DNREC Drops Surf Fishing Reservations for 7 of 12 Drive-on Beaches

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has announced changes to the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation’s 2025 surf fishing reservation system, eliminating the need for reservations to fish at several drive-on, multi-use beaches on weekends and holidays.

Beginning Saturday, July 12, drive-on surf fishing beach reservations will no longer be required for:
• Key Box, Conquest and Faithful Steward beaches at Delaware Seashore State Park
• York, Middle and South beaches at Fenwick Island State Park
• Beach Plum Island north of Lewes

The removal of these locations from the reservation system – chosen because they have generally not filled to capacity on busy summer weekends – comprises nearly 64% of the state’s surf fishing beach availability.

“These are your beaches, Delaware,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “We are eliminating the need for reservations most of the time, preserving them only for fairness during the busiest days and hours. Delaware beaches are the precious jewel of our state’s tourism economy, and requiring beach reservations, where unnecessary, is an example of overregulation that can be streamlined to serve residents better.”

For the rest of the summer, DNREC will evaluate impacts to the beaches while measuring occupancy levels and any queuing or crowding issues as anglers surf fish at them without needing to make reservations, said Matt Ritter, director of the Division of Parks and Recreation.

Due to the high demand and capacity issues, daily reservations will continue to be required for Gordons Pond, Herring Point, Navy Crossing and Point Crossing in Cape Henlopen State Park and 3 R’s at Delaware Seashore State Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Anglers with a reservation for a weekend or holiday can still access those drive-on surf fishing locations even when the park’s day use parking capacity has been reached, especially at Cape Henlopen where this is a frequent occurrence.

“Drive-on surf fishing reached record levels in recent years, and our parks have tried different ways to balance what can be overwhelming demand with the recreational experience so many enjoy,” Ritter said. “Reservations have become prevalent at state and national parks across the country, and as we evolve our reservation program in Delaware State Parks, we remain committed to providing a good experience for anglers and all our visitors. After careful consideration, we felt making the change to drop reservation requirements for several surf fishing beaches was the right decision.”

On the remaining beaches where reservations are still required on summer weekends and holidays, State Park staff will monitor surf and weather conditions and adjust the number of reservations available as the weekend approaches if it appears significant numbers of reserved spots may go unused.

“As surf tag holders have gotten used to the reservation system, we know from customer feedback that many people like the predictability of knowing they will have a spot and won’t be turned away or have to wait in a long line for someone to leave,” DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson said. “At the same time, DNREC has certainly heard that some anglers, especially locals, like to wake up on a sunny day and decide to get out on the beach. With this change, we will provide different approaches for different types of visitors.”

Reservations will open as normal weekly for those beaches on Tuesday, July 8 at 11 a.m. for fishing July 12 and on Wednesday, July 9 at 11 a.m. for fishing Sunday, July 13. Reservations are available to valid 1-year and 2-year Surf Fishing Permit holders on a first-come, first-served basis, and are limited to one reservation per day. There are no changes to the off-peak surf fishing permit that allows anglers to access the beach without a reservation Monday through Friday, except for holidays that occur on a weekday.

DNREC Parks and Recreation Director Ritter said the changes are the result of evaluating the program over the past two years including capacity, total reservations, beach conditions and feedback from anglers. Since the reservation system was introduced in 2023 to improve visitor experiences and enhance conservation, none of the beaches where reservations are temporarily being suspended had reached full capacity, with the exception of the 2025 Fourth of July holiday this past weekend. DNREC will consider whether a one-time reinstatement of reservations will be needed for the Fourth in 2026.

Delaware Natural Resources Police Park Rangers Unit will continue to patrol the beaches with vehicle checks to ensure that visitors have valid fishing permits, equipment and reservations if applicable. For more information about surf fishing Delaware’s drive-on beaches visit www.destateparks.com/surf-fishing/.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo and the Indian River Marina. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Beth Kuhles-Heiney, elizabeth.kuhlesheiney@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation Wins Creative Services Awards

The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation won two Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for its redesigned website and trading card series. /DNREC graphic

Recognized by Industry Leaders for Marketing and Communications Campaigns
for Delaware State Parks Trading Cards and for Parks’ Redesigned Website

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control was recently presented two Communicator Awards of Distinction by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), which represents more than 500 industry leaders from top brands and agencies across the country. The awards were for the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation’s redesigned website and a collectible trading card campaign, Card Quest, that promotes the 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo throughout the state.

