New Jersey · River fishing forecast

Delaware River at Trenton fishing forecast today

Current conditions plus a 7-day fishing outlook for Delaware River at Trenton, including Fishing Score, wind, pressure, clouds, rain chance and moon phase, with live USGS water observations, recent trends and long-term seasonal context where available.

7.5/10
Good
Current Fishing Score

Weather-based index with a conservative -0.5 USGS river-flow adjustment from the long-term seasonal baseline.

100% weather data coverageFull inputsUSGS flow adjustment -0.5
Air temperature
78°F
Wind
2 mph WNW
Pressure
29.90 inHg
Nearby NWS observation
Cloud cover
10%
Rain chance
0%
Moon
Waxing Crescent
Water temp
77.4°F
USGS observation
Gusts
6 mph
Humidity
64%
Weather data updated: Aug 19, 2026, 4:20 AM EDT
Live water data

Delaware River at Trenton water temperature and USGS river conditions

Current observations with 24-hour, 7-day, recent 30-day and long-term seasonal context from the verified reference station.

Open USGS station ↗
Delaware River at Trenton NJUSGS-01463500 · about 0.0 mi from forecast point
Water temperature77.4°FUSGS 00010
Streamflow7,350 cfsUSGS 00060
Gage height9.13 ftUSGS 00065
Fishing Score water checkCurrent score adjustment: -0.5. flow is more than 60% from the seasonal median; 24-hour flow changed by more than 10%.
Latest supported observation: Aug 19, 10:15 AM EDTSeasonal baseline uses approved USGS day-of-year statistics; 30-day context remains a separate recent median. On river pages with at least 20 approved observations contributing to the same-calendar-day streamflow baseline, unusually extreme or rapidly changing flow can only reduce the current score; it never adds bonus points.
Plan the week

Delaware River at Trenton 7-day fishing forecast

Compare day-level Fishing Scores with wind, rain risk, pressure and temperatures for the next seven days.

Forecast data coverageDaily weather-score coverage is 72%. NWS forecast pressure is unavailable for these periods, so the daily scores are partial.
Best available weather score · partialMonday, Aug 24 · 7.9/10
Today
Wednesday, Aug 19
7.7/10
Partial
Sunny
88°68°
Wind5 mph WNWRain1%Clouds22%Moon40%
Thu
Thursday, Aug 20
6.5/10
Partial
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
83°63°
Wind4 mph NNERain71%Clouds58%Moon50%
Fri
Friday, Aug 21
7.3/10
Partial
Mostly Sunny
85°65°
Wind2 mph NERain9%Clouds33%Moon61%
Sat
Saturday, Aug 22
7.0/10
Partial
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
82°66°
Wind3 mph ERain58%Clouds68%Moon71%
Sun
Sunday, Aug 23
7.4/10
Partial
Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
85°64°
Wind4 mph NWRain37%Clouds57%Moon80%
Mon
Monday, Aug 24
7.9/10
Partial
Sunny
84°62°
Wind5 mph WNWRain4%Clouds22%Moon88%
Tue
Tuesday, Aug 25
7.5/10
Partial
Sunny
84°63°
Wind4 mph WNWRain15%Clouds21%Moon94%

The large Current Fishing Score above uses current conditions and, on eligible river pages, can include a conservative USGS streamflow penalty. The seven daily cards remain weather-only because this site does not predict future river flow. Cards marked “Partial” use less than 90% of the weighted weather inputs.

Delaware River at Trenton fishing conditions overview

The current weather inputs produce a good weather-based Fishing Score. Very light wind may leave clear, calm water more demanding. A conservative USGS river-flow check reduces the displayed current score by 0.5 points because flow is more than 60% from the seasonal median and 24-hour flow changed by more than 10%.

Estimated activity windows: 5:30 AM–7:45 AM and 6:22 PM–8:37 PM local time. These are dawn/dusk windows, not guaranteed bite times.

Best fishing time today: estimated windows

The first estimated window runs from 5:30 AM–7:45 AM, around sunrise at 6:15 AM. The second runs from 6:22 PM–8:37 PM, around sunset at 7:52 PM. Lower light can change visibility and fish positioning, but actual feeding periods vary by species, season and water conditions.

