Delaware raises bluefish catch limits for recreational anglers

Delaware anglers will be allowed to keep more bluefish beginning in 2026 under revised DNREC regulations. (Photo courtesy of Delaware.gov)

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has revised Delaware’s recreational fishing regulations for bluefish, increasing daily possession limits for anglers beginning with the 2026 season.

Under the updated regulations, anglers fishing from shore or private vessels may now keep up to five bluefish per day, an increase from the previous three-fish limit. Anglers aboard for-hire vessels will now be permitted to keep seven bluefish daily, up from five.

According to DNREC, the regulatory changes are now in effect and align Delaware with management measures approved in 2025 by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Bluefish Management Board.

Fisheries managers reviewed a 2025 stock assessment that found bluefish are not currently experiencing overfishing. While the stock has not yet fully reached rebuilding targets, officials said population trends continue to improve.

The assessment estimated spawning stock biomass reached about 89% of the target level in 2024, with projections indicating the species could achieve rebuilt status in 2025 pending confirmation in a future 2027 stock assessment.

Based on those findings, regional fisheries managers adopted a recreational harvest limit of 22.02 million pounds for 2026 and 22.50 million pounds for 2027 — an increase of roughly 40% compared to 2025 harvest levels.

State officials said the increased recreational harvest limits allowed Delaware to raise daily bluefish possession limits for anglers over the next two years.

Additional information on Delaware fishing regulations is available through the 2026 Delaware Fishing Guide.