbling up everything that gets in their way. Alongside the Rockfish, you’ll find Bluefish and even some Black Seabass if you head a little further. Throw in some ocean-going Flounder and you’ve got a tasty bag of fish at the end of the day.
Deep Sea Fishing
Rehoboth Beach fishing charters have to go a long way to hit the big game grounds. Extended full day and overnight trips are common for anglers looking to get the most out of Delaware's deep sea fishing. Don’t let that put you off, because you’ll forget the travel time in seconds once you see the cast of characters fighting for baits offshore. Blue and White Marlin can be caught all through summer and a well into autumn out at the canyons. And they’re not alone. Bluefin, Yellowfin, and Bigeye Tuna spend their summers here, as do Mahi Mahi and Wahoo - you won’t be short on food, that’s for sure.
The real heavyweight champions out at the canyons are Sharks. Monster Makos and huge Hammerheads hunt in these deep waters, some weighing up to 500 pounds! During the late summer, you can also find Swordfish if you’re out at night.
Fishing Techniques
With tens of miles of shallow flats and huge deep-water canyons, local guides have plenty of space to perfect their techniques. All the top species have their go-to tactics and here are a few you can expect on your trip.
Throwing lures for Stripers
Catching Striped Bass on lures is no new thing. Greedy Stripers will gobble up almost anything when they’re hungry. Poppers and jigs both get great results, as do soft plastics and crankbaits. You won’t need anything fancier than light spinning tackle, but heading out with a guide who knows the waters will save you hours of searching for the best spots.
Bottom Fishing for Flounder
Flounder can be caught on both sides of the Indian River Inlet. These tasty Flatfish love the muddy bottom in Rehoboth Bay, but the big ones head out to deeper banks and rock outcrops, too. The best way to target them is with simple single-hooked rigs of live Shiners, Mullet, Bunker, or Spot. Chicken rigs and fresh cut baits also work great, and you can even have success on soft plastics like Gulp! Swimming Mullets.
Trolling for Marlin
Big game trolling is serious business here in Delaware. Blue Marlin tend to be in the 400-600-pound range, so expect heavy tackle and long battles. White Marlin make up in numbers what they lack in size, and when the bite is hot you could be in double digits before the day is out. Rehoboth Beach charter captains troll baits and lures with equal success and it’s often down to the captain’s preference. Go with what they recommend. They know what they’re doing around here.
Chunking for Tuna and Sharks
Tuna chunking is some of the most high-adrenaline angling there is. Daytime and nighttime chunking charters tear up the topwaters in a feeding frenzy of ferocious fish, and you’ll often find multiple species fighting for food in the same spot. Once the sharks get involved, things get even more extreme, and your cut baits will be mixed with fresh Tuna, drawing in the meanest predators around. Expect heavy stand-up gear to be put to the test on these trips!
Need to Know
Fishing licenses are not usually included on Rehoboth Beach fishing charters. You can find all the relevant information and buy your license online at the Division for Fish & Wildlife’s website.