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I am considering moving to the lewes area and was wondering how the boating is there. I am currently on long island but it is becoming to costly to live here. I have heard that Indian river inlet can get pretty nasty and that the bays are very shallow. Any input on this would be really helpful, thanks
what size boat are you looking at.. there is a big mix of boating in the area.. The inlet can get nasty but just inside it you see plenty of pontoon boats going for flounder, croaker, etc. All sorts of boats run the inlet for stripers, blues, then you have offshore with just about everything. . Bay are relatively shallow but again depends on your boat and what you are looking for.
Hi. Where are you on LI. I grew up there.
I have a house in Bethany which is south of Lewes. It is true that the bays are skinny and you have to navigate carefully. What size boat?
IRI can be a real crazy place. A lot of head boats go in and out there and the current can get you in trouble. Many boats fishing the inlet and those on land at the wall like to heave lead sometimes.
You do have good access to the ocean though, and the fishing can be good, at other things considered.
Any other question you can email me at bcreightonatdanielsprintingdotus
Bill
Hello. Good to hear you may be relocating to "SLOWER LOWER DELAWARE". I live in Milton, De, just north of Lewes, Been in the area fro about 25 years. The fellas have guided you right. I happen to be in the marine retail business here in Milford, Delaware, and the folks that are buying , new or used, are looking for all outboards around here. Shallows make it tougher on the I/O boys. I think you'll like it here boating wise. Gets a bit crazy in the summer, but WOW is fall and spring nice with less boats on the water. Its certainly cheaper tax-wise. Good luck, and fire away with any questions to my e-mail at daveattaylormarinecenterdotcom. and I'll be happy to help w/ the local stuff.
Thanks for all your responses. I was thinking about a boat in the 23' to 25' range probably a parker or something similar. I sold my boat and don't want to buy another until I figure out where I am going. bvpbill I live on the north fork of long island just east of riverhead.
Does anyone have any suggestions of where they think it is better to live in the area,I prefer the lewes to bethany beach area. What do you guys think a happy meduim boat would be size wise?I would definately go with an outboard boat.What are most people using down there? To me the area sounds exactly like the bays on the south side of L.I.
The Lewes area is very nice.....people are nice.....cost of living reasonable.......lots of Grady's in the area.....Parkers...certainly a great boat as well...23-25' is a good size........especially if you have the itch to run out and chase the tunas on nice days............or cruise the coast down to Ocean City, MD.
I fished out the the Indian River for 20+ years and yes the back bay (Rehobeth Bay) is really shallow. If you are in Lewes, I can't see much of a reason why you'd be making a run to the Rehobeth Bay. Much, much better fishing in the DE bay and right out of Rosevelt Inlet, awesome fishing in the rips and Cape May is a great little town to visit by boat.
We gotta get all the "Slower lower" guys together!
All good comments above. You won't regret your decision to move to Delaware, (no sales tax). A 20' to 25' center or a pilothouse Parker would be excellent in this area - there's quite a variety of fishing opportunities here. Every style, from trolling to wreck fishing to fly casting the shallows and more... if taking the family - go crabbing! I sound like the Chamber of commerce (not!) If you get a trailerable boat, the Chesapeake is another great trip. PM me if you need specifics.
Dave :-)
P.S. not affiliated with any marine or fishing business/industries - I just watch it on TV. Your mileage may vary, if you have an ******* that lasts longer than four hours, call your friends before you call the doctor.
__________________ Kencraft Buxton 25 PH
Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman CC
Pro line 251 WA
Hey guys, don't post too often, but thought i'd say hello to all my fellow Delaware boaters. Born and raised in Sussex, me and my Dad are looking to buy our first boat in the next 2-3 months. So lookin forward to gettin out on the water this coming season for our first time.
Were lookin for something in the 21-24 ft range.
Anyone goin to the OC boat show this weekend?
