Loading trail…
Delaware · Fishing
Milton, Delaware sits in the heart of Sussex County, and the fishing around town leans heavily on still water.
10 spotsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 10 spots
Milton, Delaware sits in the heart of Sussex County, and the fishing around town leans heavily on still water. The ponds here — Goose Pond, Oak Pond, Waples Pond, Teal Pond, Wagamons Pond, Streak Ponds, and Shell Beach Pond — are the main draw, and most of them are small enough that you can cover the productive water in a morning without a boat. Expect largemouth bass, bluegill, and chain pickerel as the bread-and-butter species in this kind of Delaware pond habitat, though conditions vary by water body. None of the listings here carry a gold-medal or wild-trout designation, so this is not a destination trout fishery — it is a solid warmwater pond scene that rewards anglers who show up early, fish light tackle, and take the time to read the shoreline structure. Access points differ by location, so checking Delaware DNREC's public fishing area maps before you go is worth the five minutes. A basic freshwater fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older. If you are traveling from out of state, Delaware sells non-resident licenses by the day or year, and they are available online through DNREC.
Goose Pond, Oak Pond, Waples Pond, Teal Pond, Wagamons Pond, Streak Ponds, and Shell Beach Pond all appear in the local fishing listings. Public access and parking vary by site, so confirm current access through Delaware DNREC's public fishing areas page before making the drive.
Not really. These are small ponds, and most of the productive structure — fallen timber, lily pad edges, inlet channels — is reachable from the bank or a kayak. A canoe or small kayak gives you more flexibility, but bank fishing is genuinely viable at most of these spots.
Teal Pond
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Shawnee Lake - Cape Henlopen State Park
~17 min drive
Easy
Goose Pond
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Streak Ponds
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Oak Pond
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Buzzard Swamp
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Little Rabbit Swamp
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Waples Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Waples Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Stickweed Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Blind Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Waples Pond
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near DE.
Warmwater pond species are the norm here: largemouth bass, bluegill, and chain pickerel are common in Sussex County ponds of this type. None of the listed waters carry a trout designation, so do not plan this trip around trout fishing.
Early morning and the last two hours before sunset are consistently the most productive windows on small ponds like these, especially for bass and pickerel during warmer months. Midday in summer tends to push fish into deeper water or heavy shade, so adjust your timing accordingly.
A Delaware freshwater fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older — residents and non-residents can purchase one online through DNREC. For tackle, light to medium spinning gear with 8-12 lb line covers most situations on these ponds. Soft plastics, small spinnerbaits, and live bait all work depending on the season and target species.
