Three State Records, One River: Nanticoke Catfish

Between April 2022 and September 2023, Delaware’s blue catfish record fell three times, all in the Nanticoke River. The last two fell twenty days apart.

The story

On September 2, 2023, Chris Andrews of Bridgeville was fishing at night with cut bait when he landed a blue catfish that topped the earlier record by four ounces. It was a short reign.

Twenty days later, on September 22, Sydney McBroom, also of Bridgeville, was fishing from his boat in mid-morning with a whole bluegill for bait. He fought a blue catfish for about 20 minutes and brought in a fish that weighed 53 pounds. DNREC and the Cape Gazette give its length as 46.5 inches. DNREC certified it at Lewes Harbour Marina. It is the current state record and is believed to be the largest freshwater fish in DNREC’s records.

McBroom’s advice afterward was “big bait, big hooks, and patience.”

Where the sources disagree

News reports do not agree on all the numbers. Andrews’s fish is listed as 47 pounds 8 ounces by the Cape Gazette and 48 pounds 7.2 ounces by Chesapeake Bay Magazine. DNREC’s statement that McBroom’s fish beat it by “more than 4.5 pounds” fits the second figure better. One TV report gave McBroom’s length as 45.5 inches instead of 46.5. We use DNREC’s 53 pounds for the current record and do not pick a weight for Andrews’s fish.

Why it’s remarkable

Blue catfish are not native to this part of the country. Records that fall three times in about a year and a half show that the Nanticoke now grows very large fish.

The river behind the records

The Nanticoke is a tidal freshwater river in Sussex County. The Seaford Boat Ramp, renovated in 2018, has ample parking and a barrier-free fishing pier or platform next to it. Broad Creek, a tributary, has its own access at Phillips Landing. Ramp fees or permits may apply, and DNREC’s hatchery sits on the river.

Blue catfish are common and large here. A DNREC fishing report from October 2026 points to cut bunker and other cut bait for blue catfish in the fall, which fits how Andrews caught his record fish at night with cut bait. Tide matters on this river because some areas dry on the outgoing tide, according to tournament anglers, and the river’s bass tournaments run from April through November. Catfish have no size or daily limit on the Nanticoke, but live blue and flathead catfish cannot be possessed or transported.

A river with other fish

Blue catfish are not the only fish worth knowing about here. DNREC stocks advanced-fingerling largemouth bass in the river and monitors the tidal bass fishery, and fishing pressure is heavy. Striped bass, perch and snakehead are also present. American and hickory shad are closed to harvest on the Nanticoke and its tributaries, so any shad you hook must go back.

Fishing the water

The Nanticoke’s catfish fishery rewards cut bait and large live bait, according to DNREC reports. The Nanticoke River guide covers access, rules and tackle. A record does not mean you will catch one. Blue catfish are invasive in Delaware, and the Delaware Fishing Guide says they must not be returned to the water, so check the current rule before you fish.

For the full records list and the other stories, see the Delaware Dock Tales index.