“We are honored to receive this recognition and are proud of our staff for providing new and innovative ways to share and educate the public about the state’s beautiful natural resources,” said Matthew Ritter, director of DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation. “The Card Quest trading cards send residents and visitors on a journey to discover their favorite parks and the many gems that make Delaware special, while our new website serves as a digital front door — often the first interaction people have with our parks — and reflects the welcoming experience they’ll find when visiting.”

The awards, which represents second place in the national competition, were judged by representatives from Google, the Smithsonian Institute, JPMorgan Chase & Co., John Hopkins Healthcare System, Amazon, The Andy Warhol Museum, and others.

The website, destateparks.com, highlights the adventures that await visitors at the Delaware State Parks system, which includes 903 camps sites, 64 hiking trails, 14 fishing locations, 150 bird species, and 73 summer concert series. It spotlights the unique opportunities available throughout the state and offers an events and programs calendar from each of the state’s diverse parks and historic sites. The site offers powerful tools to personalize the digital park experience — from curated blogs and trip-planning resources to social media photo galleries submitted by fellow visitors — that help visitors discover new adventures across Delaware’s award-winning state parks. The website was a collaborative effort involving DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation, the Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI), and Vanguard, agency partner.

Card Quest provides a new and innovative way to explore the Delaware State Parks system through a series of trading cards for each destination. The cards feature fun park-specific facts, photos, and activities. Individual cards are available for free at each park, sending visitors on a quest to collect them all by exploring locations across the state. The first series focuses on the state parks, and the second series features “park gems,” including must-see spots, including museums, trails, historic sites, and scenic overlooks. The cards can be picked up at various locations at no cost throughout the state.

Media contact: Beth Kuhles-Heiney, elizabeth.kuhlesheiney@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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DNREC Schedules Additional Regulatory Review Event, Virtual Forum Seeking More Input on Unamended Regulations

Live Comment Option to Feature at July 2 Forum, Which Follows Department’s Mandatory Hearings This Week in Each County

In accordance with 29 Delaware Code , Section 10407, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is conducting a review of DNREC regulations that have not been amended in the last four years. DNREC has conducted in-person public hearings this week in New Castle and Sussex Counties, with the third mandatory hearing – one hearing for each county – to take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 26 in Dover at the Richardson and Robbins Building on DNREC’s main campus.

Today, the Department announced it would host a fourth regulatory review meeting, a virtual forum providing additional opportunity for the public to engage in the regulatory review process while allowing DNREC to gather more input on whether the regulations subject to review will either be amended or possibly eliminated. The forum will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 2. Public participation is encouraged, as the forum is to feature live comment as an option as DNREC solicits more regulatory review input. The virtual-only forum will be by Zoom, with more information about it found on the DNREC public meeting calendar.

In addition to the virtual forum and the in-person hearings held this week, the public may submit written comments through July 11, 2025, via the venues outlined below:

By email to the DNREC Hearing Officer: DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov
Via public comment form found at dnrec.delaware.gov/regulatory-review/
Via the US Postal Service at the address below:
Attention: DNREC Hearing Officer
DNREC – Office of the Secretary
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901

Comments should be as specific as possible, and include a reference to the regulation being commented on, along with the docket number for DNREC’s regulatory review, Docket #2025-R-OTS-0010.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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DNREC Reminds Anglers Reservations Are Required for Drive-On Surf Fishing Beaches Weekends and Holidays

Surf fishing reservations for summer weekends and holidays at DNREC’s drive-on beaches can be made starting Tuesday, May 20 at 11 a.m. /DNREC photo

Reservations for Surf Fishing Drive-On Beaches Go Into Effect Saturday, May 24, Memorial Day Weekend

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds anglers wanting to try their luck at any of the seven Delaware State Parks’ multi-use beaches that surf fishing reservations are required during summer weekends and holidays. Reservations for Saturday, May 24 – the first date the reservation system goes into effect this year – can be made starting Tuesday, May 20, at 11 a.m.

