When sea bass are around Lewes
Lewes Harbour Marina reports sea bass on ocean structure through the summer and into October, and Fisherman’s Wharf runs sea bass trips in spring and fall. These are reports rather than guarantees, since the fish move. For biology and migration, see the black sea bass species guide. For the wider coast, see the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Northeast and the wider Atlantic Northeast guide.
| Window | Source | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Summer into October | Lewes Harbour Marina reports | Sea bass on ocean structure |
| Spring and fall | Fisherman’s Wharf | Scheduled sea bass trips |
Where Lewes boats run
Lewes boats run to ocean structure and the Old Grounds, per Lewes Harbour Marina reports. The Lewes port guide covers the inlet and launch side.
Two offshore options sit beyond the day-boat grounds:
- Tilefish trip: Fisherman’s Wharf runs a midnight-departure offshore trip for tilefish and sea bass.
- Offshore wrecks: Shooter Dog fishes offshore wrecks.
For orientation, the walls sit near port, the wrecks lie off Cape Henlopen and the breakwaters, and Fenwick Shoal lies to the south.
Grounds and structure near Lewes
Eight named spots make up the Lewes sea bass picture, from the breakwater walls out to the Old Grounds.
| Spot | Type | Size | Depth | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Wall | Breakwater wall | Near port | ||
| Outer Wall | Rock jetty | Outside Roosevelt Inlet | ||
| Ice Breakers | Local structure | |||
| Gypsum Prince | Steel barge wreck | 357 ft | 48 ft | Inshore of Cape Henlopen |
| Star Dust | Fishing vessel wreck | 90 ft | 104 ft (least depth) | Northeast of the breakwaters |
| Mars-54 | Crane barge wreck | 79 ft | East-northeast of Cape Henlopen | |
| Old Grounds | Named ground | |||
| Fenwick Shoal | Shoal | South |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Inner Wall
The Inner Wall is a named breakwater wall near port, the inshore counterpart to the Outer Wall.
Outer Wall (Delaware Breakwater / Harbor of Refuge)
The Outer Wall, also called the Delaware Breakwater or the Harbor of Refuge, is a rock jetty outside Roosevelt Inlet.
Ice Breakers (the "Haystacks")
The Ice Breakers are named local structure, known to locals as the "Haystacks."
Gypsum Prince
The Gypsum Prince is a 357-ft steel barge wreck in 48 ft of water, inshore of Cape Henlopen. It was sunk in 1942.
Star Dust
Star Dust is a 90-ft fishing vessel wreck northeast of the breakwaters, with a least depth of 104 ft. That is the shallowest point, so the bottom around the wreck runs deeper.
Mars-54
Mars-54 is a 79-ft crane barge wreck east-northeast of Cape Henlopen. It sank in 1979.
Old Grounds
The Old Grounds is a named ground that Lewes Harbour Marina reports as a sea bass destination. Methods are covered below.
Fenwick Shoal
Fenwick Shoal is the southern ground. It also holds blues, Spanish mackerel and triggerfish.
Chart layers are not for navigation.
How sea bass are fished from Lewes
Lewes boats fish sea bass with baited bottom rigs and metal jigs, and some trips use both. The reef fish fishing guides cover rigging and general structure fishing.
Bottom rigs with crabs and clams
Shooter Dog fishes bottom rigs with crabs and clams.
Metal jigs at the Old Grounds
DNREC’s fishing report noted a bonito on a metal jig worked for sea bass at the Old Grounds.
Jigging and baiting on one trip
Bottom Line sells an 8-hour jigging and baiting trip for flounder and sea bass.
Who fishes sea bass out of Lewes
Four Lewes operators list black sea bass.
| Operator | Boat or capacity | Trip notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom Line Sportfishing | 6 anglers | 8-hour jigging and baiting trip |
| Fisherman’s Wharf | Spring and fall sea bass, midnight offshore trip | |
| MandaLu | 16 passengers | Docked at Lewes Harbour Marina |
| Shooter Dog Charters | Offshore wrecks |
Bottom Line Sportfishing
Capt. Jon Fazekas runs Bottom Line Sportfishing. The boat carries 6 anglers and has twin Cummins 485 hp engines. The 8-hour trip mixes jigging and baiting for flounder and sea bass.
Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf runs sea bass trips in spring and fall. It also runs the midnight-departure offshore trip for tilefish and sea bass.
MandaLu (formerly Savannah Lynn)
The MandaLu charter out of Lewes is a 36-ft Stapelton carrying 16 passengers, docked at Lewes Harbour Marina.
Shooter Dog Charters
Shooter Dog Charters fishes offshore wrecks with bottom rigs baited with crabs and clams. Its site says "Text Chris." No boat name is listed.
FAQ about black sea bass fishing out of Lewes
When are sea bass around Lewes?
Lewes Harbour Marina reports ocean-structure fish through the summer and into October. Fisherman’s Wharf runs sea bass trips in spring and fall.
What wrecks hold sea bass near Cape Henlopen?
Three named wrecks sit off Cape Henlopen. The Gypsum Prince lies inshore of Cape Henlopen, Star Dust lies northeast of the breakwaters, and Mars-54 lies east-northeast of Cape Henlopen.
How deep is the Gypsum Prince?
The Gypsum Prince sits in 48 ft. It is a 357-ft steel barge, inshore of Cape Henlopen, sunk in 1942.
What bait do Lewes boats use for sea bass?
Shooter Dog fishes crabs and clams on bottom rigs. Metal jigs are also worked at the Old Grounds, so black sea bass fishing out of Lewes is a mix of bait and metal.
Which Lewes charters target sea bass?
Bottom Line Sportfishing carries 6 anglers, MandaLu carries 16 passengers, and Fisherman’s Wharf and Shooter Dog also list sea bass.
