Delaware catfish surging while low flows reshape the mid-June bite

What's Biting

What's Next

The drought pattern flagged by JB Kasper (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) as of June 7 shows no signs of breaking in the near term, and low, clear water will define conditions on the Delaware and its tributaries through at least midweek. Expect fish to be concentrated in the deepest available structure — river bends, channel drop-offs, and shaded undercut banks — with activity windows heavily skewed toward the low-light hours.

**Blue Catfish (Delaware River, Trenton south):** This is the headline bite right now. Old School Outdoors (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) is hearing consistent reports of big blues from the tidal river south of Trenton. The new moon tonight and through the next several nights sets up excellent dark-sky windows — overnight catfish sessions from accessible bank points or anchored boats over 10- to 20-foot holes should be most productive. Fresh cut bait fished tight to the bottom remains the go-to approach, and moving tides through the new-moon cycle will help trigger feeding bursts.

**Bass and Crappie (Lakes and Reservoirs):** Carnegie Lake and Mercer Lake have been the standout local spots for largemouth and crappie per Old School Outdoors (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater). Post-spawn bass are actively feeding, and the drawdown in reservoirs compresses weed edges into tighter target zones — a focused soft-plastic presentation along those edges at first and last light is the play. Crappie have shifted to the classic summer pattern of early-morning and late-evening bites around dock structure and submerged timber.

**Striped Bass (Delaware River):** Old School Outdoors noted stripers still being picked up at the Trenton Bridges south (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater), but this window is closing fast. Warming river temperatures will push the remaining fish downriver over the coming days. If Delaware River stripers are on the list, act in the next week before they push out completely.

**Pine Barrens streams and ponds:** Low water intensifies in the tannin-stained drainages of the Pines. Largemouth and pickerel will be hugging pad edges and shaded structure through the heat of the day. Surface lures and weedless soft plastics worked at first light will be most effective; mid-day heat will push fish deep and off the bite. Check the local forecast — afternoon thunderstorms are typical for mid-June in South Jersey and can temporarily refresh flows.

Context

June on the Delaware River and Pine Barrens system typically marks a full pivot to warmwater fishing. Shad runs have concluded for the season, stocked trout have largely disappeared from the canal and accessible streams as temperatures climb, and the summer roster — blue and channel catfish, largemouth bass, pickerel, crappie, and a fading window of resident stripers — takes over the playbook.

The flow situation on the Delaware stands out this year. JB Kasper (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) flagged 4,700 cfs at Trenton as of June 7, calling it well below normal. Early June flows on the Delaware at Trenton typically run considerably higher depending on spring snowpack and precipitation; seeing this kind of deficit by mid-June points to a dry spring with limited recharge. Reporting from the same publication noted that low water was keeping some anglers off certain local waters entirely — meaning fishing pressure may be lighter than typical, which can work in your favor on the spots that are still fishing.

The strong blue catfish bite is consistent with what this section of the Delaware produces in drought-year or low-flow summers. When fish concentrate into the deeper holes, bite quality often exceeds what you see in a higher-flow year when fish are more scattered. Old School Outdoors calling out a strong catfish period (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) fits that historical pattern well.

For the Pine Barrens specifically, no detailed freshwater intel appeared in this week's source feeds, which is not unusual — Pine Barrens waters get less consistent coverage than the main river. Historically, June in the Pines sees bass and pickerel settle into warm-weather holding zones: shaded edges, pad fields, and the deeper runs of cedar-water streams. Water clarity in the tannin-stained drainages typically holds even in low-flow periods, which can make fish spookier but also allows for precise presentations at first light. If the region doesn't see meaningful rain before July, some of the shallower back-pond systems may begin to experience oxygen stress by midsummer — worth monitoring as the season progresses.