Help care for the land, water, and cultural resources along the Tidal Delaware River Water Trail by respecting wildlife, nature and other people. “Leave No Trace,” a national outdoor ethics program, provides some guidelines to minimize your impact.


Leave no trace for camping and day use:

  • Plan and prepare.
  • Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
  • Dispose of waste properly.
  • Leave what you find.
  • Minimize campfires.
  • Respect wildlife.
  • Be considerate of other visitors.
For more information about “Leave No Trace” outdoor ethics, visit www.lnt.org.

Wildlife along the river:

Aquatic, wetland, and upland areas in and along the Delaware estuary provide a rich variety of habitats for invertebrates, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Freshwater tidal marshes located in the water trail area provide important feeding areas for migratory birds, especially red-winged blackbirds, waterfowl such as pintails, black ducks, mallards, and blue-winged teal; and wading birds. Freshwater wetlands also provide migration, spawning and nursery areas for anadromous fish such as Atlantic Sturgeon, Shortnose Sturgeon, American Shad, and American Eel.

Fishing opportunities:

The fishing opportunities in the tidal stretch of the Delaware River that runs through Bucks county really heats up in spring. Herring, American shad and striped bass are spawning at this time, making their annual run up the river. One of the best places to fish for these species is in the stretch that runs between Morrisville and Trenton. This is the uppermost limit of the tidal influence on the Delaware and the channel narrows considerably, condensing these migrating fish into a smaller area. The fishing here is best done by boat. The bass are best caught with artificial lures near submerged structure, dropoffs and deep holes. The channel catfish are large and are caught with an assortment of baits including chicken livers, worms and hotdogs.

Springtime fishing in the Delaware River around Philadelphia includes action for striped bass and channel catfish. The anadromous striped bass makes an appearance in the river based on water temperature and available prey. The striped bass usually show up in significant numbers in late March or early April to spawn. The type of water areas that the striped bass prefer for spawning include strong current, rocky shorelines or hard-packed gravel or sand. The best time to catch stripers is during an incoming or outgoing tide. Striped bass in the Delaware range from about 7 inches to about 42 inches.

Throughout the summer and into the fall, the fishing is good for channel catfish, white catfish, and even some carp fishing. In late May through September there are opportunities to catch both yellow and white perch. The white perch are more plentiful than the yellow perch. Fishing for largemouth bass can be excellent in the shallow areas between the piers where the river meets the hustle and bustle of Center City. At the mouth of the Schuylkill River you’ll find anglers targeting smallmouth bass.

Every spring, the area between Philadelphia and Marcus Hook is a favorite for striped bass. The standard baits are bloodworms, American eels (as baitfish) and cut herring. Catfish are also a popular quarry, and anglers use chicken livers, minnows and nightcrawlers. White perch and carp are also popular. Remember, though, that this area is tidal, so if you fish from shore, beware of where you set up.

RESPECT THE PRIVACY AND RIGHTS OF PRIVATE LAND OWNERS:

Much of the shoreline along the tidal Delaware is urbanized and in private ownership. Plan and make stops on shorelines open to the public. Respect the privacy and rights of landowners by obtaining permission before entering any privately owned land. Avoid boisterous behavior and making loud noises. Remember that sound carries across water much more clearly than on land. Share the same courtesy that you would want. A friendly wave or quiet greeting is always welcome.

Access points

Access points are owned and managed by a variety of entities (PA Fish and Boat Commission, municipalities, and counties) who work hard to maintain safe, convenient grounds for recreation and access to the river. Many have trash and recycling bins so please use them – never dump your trash in the river. If an access point or point of interest location does not have a place for you to dispose of your garbage, please “pack it out” and take it home with you.


Clean boating and marinas

Maintaining a clean boat is essential to preserving clean, healthy waterways. The Clean Boating Campaign has identified some ways you can minimize your boat’s environmental “splash” in the water:
  • Control boat sewage and use pumpouts (marinas with restrooms and pumpouts are indicated on the map)
  • Keep fuel and oil out of the water
  • Keep boating waters free of litter and fish waste
  • Practice good boat cleaning and maintenance methods
  • Visit http://www.cleanboating.org or http://www.phillywater.org/boating/Participation.htm for more information on how boaters and marinas can help keep our waterways clean.