Skip to Page Content
Delaware.gov  |  Text Only Governor | General Assembly | Courts | Elected Officials | State Agencies
  Photo: Featured Delaware Photo
 
 
  Phone Numbers   Mobile   Help   Size   Print   Email

Skip Navigation LinksDNREC : Division of Fish & Wildlife : Fisheries

 

Fisheries News & Events

 

Trout stocking schedule released (February 14)
DOVER – The 2012 trout stocking schedule has been released for the upcoming season. Trout fishing in two downstate ponds opens on March 3 with the New Castle County streams opening April 7. The trout stocking schedule can be viewed at the following link.
 

Admended regulations announced for tautog and river herring (February 11)
Final amended regulations for tautog and river herring have been published and will become effective on Saturday, February 11.  Additional information can be viewed at the following link.

Summer flounder regulations remain in effect (February 10)
Summer flounder regualtions for the upcoming fishing season will remain the same as the 2011 regulations.  The minimum size will be 18 inches, with a creel limit of four fish, and the season will be closed from October 24 - December 31.

2011

Cedar Creek Boat Ramp construction to begin November 28 (November 14)
MILFORD – The Cedar Creek Boat Ramp near Milford will close to the public beginning Monday, Nov. 28 to begin construction of the new facility on the site. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the contractor will be a Delaware company, Kuhn Construction of Hockessin. Additional information can be viewed at the following link. The press release can be viewed by clicking this link. 

Northern snakeheads found in Delaware waters (August 31)
Northern snakeheads, an invasive fish, have recently been confirmed in Delaware waters. Three adult snakeheads were collected from the Delaware portion of the Nanticoke watershed: Broad Creek (Laurel), upstream branch of the Nanticoke (above Seaford) and the Marshyhope (Woodenhawk).  Biologists, following a report, captured an adult and two schools of fry from Becks Pond (near Newark) and also saw two other adults. The Fisheries Section asks that any possible snakehead catches in any Delaware waters be reported to the Division. Additional information can be found at the following link.

Cedar Creek Boat Ramp construction (August 11)
MILFORD – Work is expected to begin this fall on a new boat ramp facility at the existing Cedar Creek boat ramp site east of Milford. When completed, the fishing area will have lighted parking, eight 16-foot launch lanes, five floating boarding docks, one floating coutesy dock, parking for 10 cars and 141 vehicle-trailer combinations and seven staging areas. Nine parking spaces will be reserved for the handicapped with an additional six spaces recerved for enforcement and emergency vehicles. Additional information can be viewed at the following link. The press release can be viewed by clicking this link.

Ex-Destroyer "Radford" sunk on Del-Jersey-Land reef site (August 10)
DOVER – Culminating the country’s first multi-state artificial reefing effort, the U.S. Navy destroyer ex-USS Arthur W. Radford was sunk today in 135 feet of water off the Indian River Inlet. The decommissioned warship’s carefully-staged sinking was witnessed by former crew members and state and federal officials aboard the Cape May-Lewes ferry M/V Delaware, chartered for observing the Radford as she descended at approximately 3:30 p.m. to her final resting place as an artificial reef.  The press release can be viewed at the following link. 

   

New shark regulations in effect (July 28)
DOVER – Effective June, 2011, the Division of Fish & Wildlife admended the regulations for fishing for sharks. The new regulations make it unlawful for any hook and line fisherman to remove from the water sandbar sharks or any other species for shark when prohibited from harvest under Tidal Finfish Regulation 3541. The regualtion also makes it unlawful to release any shark in the management unit or any sandbar shark in a manner that will not ensure said sharks maximum probability of survival.  All species of shark when prohibited from harvest Tidal Finfish Regulation 3541 must be immediately released. Tidal Finfish Regulation 3541 can be viewed at the following link and a press release can be viewed at the following link.

Summer flounder regulations finalized; effective May 11 (May 5)
DOVER – The 2011 Summer flounder regulations have been finalized. The new regulations became effective May 11, 2011. The minimum size will be 18 inches, with a creel limit of four fish, and the season will be closed from October 24 - December 31. All 2010 regulations for summer flounder will remain in effect until Wednesday May 11, at which time the 2011 regulations will be enforced.

Delaware anglers are advised to register with New Jersey (May 4)
DOVER (May 5, 2011) – The Division of Fish & Wildlife advises Delaware anglers who fish in the New Jersey portion of the Delaware Bay and River, or in New Jersey’s coastal waters, that they are now required to sign up for New Jersey’s Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. The New Jersey registry, which is free, went into effect May 4, and anyone fishing in the state’s marine or tidal fresh waters, or landing their catch in New Jersey, must have the new registration certificate. The only exceptions are anglers under 16 years of age or anyone fishing on a New Jersey-registered for-hire vessel (charter or head-boat). Regardless of what license or permit an angler may hold from another state (including Delaware), or from the federal government, they still are required to register with New Jersey when fishing there.The only way to register for the certificate is through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection website: www.saltwaterregistry.nj.gov. (Please note: Unlike with the Delaware F.I.N. program, there is no toll-free number to call for anglers without Internet access.) Anglers who register will need to print out their registration certificate and have it available for inspection should they be asked by New Jersey enforcement officers.