Weekend and holiday reservations are required for anglers holding annual and two-year surf fishing permits to drive onto Delaware State Parks beaches from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Labor Day.

The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation also announced that drive-on surf fishing beach reservations will open on the Tuesday preceding a summer Saturday, and on the Wednesday before a summer Sunday. A non-refundable $4 reservation fee is charged per vehicle for each day a surf fishing spot is reserved. Reservations are made online on a first-come, first-served basis and are available for each beach until sold out for the weekend.

Reservations are not required Monday through Friday, except for holidays that fall on a weekday. Surf fishing reservations for holidays are available on the Thursday prior to a particular holiday, including Memorial Day (May 26), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), and Labor Day (Sept. 1). Off-peak surf fishing permits cannot be used for making reservations because permit holders are limited to surf fishing during non-peak times.

Based on angler feedback, the Division of Parks and Recreation has upgraded the reservation system for retaining vehicle information collected from a valid surf fishing permit. License plate number, state of issue, vehicle make and model will be automatically affixed to reservation order details when a surf fishing permit number is entered. With the upgrade, Delaware State Parks’ customers also have the ability to place multiple reservations for separate surf fishing permits under a single account.

Surf fishing reservations may be made for the seven drive-on beaches at destateparks.com/surf-fishing or by phone at 800-499-8221 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays, and from 8 a.m. to noon on weekends and holidays.

DNREC also reminds surf fishing permit holders that a reservation confirmation must be printed out and displayed in the registered vehicle for Delaware Natural Resources Police verification. The Division of Parks and Recreation also reminds annual and two-year surf fishing permit holders who have made reservations for a weekend or holiday angling spot that they are allowed access into a Delaware state park for surf fishing even when the park’s day use parking capacity has been reached.

The Division of Parks and Recreation encourages surf fishing permit holders who reserve a spot on Delaware State Parks beaches to cancel if they are unable or decide not to use their reservation, so that their surf fishing spot opens up and offers an opportunity another angler can use.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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DNREC Announces New Superintendents at Four Delaware State Parks

New superintendents announced by DNREC for Delaware State Parks are (left to right) Kathleen Crane, Killens Pond State Park; Robert Brokus, Bellevue and Fox Point State Parks; and Mathew Smith, Brandywine Creek State Park. /DNREC photos

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has announced three new superintendents at Delaware State Parks: Robert Brokus at Bellevue and Fox Point State Parks in northern New Castle County; Kathleen Crane at Killens Pond State Park near Felton; and Mathew Smith at Brandywine Creek State Park just outside Wilmington.

All three have extensive experience within Delaware’s National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal-winning state parks system:

◊ Robert “Bob” Brokus has been with the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation since 2014, working as a physical plant maintenance trade mechanic and plant maintenance supervisor at Bellevue and Brandywine Creek State Parks until he was promoted to the position of park superintendent at Bellevue State Park. Brokus is a certified park and recreation professional, a certified playground safety inspector, and has completed the NRPA-accredited Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W.Va. Brokus is responsible for the day-to-day management and supervision of Bellevue and Fox Point State Parks.

◊ Kathleen “Kate” Crane worked in various Maryland state parks before coming to the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation in 2019 where she served as a seasonal naturalist and trainer/educator until she was promoted to park superintendent at Killens Pond State Park. Crane has a bachelor’s degree in biology/environmental studies from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and she is responsible for the day-to-day management and supervision of Killens Pond State Park.

◊ Mathew “Mat” Smith has been with DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation since 2016, working as a maintenance team member at Wilmington State Parks, a seasonal assistant superintendent and conservation technician at Brandywine Creek State Park, and Wilmington State Parks until he was promoted to park superintendent at Brandywine Creek State Park last June. Smith, a certified playground safety inspector, is responsible for the day-to-day management and supervision of Brandywine Creek State Park.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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