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

LEWES – The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park, including a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half mile along the bay shoreline, will close beginning Tuesday, March 1, for the benefit of threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory shorebirds, including red knot, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns and other species.

The nesting habitat on the ocean side will reopen on Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1 for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter.

DNREC’s Divisions of Parks and Recreation, Fish & Wildlife and Watershed Stewardship have been working together since 1990 to implement a management plan to halt the decline of beachnester and migratory shorebird populations. The Point has been closed annually since 1993.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation in this effort,” said Park Superintendent Paul Faircloth. “DNREC is committed to providing protection for these species, hopefully to prevent them from disappearing in Delaware.”

For more information, contact Cape Henlopen State Park at 302-645-8983.

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

Vol. 46, No. 58

Trail improvements also announced

WILMINGTON – The Nemours Foundation has donated nearly 46 acres of significant forestland to the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation’s Alapocas Run State Park, located just outside Wilmington. The announcement was made today by Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary David Small and Dr. Roy Proujansky, the Nemours Foundation’s chief executive of Delaware Valley Operations.

“Alapocas Run State Park is truly an amazing urban oasis to be enjoyed not only by the residents of Wilmington, but also for visitors from the tri-state area and beyond,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This generous donation by the Nemours Foundation, along with newly upgraded trails, will enable more people to experience the beauty and benefits of nature close to where they live and work, strengthening our quality of life while supporting continued economic growth.”

“Alfred I. du Pont understood the healing and therapeutic benefits of nature, for both children and their families,” said Dr. Roy Proujansky, chief executive of Delaware Valley Operations and Executive Vice President of The Nemours Foundation. “As stewards of Mr. du Pont’s legacy, it is fitting then that these lands be transferred to the state of Delaware and improved for the enjoyment of the community. We applaud Governor Markell and his administration for their continued partnership and tireless efforts to promote healthy living and a more walkable and bikeable Delaware.”

“With this generous addition of this lush, scenic park land, residents and visitors alike have even more opportunities to enjoy the diversity of trails that are more accessible, the Can-do playground, and all of the dozens of other amenities the park offers,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “Alapocas Run State Park is a peaceful gem in an urban setting, providing a variety of activities and preserves a lasting natural legacy that enhances the quality of life for residents and users. It’s a special place to connect with nature and provide respite.”

In addition to the land donation, a section of the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail (part of the East Coast Greenway trail that goes from Maine to Florida) and a section of the Bancroft Trail have been upgraded to a paved surface, providing more accessibility and more year-round use and the opportunity to enjoy the mature woods and the rest of Alapocas Run State Park.

The two upgraded trail sections total about one mile. The Greenway Trail goes through Nemours Woods and connects the Delaware River to Brandywine Creek, passing through Bellevue State Park to Bringhurst Woods and Rockwood county parks to Wilmington’s Rock Manor Golf Course to Alapocas Run State Park.

The Bancroft Trail connects Alapocas Run State Park to Brandywine Park and the Brandywine Zoo. It passes through the Brandywine Park Condominiums, Wilmington Friends School and the Augustine Professional Building properties. These owners generously granted a trail easement through their lands in the 2000s.

“The Environmental Protection Agency is committed to supporting these types of collaborations that protect and preserve precious greenspace,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “It truly demonstrates the successful partnership the Nemours Foundation has with the state of Delaware in making a visible difference in our local communities.”

Nemours’ donation is part of a working partnership with Delaware State Parks that dates back more than 20 years. In the 1990s, a collaborative effort was begun to protect more public open space land along Brandywine Creek and around the City of Wilmington, by combining the resources of the city, county, state and the newly-created Delaware Greenways.

Through the state’s Open Space Program, Alapocas Run State Park began with an acquisition and land donation along Brandywine Creek. The state also assumed management of some city-owned parkland. At the same time the state, county, and city came together, along with the business community and area residents, to tackle a complex plan to realign Route 202 while maintaining the Rock Manor Golf Course and keeping and expanding the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical business in its current location.

During this very active time, Nemours and the Nemours Foundation were key players in many aspects of the overall project. Not only did they continue to run the world-renowned Alfred I. du Pont Hospital for Children and the Nemours Mansion & Gardens, the Nemours Foundation also provided land for a daycare center for the AstraZeneca employees and for road expansion. The foundation also provided valuable insight and information on the historic Blue Ball Barn, formerly part of the A.I. du Pont estate, now owned by Delaware State Parks.

