Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Aug. 14-20

Reminder for the week: Purchase your 2017/2018 Delaware hunting license, waterfowl stamps now

DE F&W Natural Resources Police logoDOVER  – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Aug. 14-20 made 3,012 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 457 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks, issuing 52 citations. Officers responded to 83 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

  • On Aug. 19, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed boating safety, search and rescue, and hunting and fishing enforcement during Middletown’s annual Peach Festival. Officers displayed the Operation Game Theft Trailer, which was very popular.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incidents of note:

  • On Aug. 18, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded to a medical emergency on board a recreational fishing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean eight miles east of the Indian River Inlet. The victim was suffering from heat stroke and was transferred to the Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police patrol vessel for transportation to the US Coast Guard Station where they were evaluated by the Rehoboth Beach Fire Company.
  • On Aug. 20, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers responded to an overturned PWC in the Indian River Inlet. The operator was able to self-rescue by swimming to shore after he lost control in rough water causing his PWC to overturn and stall. The operator refused treatment and only minor damage was caused to the PWC.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (2)*, possession of undersized summer flounder (10), possession of summer flounder parts (3), possession of undersized hard clams (1), possession of over the limit hard clams (1), possession of undersized blue crabs (2), tend the recreational crab pot of another (1), and fishing in a closed area of a state wildlife area (2)*. Commercial: Possession of undersized blue crabs (2).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (2), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (6), failure to observe slow no wake zone (2), equipment violation- no navigation lights (1), equipment violation-no sound producing device (1), operating an unregistered vessel (2), no tidal boat ramp certificate (1), and no boating safety certificate (6).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (7)*.

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters to purchase their 2017/2018 Delaware hunting licenses and waterfowl stamps. A resident annual hunting license costs $39.50 for ages 16 through 64. A resident junior hunting license costs $5 for ages 13 through 15.

Residents younger than 13 or those 65 and older who have resided in Delaware for one year or longer are not required to purchase a Delaware hunting license; residents younger than 16 or those 65 and older are not required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl stamp. Higher license prices apply to non-resident hunters, and no exemptions are made for non-residents age 65 and older on purchasing a hunting license or waterfowl stamp.

To hunt waterfowl in Delaware, residents age 16 through 64 who have lived in the state for one year or longer are required to purchase a Delaware waterfowl stamp and a federal migratory bird hunting stamp. Federal duck stamps may be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges and online at www.fws.gov/duckstamps. For more information, call 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724).

Hunters who are exempt from purchasing a license must obtain an annual, free License Exempt Number (LEN). Both exempt and non-exempt hunters of migratory gamebirds, including waterfowl, dove, woodcock and rail, also must obtain a free Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Both are available online or by calling 855-335-4868 toll-free.

If hunting waterfowl or deer on a state wildlife area from a blind or deer stand that was selected through a lottery, all hunters in the blind or stand are required to carry their $20 annual lottery permit. This permit is waived for hunters participating in Division of Fish & Wildlife-designated youth hunting days.

Effective July 1, 2017, a Conservation Access Pass is required for any registered motor vehicle used to access designated Delaware State Wildlife Areas for any allowable activity, including hunting, birdwatching, hiking and photography. For more information, click Conservation Access Pass.

Delaware hunting licenses, lottery permits and waterfowl stamps are sold online, at the licensing office in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating hunting license agent, to purchase a license or lottery permit or to obtain a HIP or LEN number online, click Delaware Licenses and Permits. For additional information on Delaware hunting licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click 2017-2018 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

For more information on individual wildlife areas, including the rules and regulations specific to each area, visitors are encouraged to give close attention to Delaware wildlife area maps published by the Division of Fish & Wildlife. The maps are available in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and also can be found online at Wildlife Area Maps and Regulations.

Media Contact: Lt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386


Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: June 27-July 3

Reminder for the week: Recreational crabbers should review rules before crabbing

DOVER – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between June 27-July 3 made 2,920 contacts with anglers, boaters and the general public, including 608 vessel boardings for boating safety and fishing regulation compliance checks. Officers responded to 102 complaints and issued 96 citations, four of which were related to the C&D Canal Conservation Area and associated recreational trail, where there is an increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence.

