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PiscaMapsUnited States Delaware Sussex County Nanticoke River

Fishing at Nanticoke River

Delaware · Sussex County and Kent County · 32 river miles in Delaware
State
Delaware
Country
USA
Licence
State-issued
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Delaware River 32 river miles in Delaware Public river — navigable water 🌙 Night fishing

About Fishing at Nanticoke River

Nanticoke River is a public river in Sussex County and Kent County, Delaware, managed by State of Delaware (public / navigable water). You can fish it on a Delaware inland fishing licence; bank access is at Delaware DNREC boat launches, Trout Management Area parking areas and bridge crossings. Delaware has no blanket streambed-access law; away from a public access point, wading or bank fishing may cross private property, so check current signage or ask permission. Public access confirmed via marquee water.

Part of the Nanticoke River system draining into Chesapeake Bay (Delaware's only Chesapeake-bound river system, unlike its Delaware-Bay-bound creeks) — largemouth bass, channel catfish, white perch and chain pickerel in slow, tannic, cypress-lined water.

It runs roughly 32 miles through the Sussex County (Southern Delaware) region. Anglers here mostly fish for largemouth bass, channel catfish, white perch, chain pickerel. Live flow and gauge height come from the Nanticoke River Near Bridgeville, De USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Hearns Pond and Collins Pond.

County
Sussex, Kent
Region
Sussex County (Southern Delaware)
Length
32 river miles in Delaware
Public access
Public river — navigable water
Managed by
State of Delaware (public / navigable water)
Night fishing
Permitted
Boats
Varies by water

Fish Species at Nanticoke River

Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, Delaware DNREC trout-stocking records and hand research.

Access & Rules at Nanticoke River

Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in Delaware on freshwater ponds or streams.

Boats: Delaware's bigger millponds (Silver Lake, Lums Pond, Killens Pond, Trap Pond, Records Pond) take a car-top or small trailered boat via a DNREC ramp; most smaller ponds and all trout streams are bank/wading access only.

Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at the Delaware state parks around several of these ponds (Killens Pond, Trap Pond, Lums Pond all have their own campgrounds); DNREC fishing-access points elsewhere are day-use only.

Tackle: Statewide bass and panfish limits are generous; the small Piedmont trout-stream program follows its own posted limit and season. Check the current DNREC fishing guide for this specific water.

Facilities Near Nanticoke River

Boat ramps: 5 mapped — Put-in, Seaford Boat Ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.

River Conditions

Loading live flow & gauge height…

Live from USGS gauge 01487000 — Nanticoke River Near Bridgeville, De. Full gauge data →

Fishing Licence for Nanticoke River

Anyone 16 to 64 needs a Delaware fishing licence — the resident annual is about $8.50, the non-resident annual about $22, with a 7-day non-resident licence (~$16) also sold. A separate free Delaware Bay/tidal endorsement is required for some anadromous species. Residents 65 and older and Delaware residents fishing on their own tidal shoreline need no licence. Buy from DNREC at dnrec.delaware.gov. A Delaware fishing licence (plus the free tidal endorsement for some species) covers this river under the state's public-trust doctrine for navigable/tidal water.

Delaware

Delaware DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Resident annual: ~$9 Non-resident annual: ~$22 Non-resident 1-day (~$14) and 3-day (~$45) licences are sold · residents 70+ need no licence · anyone under 16 fishes free Buy: dnrec.delaware.gov/fishing

Public access

Lakes and ponds here are confirmed public via a Delaware DNREC stocked-water listing or boat launch; rivers are public under Delaware's public-trust doctrine for navigable water Delaware's Trout Management Areas and Wild Trout Management Areas carry special artificial-lures-only or reduced/catch-and-release limit rules on many rivers; always check the current DEEP Anglers Guide for this water

View Nanticoke River on Google Maps →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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