DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation Announces Plan to Manage Cap Put On Sale of Delaware Surf Fishing Permits

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation announced today its plan for managing the cap of 17,000 Delaware surf-fishing permits as voted on this year by the division’s advisory council. With the cap figure approaching – as of June 7, 15,000 surf-fishing permits had been sold – the Division of Parks & Recreation has reduced the number of locations where the permits can be purchased, transferred or replaced.

Surf-fishing permit sales locations include:

  • Bellevue State Park office, 800 Carr Road, Wilmington, DE 19809
  • Cape Henlopen State Park office,15099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE 19958
  • The Indian River Life-Saving Station store at Delaware Seashore State Park, 25039 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
  • DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife sales desk at the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

Surf-fishing permits will be sold at these locations until the 17,000 cap is reached, at which point 2019 permit sales will end. The Division of Parks & Recreation notes that there are no restrictions for non-vehicle, walk-on fishing, as long as an angler has a Delaware fishing license issued by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife.

In January, Delaware’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Council, an 11-member board appointed by the Governor that advises DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation, voted to limit the number of permits issued annually to no more than 17,000, and to raise surf fishing permit fees. Both decisions were made at a regularly-scheduled council meeting Jan. 17, at which the council received written and oral comments from more than 100 members of the public.

The Division of Parks & Recreation statistics show that the issuing of surf-fishing permits has increased at a rate of seven percent annually from 2011 to 2017. The Division implemented a first-come, first-served cap on the number of permits issued as the most equitable way to serve all beach users, to manage a limited resource, and to protect against overcrowding of parks beaches. The Division also has found that limiting the number of permits enables more efficient management of the state’s surf-fishing program. This plan also aligns with DNREC’s priority to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors to Delaware’s award-winning state parks system.

At the January meeting, DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation reported a three-fold increase over the last year for violations of the “actively-engaged in surf fishing” rule enforced by DNREC Natural Resources Police Park Rangers. In response, the Division of Parks & Recreation has added a new, full-time Delaware Natural Resources Police park ranger for the coastal region, and has expanded rangers’ workweeks from 37.5 to 40 hours, creating 1,000 hours of additional coverage annually for the coastal parks. The “actively-engaged” rule continues to be a priority area for targeted enforcement.

Sixty-five percent of the funds used to operate and maintain DNREC’s Delaware State Parks come from the collection of user fees. Revenue generated by the new fee increase has advanced the Division of Parks & Recreation’s capacity to increase enforcement efforts, improve amenities and better educate park visitors on the state’s multi-use beaches.

Surf-fishing permit holders continue to receive the benefit of their permit serving as an annual parks pass, providing access to all 17 of DNREC’s Delaware’s state parks. The reduction in sales locations is only limited to surf-fishing permits. Annual Passes are still available for purchase at 19 sales locations throughout the state parks system, and also can be purchased through sales agents and online.

More information on the surf fishing cap is available at https://www.destateparks.com/Adventures/Fishing or call 302-739-9200.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 154


DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife seeking great shots of Delaware anglers for annual photo contest

Entries to be accepted now through Oct. 31 

DOVER – The Oct. 31 deadline is approaching to enter your best image in the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife’s 2017 Delaware Fishing Photo Contest. The winning photo will be featured on the cover or inside of the 2018 Delaware Fishing Guide. The contest is open to all Delaware residents of any age, with a maximum of three entries per person.

New this year for ease of entry in the contest: photographers will be able to submit their photos digitally at Fish & Wildlife photo contest. Photographers without the means to upload their photos online may submit their entries as prints.

A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff will be looking for technically-suitable photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “Catch a Memory,” by depicting anglers enjoying fishing in the great outdoors. To be eligible, photographs must have been taken in Delaware and depict persons involved in lawful fishing activities.

Complete contest rules and information, entry forms, and instructions for uploading entries can be found at Fish & Wildlife photo contest. For more information, please email Jennifer Childears or call 302-739-9910.

 

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302.739.9902


New Castle angler catches – then releases – new state-record largemouth bass weighing more than 11 pounds

DOVER – A partly cloudy and unseasonably warm Saturday, Feb. 20 seemed to fishing buddies Andrew “A.J.” Klein and Joe Lattis of New Castle a great day to cast a line, so they headed downstate to launch Lattis’ boat on Wagamons Ponds near Milton. Four hours later, their efforts had yielded only a couple of smaller fish, and they were preparing to pack up and go elsewhere when Klein made one last, fateful cast into what he would later recall as the pond’s surprisingly clear water for the time of year.

The treble-hook on Klein’s new spinnerbait caught on what he thought to be either bottom or structure, but it soon became obvious that something big at the end of his line was making a run on him. “It was a very subtle hit. I set the hook and thought I was snagged,” Klein said, “and then it just took off – it was crazy!”

After a brief but intense tussle, Klein reeled in a new state record largemouth bass – an 11-pound, 1.6-ounce lunker 27 inches long with 20.5-inch girth, as measured at Bill’s Sport Shop in Lewes and certified by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Sgt. Troy Trimmer.

Klein, for whom fishing has become a serious hobby the last year and a half, was quick to credit his fishing buddy and mentor Lattis, a seasoned angler, for helping him not only land the trophy but also to secure his prized catch in a water-filled container for the trip to Lewes. “He’s a great fisherman, and he’s caught a lot of big fish,” Klein said.

Their gentle handling of the new record largemouth through the certification process proved later to be of importance to the two anglers and Delaware’s freshwater fishing community. After the excitement from having it certified had subsided, they took the big bass back to Wagamons, where Klein released it back into the water, alive and well. “I watched it swim away,” Klein said, noting that they fished two other areas that afternoon before calling it a day. “It was an awesome day. Nothing could dampen our mood.”

Fisheries Administrator John Clark applauded Klein’s good sportsmanship in releasing his record catch. “We encourage catch-and-release fishing in Delaware, especially with larger fish like this one,” Clark said. “Not only will this fish be back out there for other anglers to enjoy, it should also see another spawning season to pass on its good genes to another generation of largemouth bass and thereby improve our bass stock.”

The previous state record was set in 2012 – a 10-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass measuring 26 inches long and 18.75 inches in girth, also caught in Wagamons Pond, by James D. Hitchens of Georgetown, and which Mr. Hitchens also released back into the pond by the increasingly popular sporting gesture of catch-and-release of trophy fish.

For more information on state-record fish, both fresh and saltwater, please see the 2016 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and from license agents throughout the state.

The annual Delaware Sportfishing Tournament is sponsored by DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife to promote recreational fishing opportunities and recognize anglers for outstanding catches in Delaware waters. The tournament’s origins date back to the late 1930s, when the Board of Game and Fish commissioners set up a state fishing contest to increase interest in fresh and saltwater fishing. Today’s tournament includes 14 freshwater categories and 29 saltwater categories, plus a live release award for conservation-minded anglers who choose to release their catches, unharmed, immediately after landing. Each species must meet a minimum weight or length (live release only) designated by the tournament director in order to receive recognition. For anglers who want to enter a big catch in the tournament, nearly 40 participating weigh stations are located throughout the state. For more information, including rules, species, record holders and participating weigh station locations, click Delaware Sportfishing Tournament or call DNREC Fisheries at 302-735-2960.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 59