Incidents of note:

  • On July 3, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Robert J. Klerlein, 50, of Millsboro, for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and operating a vessel at night with no navigation lights on Indian River Bay. Klerlein was given a mandatory appearance at Justice of the Peace Court 14 in Georgetown at a later date.
  • On July 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Charles J. Duricek, 59, of Wilmington, for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol at Pot Nets Bayside on Indian River Bay. Duricek was given a mandatory appearance at Justice of the Peace Court 14 in Georgetown at a later date.
  • On July 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Jordan Jones, 32, of Gaithersburg, Md., for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a vessel and no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law while boating near Pot Nets Bayside on Indian River Bay. Jones was given a mandatory appearance at Justice of the Peace Court 14 in Georgetown at a later date.
  • On July 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police cited Anthony Yannvcci, 38, of Millsboro, for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol near Lewes. Yannvcci was given a mandatory appearance at Justice of the Peace Court 14 in Georgetown at a later date.
  • Over the holiday weekend, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in Kent County cited four commercial crabbers for violations in separate cases during compliance patrols in the Delaware Bay. The four crabbers were charged with a total of nine counts of commercial possession of undersized blue crabs. Fines totaled $963, including court costs.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (3), operating an unregistered motor vehicle on a state wildlife area (2), and operating a motor vehicle off established roadways in a state wildlife area (1)*.

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (17), trespassing to fish (2), possession of undersized blue crabs (8), possession of egg-bearing blue crab (1), recreational crab pot tampering (1), use of recreational crab pots without required turtle excluder (2), improperly marked crab pots (2), possession of over-the-limit striped bass (1), possession of undersized striped bass (1), possession of undersized summer flounder (1), and possession of summer flounder parts (1).
Commercial: Possession of undersized blue crabs (9).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (4), negligent operation of a vessel (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of lifejackets (8), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (2), failure to observe slow-no-wake zone (3), operating an unregistered vessel (6), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (1), no boating education certificate (8), no boat ramp certificate (2), no sound-producing device (1), and no navigation lights (1).

Public Safety: Driving with a suspended or revoked license (2), operating a motor vehicle with no insurance (2), vehicle spinning tires/speed exhibition (1), and operating a motor vehicle with a fictitious license plate (1).

Other: Littering (1).

* Citation issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area, plus unlicensed fishing (3).

Are you AWARE?
DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind recreational crabbers to review state regulations governing blue crabs, including the required use of a turtle by-catch reduction device in recreational crab pots.

A turtle by-catch reduction device is attached in the funnel entrance of a recreational crab pot to reduce the possibility of diamondback terrapins entering the pots and drowning. The device is a rigid metal or plastic rectangular frame that measures 1.75 inches by 4.75 inches. By-catch devices are available at local tackle shops or may be handmade of heavy wire.

Other Delaware crabbing regulations include:

  • A Delaware recreational fishing license is required for crabbing.
  • The recreational daily limit on blue crabs is one bushel per person.
  • Minimum “keeper” size for male blue crabs and immature female crabs with the V-shaped apron is 5 inches, measured across the shell from point to point.
  • Mature female crabs, identified by the U-shaped apron, are exempt from the minimum size of 5 inches because many females reach maturity at a smaller size.
  • Mature female blue crabs bearing eggs, known as sponge crabs and recognizable by the orange eggs visible under the apron, may not be taken and must be returned to the water immediately.
  • Recreational crabbers may use any number of single, baited hand lines, trot lines (a longer weighted line with a series of baited points) or pull traps. Standard size and possession limits as noted above apply.
  • Recreational crabbers may not use, place, set or tend more than two crab pots.
  • Recreational crab pots must be tended by the owner at least once every 72 hours and must be marked with white buoys with the owner’s name and permanent mailing address.
  • Recreational crabbers are prohibited from selling blue crabs; only commercially-licensed crabbers are permitted to offer blue crabs for sale in Delaware.
  • Crabbing or fishing off courtesy docks at state-owned boat ramps is prohibited.
  • To avoid being cited for littering, gather up leftover bait, bait containers, crab lines and other trash for proper disposal. And remember: All Fish & Wildlife fishing and wildlife areas are “carry in, carry out” for trash.
  • For more information on individual wildlife areas, including the rules and regulations specific to each, such as where crabbing is allowed, visitors are encouraged to check out Delaware wildlife area maps, which are available in hard copy at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk and online at Delaware Wildlife Area Maps.

Delaware fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware fishing licenses, call 302-739-9918.

For more information on crabbing in Delaware, click on 2016 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 251