Conditions
Cape Henlopen, DE
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Tides
Loading tide data…
Depths come from NOAA NCEI coastal elevation models, built from surveys of different ages. Sandbars and sloughs move with every storm, so use this as a guide to the bottom, not its exact shape today. Not for navigation.
The shop is a great place to pick up fresh bait, surf fishing tackle, and brand-name surf rods and reels at reasonable prices. Whether you’re gearing up for a day on the beach or looking for the latest local information, the staff can offer valuable insight into fishing conditions and what’s been biting along the Delaware shore.
Their website also features fishing reports and recent catch information, making it a useful resource for anglers planning their next trip. Local knowledge covers the stretch of coastline from Fenwick Island north to Cape Henlopen, including some of the area’s popular surf fishing destinations.
The shop also supports the local fishing community by sponsoring fall surf fishing tournaments, helping make it a familiar name among Delaware beach anglers.
For a bit of surf fishing history, the shop even appears in the 2008 film Fish the Surf with Lee Sampson, which is available on Amazon Prime Video.
If you’re heading to the Delaware beaches to target striped bass, red drum, bluefish, kingfish, flounder, or other surf species, this is a worthwhile stop for bait, tackle, and local fishing information.
Contact
25012 Coastal Hwy. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
6:00 AM-6:00 PM, Monday – Thursday 6:00 AM-7:00 PM Friday – Saturday 6:00 AM-8:00 PM
I love this small bait and tackle shop located just over the Maryland–Delaware line on Coastal Highway in Fenwick. It’s one of those places that has become a trusted stop for me over the years, especially when I’ve struck out finding fresh bait elsewhere.
Fenwick also brings back some great fishing memories for me. The shop is closely associated with the Oceanic Fishing Pier in North Ocean City, MD, at the mouth of the Ocean City Inlet, where my dad used to take me fishing for weakfish in the early 1970s. That connection makes stopping here for bait feel like a little piece of those early fishing trips.
During the busy surf fishing seasons, they often have live bait available and always carry a good selection of frozen bait. Their salted clams are my favorite, and I’ll go out of my way to pick up a big tub before heading to the beach. They’re usually well stocked with surf fishing terminal tackle and also offer rod and reel repair, along with new rods and reels.
The staff is always friendly, helpful, and ready with good advice for surf fishing the beaches from Fenwick Island north to 3Rs. For me, it’s more than just a place to buy bait—it’s a great local stop with a real connection to the fishing tradition of the Fenwick and Ocean City area.
Contact
101 Coastal Highway Unit 4, Fenwick Island, DE 19944
Monday – Saturday 6:00 AM-6:00 PM Sunday 6:00 AM-5:00 PM
Henlopen Bait and Tackle has been serving Delaware’s fishing community for decades and has earned a strong reputation for knowledgeable service and a great selection of fishing supplies. Although I haven’t visited the shop personally yet—I usually enter the Delmarva Peninsula from the south—it’s definitely on my list for 2026.
Over the years, I’ve spoken with the staff and have consistently found them helpful and knowledgeable. They typically carry a good selection of fresh and frozen bait, along with the terminal tackle and surf-fishing essentials needed for fishing the Delaware beaches. They’re also known for carrying a solid selection of brand-name surf rods and reels.
Henlopen Bait and Tackle operates two locations, with the original shop in Lewes and a newer location serving the Lewes/Rehoboth area. Their reputation for surf-fishing knowledge is well established, and that expertise makes them a worthwhile stop for anglers fishing the Delaware coast. In 2024, they were recognized as Best Fishing/Hunting Supply Store in Sussex County, further reflecting their standing in the local fishing community.
If you’re heading to the Delaware beaches and need bait, tackle, or some local insight before hitting the surf, Henlopen Bait and Tackle is a shop worth checking out.
Contact North
302-645-8106
1622 Savannah Rd, Lewes, DE 19958
Hours vary by season
Contact South
302-703-6657
18334 Coastal Highway, Lewes, DE 19958
North
South
Fishing Regulations
Over Sand Vehicle Regulations
Conditions
Assateague Island, MD
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Tides
Loading tide data…
Depths come from NOAA NCEI coastal elevation models, built from surveys of different ages. Sandbars and sloughs move with every storm, so use this as a guide to the bottom, not its exact shape today. Not for navigation.
While Anglers Sport Center in Annapolis, Maryland, on Route 50 just before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, isn’t exactly part of the DelMarVa surf fishing scene, it’s a convenient stop for anglers traveling from the west and south.
For years, I drove past this shop in the wee hours of the morning on my way to the beach, always noticing the unmistakable neon marlin from the highway. Eventually, I stopped in—and I’m glad I did. What I found was a true full-service bait and tackle shop, with plenty of fresh bait during the season and a good selection of frozen bait during the off-season.
Beyond bait, they carry a wide selection of terminal tackle, beach and fishing supplies, clothing, and name-brand rods and reels. They also offer line spooling and rod and reel repair, which can be especially convenient when you’re getting ready for a trip.
For me, Anglers has become a regular stop on the drive out to Assateague. It’s a little out of the way if you’re already on the Eastern Shore, but if you’re coming from the west or south, it’s worth making the stop before heading across the Bay Bridge and down toward the surf.
Contact
mike@anglersannapolis.com
1456 Whitehall Road Annapolis, MD 21409
Mon-Thurs 5am-8pm, Fri 5am-9pm, Sat 5am-9pm Sun 5am-7pm
Conditions
Assateague Island, VA
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Tides
Loading tide data…
Depths come from NOAA NCEI coastal elevation models, built from surveys of different ages. Sandbars and sloughs move with every storm, so use this as a guide to the bottom, not its exact shape today. Not for navigation.
Conditions
Sandbridge, VA
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Loading tide data…
Depths come from NOAA NCEI coastal elevation models, built from surveys of different ages. Sandbars and sloughs move with every storm, so use this as a guide to the bottom, not its exact shape today. Not for navigation.
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26
Surf Fishing Christmas Card
A unique Christmas greeting for the surf fisherman in your life!
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