To the original poster, Lewes is a great place with alot of history. Good place to live, boat, and fish. The IRI can get really nasty at certain times,but should be no problem if you pick your days accordingly.
im in irm as well nice marina but they have no tv.which sucks on raceday and in the fall.you have at least 3 different law inforcements that are in that marina and let me tell u they abuse there power was bourded 3 times last year coming in or at the marina to check for fish,they just sit there at the entrance and check everybody.it got so bad last year everybody was complaining,i have been on the water for 25 years and was bourded once till i rented in that marina,the cops walk around in that marina like its marshal law,granted its a state marina never thought it would be like that.now about the inlet i was going through it last year coming back from tuna trip came in with 25kn sw wind with and outgoing 15kn tide the boat was uncontrollable the head boats where evan having troubles ,at times u get and this is frequent 3 to 4 ft rollers in there on outgoin tides,i find this inlet to be more dangerous tham oregon inlet because it is so narrow,there has been a lot of boats that have been draged up on the rocks by the nasty current in there,my boat that day went completly on her side the poles on the port side rodd holders went under,anyways if its nice u cant beat the local 5 min. and your in the ocean
Wow, this thread makes the IR Inlet sound unaproachable Really, Peconic, it's not bad. Don't get me wrong, it definitly has earned a reputation, but it rarely has kept me from fishing. Usually if it is rough enough to dip your gunnel rods in the water you prolly don't want to go anyway.
Lewes is a great town. There is plenty of fishing to do in the DE bay. Know this, there have been many, many more lives lost in that bay than in IR inlet. It is a broad expanse of relatively shallow water and has scared the shite out of me more than once. Things seem to happen quickly weather wise on the DE Bay. But, as with all aspects of boating, common sense is king.
Either way, I grew up here and have fished it for 30 years, mostly IR offshore and nearshore. Good luck and let us know ho it works out for you.
In Lewes, you will have access to Delaware Bay and great fishing there and out in the ocean. You will have no reason to go down to IRI. There is plenty of size, room and depth in the Delaware Bay. It is open to the ocean and has quite a bit of ship traffic, so it can get rough and you need to be careful, but is probably pretty similar to the LI Sound.
IRI is fine most of the time, but you have to watch when the tide is going out and the wind is from the Eastern quadrant. You can just time your exit to take into account the size of your boat and the waves (the re-entry is not that bad if you just ride the back of a wave through). The back bays inside IRI are quite shallow.
RE: IR Inlet - some days it can be done in a jon boat and some days 30 footers wont go. Its a judgement call(going out) and you must decide before you pass under the bridge - not a good idea to try to turn around beyond the bridge. Having said that you will find the norm is that it is user friendly. I probably went out 20+ times last summer in my 19' Maycraft and stayed in maybe twice. As someone said worst condition is good easterly blow with outgoing current - this can be white knuckle time.
Yeah, hitting the boat show tomorrow (Saturday). Geesh, is it Spring yet? Saw a commercial type boat coming into the Inlet this afternoon... like a deadrise, only saw it bow on.
__________________ Kencraft Buxton 25 PH
Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman CC
Pro line 251 WA
Thank you everyone for your input. I am still looking in the area and have not decided on Lewes so I wanted as much feedback as possible. Overall the whole area just seems like an easier place to live. In Rehoboth bay is the channel marked well throughout the bay? Is there any towing companies around in case of a breakdown? thanks again for everyones help.
I've been running my boats from IRI and Lewes for 15 years. I have never been approached by law enforcement in anything but an completely considerate and professional manner. You really need to go spend a couple of weeks in the area and observe. To be honest niether of these places are cruising ports.
The Chesapeake is a destination for those activities.
I went back down to Delaware this past week, still looking for a place to settle down in. I did notice something that I found different. There really aren't that many marinas in the area.Do the mechanics travel to your dock if you aren't in a marina with repair facilities? I do like the lewes area but I am leaning more to the south which would probably force me to have my boat in rehoboth bay or indian river bay. When does the fishing get going there?
DE. boating questions 
Really, Peconic, it's not bad. Don't get me wrong, it definitly has earned a reputation, but it rarely has kept me from fishing. Usually if it is rough enough to dip your gunnel rods in the water you prolly don't want to go anyway. 
