Great Places
Woodland Beach Fishing Pier
39°19'54.80"N 75°28'20.80"W
End of Woodland Avenue
Woodland Beach, DE 19977
Cast your line at the fishing pier in Woodland Beach. At 360 feet long and 12 feet wide, this pier is a great place to crab, fish, and watch wildlife. Not only that, but also it offers spectacular views of Delaware Bay, especially during sunrise.
We recommend bringing a spare towel or sheet on which to sit. This is because, like fishermen, birds enjoy sitting on the pier's metal benches. As for visitors, they can find two port-o-potties located in the large parking lot.
We also recommend bug spray for this location, as it borders wetlands. If you are lucky, though, a strong breeze will keep the bugs at bay.
If fishing is not your thing, don't worry. Woodland Beach is an excellent place to walk in search of both sea glass and shells. Many people come here from northern Delaware and points beyond because it is arguably their closest sandy beach. In fact, it extends roughly a mile south — but only at low tide. Visit goo.gl/4oaHwQ to plan your walk during a low tide.
Woodland Beach may be an out-of-the-way place, but what it lacks in convenience it more than makes up for in tranquility. See for yourself by taking Route 13 or Route 9 South (A.K.A. the Delaware Bayshore Byway) to Route 6 East, but take caution. You may have to swerve to avoid fishermen and their vehicles on your way into town. This is because the Duck Creek bridge on Woodland Beach Road is an equally popular place to fish.
As in any state, we suggest you consult current fish-consumption advisories before harvesting a fish. These can be found at Delaware.gov, keyword "Fish Consumption." And whenever in doubt, simply practice catch-and-release fishing, a fun pastime by all accounts.
Full disclosure: This destination's horizon is dominated by the Salem - Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station.
Photo by Shaun Bailey
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