DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Police Blotter July 6-13
Reminder for the week: Be Aware of crabbing regulations 

DOVER (July 15, 2011) – To help achieve public compliance, to conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources, and to ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement agents issued more than 50 citations and numerous warnings for violations of recreational boating and fishing regulations between July 6 and 13. During the week, they also handled a few more serious violations. These included:

·         On July 11, Enforcement agents responded to an incident at the Woodland Beach boat ramp. Charles T. Forbes, age 61, of Magnolia, was taken into custody and turned over to Delaware State Police. He was charged with first degree felony assault, felony reckless endangering and resisting arrest. Forbes was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center after he failed to post $6,000 secured bond at arraignment.

·         During routine patrol on July 6 along the C&D Canal, Enforcement agents arrested Paul E. Roberts, age 44, of New Castle, and charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to report a property damage accident, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, damaging Division owned property, and dumping.  Roberts was issued a summons to appear in Justice of the Peace Court 9 in Middletown and released.

·         During routine patrol on July 4 on Rehoboth Bay, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement agents arrested William Husbands, age 46, of Lewes, and charged him with one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, inhaling intoxicating fumes, operating a vessel at night without navigation lights, and insufficient life jackets. Husbands was issued a summons to appear in court and released.

Agents also concluded a week-long investigation of illegal tending of recreational crab pots on July 13 with five crabbers cited for one count each of tending over the recreational limit of crab pots and one count each of tampering with recreational crab pots. Another crabber was cited on July 8 for one count each of tampering with crab pots, tending over the limit of recreational crab pots, and operating a vessel without a Boating Safety Certificate on Assawoman Bay. 

During the week of July 6-13, agents reported a total of 13 violations of blue crab size limits, 11 violations of life jacket requirements (eight involving children), plus violations related to recreational fishing licenses, vessel speed, ramp and boating safety certificates, summer flounder size regulations and use of a non-compliant vessel.

Are you AWARE of regulations on crabbing?

For this week’s Be Aware reminder from the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section, agents would like to remind recreational crabbers to be aware of the size regulations for blue crabs: in order to be “keepers,” hard-shell crabs must measure a minimum of 5 inches from point to point. Other key state regulations related to blue crabs include:

·         Recreational crabbers are required to have a valid fishing license.

·         The daily catch limit for recreational crabbers is one bushel of blue crabs.

·         Recreational crabbers may use a trot line (no length limit) and any number of hand lines or traps.

·         Recreational crabbers may not use, place, set or tend more than two pots.

·         Pots must be marked with all-white buoys with the owner’s full name and permanent address on the buoys or on an attached waterproof tag.

·         The crab pot owner must be the person who sets and tends the pots.

·         All crab pots must be removed from the water between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28.

“Blue crabs are involved in some of the most common fishing-related violations we see in the summertime. We cite a lot of anglers for keeping undersize crabs or tending someone else’s pots,” said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement. “We encourage crabbers and all other anglers to acquaint themselves with the regulations for what they intend to catch before they head out for a summer day of fishing. All the information they need can be found in the Delaware Fishing Guide, available from fishing license dealers in locations throughout the state, or on our website.”

For more information, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries.

Citizens are encouraged to report fish and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section at 302-739-4580.

Vol. 41, No. 269