New procedures for obtaining your FIN number for 2011 (April 15) 
DOVER – In response to angler requests, the required FIN (Fisherman Information Network) number will be generated automatically on all individual fishing licenses sold through Delaware's electronic licensing system. The press release about the new process can be viewed at the following link.

Black sea bass regulations finalized (April 7)
DOVER - The 2011 Black sea bass regulations were recently finalized. All regulations for black sea bass that were in effect for the 2010 fishing year will remain in effect in 2011. The minimum size will be 12.5", creel limit of 25 fish and the open seasons will be 5/22 - 10/11 and from 11/1 - 12/31. 

Trout Stocking Schedule Released (February 28)
DOVER - The 2011 Trout Stocking Schedule has been released for the upcoming season. Trout fishing in two downstate ponds opens on March 5 with the New Castle County streams opening April 2. The trout stocking schedule can be viewed at the following link.

New procedures for obtaining your FIN number for 2011 (January 1) 
DOVER – If you purchased your fishing license (with the exception of the Non-Resident Boat Fishing License) through DNREC's online licensing system, or at the main DNREC office in Dover, your FIN number was automatically generated and appears on your license with no further FIN registration necessary.

2010

Revised Oyster Regulations become official (August 1)
DOVER – Revisions to the regulations governing the harvest of oyster became official and have been posted in the current edition of the Delaware Registry of Regulations. New definitions were included to clearly define the difference between "processing" and "processor" as well as updated licensee requirements regarding tags. The Registry of Regulations can be viewed at the following link.

Laurel Boat Ramp officially opened (June 21)
LAUREL – The new Laurel boat ramp on Broad Creek is now officially open. The fishing area is complete with lighted parking, a handicapped-accessible fishing pier, parking for three cars and 11 boat trailers. One car and one trailer spot is reserved for the handicapped. With the addition of this new ramp anglers will be able to explore the river above Phillips Landing that is approximately seven miles downstream at the confluence of Broad Creek and the Nanticoke. This portion of the creek is one of the most scenic areas on the river. There is an abundance of attractive cypress trees found in this natural area. Fishermen will be pleased to find all of the many laydowns (deadfalls) along the banks that hold a variety of fish species throughout the year.

 New boat ramp facility in Laurel  View of the new Laurel boat ramp on Broad Creek.  View of the handicap accessible fishing pier.

Radford preparation begins (June 14)
DOVER – The transfer agreement giving title of the ex-USS Arthur W. Radford to Delaware for sinking as an artificial reef was formalized this week when the US Navy issued a “Notice to proceed” to move the former destroyer to dry dock in the Philadelphia Naval Yard and prepare the ship for sinking. The ex-Radford will be the largest ship ever reefed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Weakfish regulations in effect  (May 29)
The Weakfish is an important recreational and commercial species in Delaware and is typically harvested by both fisheries throughout the Delaware Bay from April through October.  Recent abundance estimates and landings data indicate a declining trend coast-wide.  The weakfish is managed as a single stock throughout their coastal range through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).  Amendment IV to Addendum 4 of the Weakfish Management Plan requires all states to implement a 100 pound limit per vessel per day or trip in order to continue commerical fishing.  For the recreational fisheries, states my continue to use current size limits but must reduce creel limits to one fish per day.  The current size and creel limits for the recreational fishery is 13" minimum size and 1 fish per day.  

Black Drum regulations announced  (May 29)
Delaware has developed a bi-state fishery management plan with the state of New Jersey.  The purpose of this management plan is to provide for the consistent management and regulation of the black drum resource in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay to better ensure the long-term viability of the resource for its continued role in the estuarine food web and its use by current and future generations of the fishing public.  Concern over increased commercial and recreational effort and landings in Delaware prompted plan development.  Delaware Bay and River anglers are now limited to three (3) black drum per day that measure at least 16-inches in total length.  Commercial vessels are prohibited from possessing or landing more than 10,000 pounds of black drum per day and all fish must also measure at least 16-inches in total length.  The State’s total allowable commercial landings from the Delaware estuary are limited to 65,000 pounds.  New Jersey has been operating under similar commercial and recreational restrictions since 2001.

 Trout Stamp Winners for 2011 (May 29)

 2011 Trout Stamp contest winner - Rainbow trout by Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, IN

Delaware's freshwater trout program is a self-supporting fishery in selected streams in northern New Castle County, and in one pond in both Kent and Sussex Counties, that is funded from fees derived from the state's trout stamp program.  A painting of a rainbow trout by artist Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Ind. will appear on the 2011 Delaware Trout Stamp.









 

 
site map   |   about this site   |    contact us   |    translate   |    delaware.gov