Delaware River at Trenton fishing: structure, seasons and local conditions

Major Delaware River reach at Trenton with current seams, channel structure and seasonal migratory fish. For fishing decisions, useful local reference areas include channel edges and depth transitions, together with current seams and slower-water edges. Those features are more informative than treating the whole forecast area as one uniform piece of water. Current is a defining feature on this reach. Faster seams, softer edges and deeper runs can offer very different holding water, so a single discharge number should be interpreted through the structure visible at the spot you fish.

Seasonal change at Delaware River at Trenton is best treated as a sequence of warming, peak-summer and cooling periods. Each transition can change depth use, current preference and the value of shoreline cover. The seven-day forecast helps identify short weather shifts inside that cycle, but water temperature, flow or level should be checked whenever a reliable local observation is available. The practical decision on Delaware River at Trenton is not only whether the score is high; it is whether channel edges and depth transitions, together with current seams and slower-water edges remain fishable at the current flow and water level.

Common targets at Delaware River at Trenton include Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, and Walleye. They do not use depth, current and cover in exactly the same way, so the Fishing Score remains a conditions index rather than a species-specific bite prediction. This page also has a manually mapped USGS reference station, so fresh water temperature, flow or level can be shown when that station reports a supported sensor.

What to watch in today's conditions

Wind

Current wind is about 2 mph from WNW, with gusts near 6 mph. Crosswind and gusts can change boat control and presentation, while bends and protected banks may remain much calmer.

Barometric pressure

Barometric pressure is about 29.90 inHg. Pressure is one part of the Fishing Score and is read together with wind, cloud cover and precipitation.

Moon phase and light

The moon is currently in the Waxing Crescent phase with approximately 38% illumination. Lunar illumination has a smaller weight than the main weather factors.

Target species

Smallmouth bassStriped bassWalleye

Always verify current state fishing regulations, seasons, bag limits, licensing requirements and location-specific closures before fishing.

How this forecast is calculated

The Fishing Score starts with National Weather Service weather data: pressure 28%, wind 24%, cloud cover 18%, precipitation probability 18% and lunar illumination 12%. Missing weather factors are never treated as zero; partial weather results are pulled toward a neutral 5/10 according to the missing weight. On eligible river pages, a separate conservative USGS flow check can only reduce the current score when streamflow is unusually far from the long-term seasonal median or changing rapidly. It never increases the score.

Quick answers

Delaware River at Trenton fishing forecast FAQ

What is the Fishing Score for Delaware River at Trenton today?

The current Fishing Score is 7.5 out of 10 with 100% weighted data coverage. The weather inputs used by the score are currently complete.

What is the best fishing time at Delaware River at Trenton today?

The page highlights estimated low-light windows of 5:30 AM–7:45 AM and 6:22 PM–8:37 PM local time, centered around sunrise and sunset. They are planning windows, not guaranteed bite times.

What fish are commonly targeted at Delaware River at Trenton?

Common target species listed for Delaware River at Trenton include Smallmouth bass, Striped bass, Walleye. Seasons, legal limits and local closures can change, so always verify current regulations before fishing.

What weather factors are used for Delaware River at Trenton?

The Fishing Score uses barometric pressure and trend, wind, cloud cover, precipitation probability and moon illumination. Missing inputs are excluded rather than treated as zero.

Does this page include USGS water conditions for Delaware River at Trenton?

Yes. This page uses the manually mapped Delaware River at Trenton NJ reference station when fresh supported observations are available. Water temperature, streamflow or water level can appear depending on the station sensors. When approved long-term statistics are available, the page can compare the current reading with the seasonal median for the same calendar day. On river pages with at least 20 approved observations contributing to that calendar day, unusually extreme or rapidly changing flow may conservatively reduce the Fishing Score; water data never adds bonus points.

What is the water temperature at Delaware River at Trenton?

The latest supported USGS water-temperature observation shown on this page is 77.4°F from Delaware River at Trenton NJ. Readings older than 48 hours are not presented as current.