Delaware flatheads running hot as Pine Barrens flows settle to summer lows

What's Biting

What's Next

**Catfish and Structure on the Delaware**

The flathead catch reported by Wired 2 Fish confirms the lower Delaware's catfish bite is in full swing heading into mid-June. The pattern that produced that record fish, cut gizzard shad presented on bottom along river ledges in 17 to 23 feet, is worth replicating on similar structure this week. Channel catfish respond well to the same approach and favor low-light windows: the hour before sunrise and the couple of hours after sunset should produce the most consistent action through the weekend. The Last Quarter moon this week brings moderate solunar influence; conditions are steady without being a peak feed period, so patience matters more than timing precision.

**Pine Barrens Streams: Bass and Pickerel**

With gauge 01408000 running at 22.2 cfs and water temperatures likely climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s, the Pine Barrens' cedar-stained streams are settling into their summer character. Largemouth bass have largely completed spawning and are scattered in post-spawn recovery mode. Work topwater lures along weed edges and dock structures in the first couple of hours after dawn before fish drop deeper to find shade and cooler water. Soft plastics and spinners worked slowly along submerged logs and root wads will hold fish through the midday heat when surface action slows.

**Chain Pickerel**

The Pine Barrens' signature warm-water species remains opportunistic through the summer months. Low, clear water makes long casts and lighter presentations an advantage over finicky fish. Small inline spinners and spinnerbaits retrieved through emergent vegetation and lily pad edges are the proven local approach. Early morning and overcast windows give a clear edge in these shallow, exposed systems.

**Weekend Planning**

No precipitation data is available to project a flow change, but if recent dry patterns hold, Pine Barrens flows will remain low or drop further into the week. Concentrated fish in predictable pools is the upside for anglers willing to work small water carefully. Plan to be on the water at dawn, target shaded holes and undercut banks during midday heat, and consider evening sessions on the Delaware proper for catfish as daytime temperatures peak and then drop.

Context

Early June on the Delaware River and in the Pine Barrens typically marks the transition from spring's higher-flow, more active conditions to summer's low, warm-water pattern. By this point in the season, the American shad run that draws significant attention to the upper Delaware has largely run its course, leaving catfish, smallmouth bass, and carp as the primary draws on the main stem.

The flathead catfish catch reported by Wired 2 Fish, a 36.2-pound fish taken June 1 near Augustine Beach, lands squarely within the typical early-summer catfish window on the lower tidal Delaware. Flathead catfish in this stretch are an underreported but legitimate trophy target from late spring through early fall, when water temperatures activate their feeding patterns. A fish of this size at this time of year is consistent with the season, even if the specific weight set a new record.

Pine Barrens flows at 22.2 cfs on gauge 01408000 are consistent with normal summer low-water conditions for the region. The aquifer-fed streams here moderate extreme flow swings, but by early June most surface runoff has tapered off and flows run lean. In a typical year, chain pickerel and largemouth bass fishing in the Pines peaks in late April and May during the pre-spawn window. By early June, post-spawn fish are more scattered and the fishing requires precise presentations to isolated structure rather than the broad, opportunistic activity of spring.

NJ Fish & Wildlife News notes trout stocking continues at select WMAs including Hamburg Mountain in Sussex County. However, holdover fishing in lower-elevation warmwater streams becomes marginal as temperatures rise through June, and the Pines' chain pickerel, bass, and panfish become the more reliable warm-season targets going forward.