Delaware’s Inland Bays offer several documented public places to launch a boat or work a handline near the water. The four access points below differ sharply: Holts Landing and Rosedale Beach provide quieter bay access, Massey’s Landing sits beside a fast tidal ditch, and Indian River Marina is primarily a boat base near a busy inlet.
Holts Landing State Park
Address: 27046 Holts Landing Road, Dagsboro. The park has a fishing pier and boat ramp on Indian River Bay, paved parking and accessible facilities. Delaware’s official Inland Bays assessment identifies Holts Landing as a public crabbing location.
Plan for: day use from 8 a.m. to sunset. The 2026 vehicle fee is $5 for Delaware plates and $10 for out-of-state plates from March 1 through November 30. Check the live park page for seasonal restroom and facility status.
Massey’s Landing
Access: public ramp and barrier-free fishing/crabbing platform at the end of Long Neck Road. Massey’s Ditch connects Rehoboth and Indian River bays, making this one of the region’s most useful walk-on access points.
Use care: the ramp can be crowded and the ditch carries strong tidal current. Keep handlines compact, stay clear of trailers and do not treat this as a beginner kayak launch.
Rosedale Beach
Access: DNREC’s public ramp, parking lot and barrier-free crabbing/fishing platform at the end of Rosedale Road near Millsboro. Follow posted gates and hours; current official sources do not promise year-round restrooms.
Delaware Seashore and Indian River Marina
Best for: trailered-boat access. The marina provides a developed launch into the bay and inlet system. The inlet has fast tidal flow, jetties, heavy vessel traffic and changing work zones, so it is not the quietest beginner shore stop.
Park day use is generally 8 a.m. to sunset. In 2026 the beach-park vehicle fee is $10 for Delaware plates and $20 for out-of-state plates from March 1 through November 30.
Current Delaware blue crab rules
Most crabbers need a Delaware fishing license and Fisherman Information Network number. Recreational crab pots may be used from March 1 through November 30; other legal gear is available year-round. The current recreational limit is two pots, checked at least once every 72 hours, and one bushel per person per day. Hard crabs must measure 5 inches, soft crabs 3½ inches and peelers 3 inches. Release egg-bearing sponge crabs.
Water contact and trip planning
DNREC maintains a standing recreational-contact caution for the Inland Bays because bacteria can be elevated, particularly after rain. That is not a blanket seafood ban, but it is a reason to wash hands, cover cuts, avoid swallowing water and review current advisories. At Massey’s Landing and the inlet, plan around tide and boat traffic. At quieter piers, bring a short handline or compact legal net that can be tended without blocking other users.
Holts Landing State Park · DNREC public fishing access map · Delaware Seashore State Park · current Delaware crab rules · DNREC water-contact advisory
Access, fees and regulations checked August 13, 2026. See the Delaware crabbing report for the current seasonal outlook.