Delaware state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeNo size limit
Bag10 per day
SeasonOpen year-round except Nanticoke River and tributaries (closed)Open today
Harvest closed in the Nanticoke River and its tributaries.
DE DNREC 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
How to tell it
Lower jaw juts past the upper; spring river runs. More on the hickory shad page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Hickory shad in other states9 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for hickory shad in Delaware?
No size limit.
How many hickory shad can you keep in Delaware?
10 per day.
When is hickory shad season in Delaware?
Open year-round except Nanticoke River and tributaries (closed).
How current is this Delaware hickory shad rule?
Source: DE DNREC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a hickory shad in Delaware and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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