Delaware Bay
Largest tributaries
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps
Perciformes - Perches
Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts
Siluriformes - Catfishes
Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes
Acipenseriformes - Sturgeons and Paddlefish
Gadiformes - Cods
Spariformes - Breams and porgies
Zeiformes - Dories
Mugiliformes - Mullets
Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes
Anguilliformes - Eels and morays
Istiophoriformes - Barracudas
Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Carangiformes - Jacks
Labriformes - Wrasses
Albuliformes - Bonefishes
Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
Scombriformes - Mackerels
Mulliformes - Goatfishes
Beloniformes - Needlefishes
Moroniformes - Temperate basses
Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders
Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes
Blenniiformes - Blennies
Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes
Gobiiformes - Gobies
Aulopiformes - Grinners
Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks
Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes
Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses
Beryciformes - Sawbellies
Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes
Lampriformes - Lamprids
Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses
Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards
Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes
Atheriniformes - Silversides
Argentiniformes - Marine smelts
Osmeriformes - Smelts
Myxiniformes - Hagfishes
Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes
Callionymiformes - Dragonets
Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks
Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks
Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks
Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras
Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes
Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Rajiformes - Skates and rays
Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels
Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers
Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays
Torpediniformes - Electric rays
Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes
Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes
Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels
Squatiniformes - Angelsharks
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps
Perciformes - Perches
Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts
Siluriformes - Catfishes
Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes
Acipenseriformes - Sturgeons and Paddlefish
Gadiformes - Cods
Spariformes - Breams and porgies
Zeiformes - Dories
Mugiliformes - Mullets
Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes
Anguilliformes - Eels and morays
Istiophoriformes - Barracudas
Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Carangiformes - Jacks
Labriformes - Wrasses
Albuliformes - Bonefishes
Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
Scombriformes - Mackerels
Mulliformes - Goatfishes
Beloniformes - Needlefishes
Moroniformes - Temperate basses
Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders
Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes
Blenniiformes - Blennies
Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes
Gobiiformes - Gobies
Aulopiformes - Grinners
Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks
Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes
Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses
Beryciformes - Sawbellies
Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes
Lampriformes - Lamprids
Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses
Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards
Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes
Atheriniformes - Silversides
Argentiniformes - Marine smelts
Osmeriformes - Smelts
Myxiniformes - Hagfishes
Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes
Callionymiformes - Dragonets
Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks
Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks
Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks
Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras
Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes
Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Rajiformes - Skates and rays
Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels
Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers
Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays
Torpediniformes - Electric rays
Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes
Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes
Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels
Squatiniformes - Angelsharks
Delaware Bay is the estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the northeast seaboard of the United States. Approximately 782 square miles (2,030 km2) in area, the bays fresh water mixes for many miles with the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean.
The bay is bordered inland by the States of Delaware and New Jersey, and the Delaware Capes, Cape Henlopen and Cape May, on the Atlantic. The Delaware Bay is bordered by six counties: Sussex, Kent, and New Castle in Delaware, along with Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem in New Jersey. The Cape May–Lewes Ferry crosses the Delaware Bay from Cape May, New Jersey, to Lewes, Delaware. Management of ports along the bay is the responsibility of the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
The shores of the bay are largely composed of salt marshes and mudflats, with only small communities inhabiting the shore of the lower bay. Besides the Delaware, it is fed by numerous smaller rivers and streams, including (from north to south) the Christina River, Appoquinimink River, Leipsic River, Smyrna River, St. Jones River, Mispillion River, Broadkill River and Murderkill Rivers on the Delaware side, and the Salem River, Cohansey River, and Maurice Rivers on the New Jersey side. Several of the rivers hold protected status for their salt marsh wetlands bordering the bay, which serves as a breeding ground for many aquatic species, including horseshoe crabs. The bay is also a prime oystering ground.