A critical recreation component of this complicated project was a connection from Blue Ball Barn to Brandywine Creek through the Nemours Woods. This area was always recognized as an important landscape feature, protected and maintained by the A.I. du Pont family and then the Nemours Foundation. In 1999 the Nemours Foundation donated a conservation easement of more than 70 acres of this wooded area. It ensured that the area would not be developed and enabled a public use trail. Today’s announcement reflects the donation of 46 of these acres the State, while retaining the remaining 24 acres under conservation easement.

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

Vol. 45, No. 407

LEWES – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed a new state record in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament: a 43-inch, 24.8-pound bluefish caught Monday over the Del-Jersey-Land Inshore Reef, the largest artificial reef on the Atlantic Coast whose centerpiece is the ex-destroyer USS Arthur W. Radford, sunk by DNREC in 2010. Also known as Delaware Reef Site 13, the Del-Jersey-Land Reef is one of numerous artificial reef sites established by the Division of Fish & Wildlife that have become “hot spot” destinations for salt water anglers from throughout the region.

Dr. Luis Mispireta of Stevensville, Md., caught the huge bluefish while aboard the charter vessel Katydid with Capt. Brent Wiest and Mate Chris Vann over Delaware Reef Site 13, some 26 nautical miles from Lewes. Dr. Mispireta was reeling in a black sea bass he had hooked fishing over the reef when the bluefish grabbed the sea bass and hooked itself as well. The bluefish was landed after a fight befitting its record size.

The record catch was initially confirmed by Joe Morris of Lewes Harbour Marina and later verified by Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Officer Joel Brosius. This new record bluefish is almost 3 pounds larger than the previous state record 21.9-pound bluefish, which was caught in 1980 by Bill Thoroughgood of Rehoboth Beach.

For more information on the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament, click on 2015 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, DE 19901 and from license agents throughout the state.

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

Vol. 45, No. 395

SEAFORD – Chapel Branch Nature Area will be the setting Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a nature walk that marks the final event in the 2015 Reclaim Our River (ROR), Nanticoke Series, a program offering monthly events, workshops and recreational activities aimed at raising water quality awareness in the Nanticoke Watershed. DNREC along with the Delaware Nature Society, Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, and the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy, invites everyone to the event where the ROR partnership will also celebrate the series’ efforts to highlight water quality awareness while providing fun outdoor activities for the entire family.

For a $5 registration fee (plus $1.12 credit card fee) participants can enjoy food, drinks, and informational exhibits by the ROR partnership, as well as a nature walk where guides will discuss native wildlife. There will be hands-on activities exploring the “creek critters” of Chapel Branch with DNS as well as demonstrations on how to test water quality with the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance’s Creekwatchers.

Local Boy scouts and other willing participants will lend a volunteering hand to the nature area by working on trail maintenance to reduce erosion into the creek – volunteers are always welcome for helping maintain this beautiful area. Some tools will be available for use although volunteers are encouraged to bring additional items such as clippers, shovels, saws and wheelbarrows which may be in short supply. The focus of this volunteer service project will be building trail steps to reduce erosion.

The nature walk and ROR celebration are sponsored by Del-Coast Design & Build and Dogfish Head Brewery. Raffle items provided by sponsors include a $500-value trash and recycling storage shed from Del-Coast Design & Build, as well as apparel and other items from Dogfish Head Brewery. The Chapel Branch Nature Day will also have on hand experts to educate event attendees on techniques used to improve water quality by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution entering Delaware’s waterways.

The Chapel Branch Nature Area is located at 492 Woodland Road Seaford, DE 19973. More information about the final 2015 ROR, Nanticoke Series event can be found at http://delawarewatersheds.org/ . Registration can be done at http://tinyurl.com/chapelbranch while a flyer for the event can be found on the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship website (PDF).

The Reclaim Our River, Nanticoke Series co-sponsored by DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship is designed to bring monthly events, workshops and recreational activities to the Nanticoke Watershed. The series offers participants fun opportunities to connect with their waterways and provides important information on water quality to help protect aquatic resources. Chapel Branch Nature Area is managed by the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy a local land trust protecting lands within western Sussex County and protecting the Chapel Branch Nature Area in perpetuity.

Media Contact: Phil Miller, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, 302-290-3578, or email: philip.miller@delaware.gov

Vol. 45, No. 326