SlotGaugeCheck a catchRainbow Trout regulations in Delaware
Trout · Freshwater · 2026 season
Rainbow Trout size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout streams | first Saturday in April – December 31 | No size limit | 6 trout, all species combined |
| Ponds / lakes | first Saturday in March – December 31 | No size limit | 6 trout, all species combined |
| Fly-fishing-only water | first Saturday in April – December 31 | No size limit | 4 in fly-fishing-only waters |
Notes
- Opening day: streams 1st Saturday in April, ponds 1st Saturday in March. Closed before opening day; check the Delaware Fishing Guide for closures on designated trout streams.
Exact DNREC wording
- Season
- Streams open 1st Saturday in AprilPonds open 1st Saturday in March
- Size
- No Size Limit
- Limit
- 6 (All Trout species combined)4 in fly-fishing only waters
Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).
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About the rainbow trout
Fresh-water species of fish
The rainbow trout is a species of trout native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. The steelhead is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coastal rainbow trout (O. m. irideus) or Columbia River redband trout (O. m. gairdneri) that usually returns to freshwater to spawn after living two to three years in the ocean.
Read more about Rainbow trout on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
All 196 Delaware species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Rainbow Trout in Delaware?
No size limit in Delaware state waters.
How many Rainbow Trout can you keep per day in Delaware?
6 trout, all species combined.
When is Rainbow Trout season in Delaware?
first Saturday in April – December 31.
Is my Rainbow Trout a keeper today?
Rainbow Trout has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 6.