James Milano of North Babylon, Long Island, N.Y., landed a state record 34-inch, 22-pound, 14.4-ounce tautog May 6 fishing east of the Indian River Inlet. /Submitted photo

Second Record of Year, Following Musky Caught Earlier

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has confirmed a new state record tautog, caught off the Indian River Inlet, as the second state record of 2023 for the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament – after a record musky caught in January in the Brandywine River had raised the bar for freshwater anglers.

The 34-inch, 22-pound 14.4-ounce tautog was caught May 6 off a wreck east of the Inlet by James Milano of North Babylon, N.Y., while fishing on the No Limit, a charter boat captained by Jon Azato.

The record ‘tog catch was certified by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife at Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em Bait & Tackle at Indian River Inlet. The new state record tautog weighed 1 pound, 6.7 ounces more than the previous state record, caught in May 2022 by Brent Wiest.

The record 43.25-inch, 22-pound, 3.2-ounce musky was caught Jan. 11 in the Brandywine River by Stephen Rutkowski of Wilmington. The record catch, landed while fishing from the bank of the Brandywine, was certified by the Division of Fish and Wildlife at Master Baiter’s Bait & Tackle in New Castle. The new state record musky was 1 lb., 11.2 oz. heavier than the previous state record, caught in 2013 by Thomas Sutton.

A list of all Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament state records can be found at de.gov/recfishing. More information on the tournament and state record fish can be found on the DNREC website and in the 2023 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide is also available in printed form from license agents throughout the state or by calling the DNREC Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914 to request a copy.

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 Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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Gov. John Carney, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation Director Ray Bivens along with DNREC Chief Communications Officer Nikki Lavoie and her son Christopher enjoy the new Heronry Overlook at Fort Delaware State Park on Pea Patch Island.

Gov. John Carney joined Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin Friday to celebrate and tour the largest capital investments made to Fort Delaware State Park.

Visitors to Fort Delaware State Park now have a smoother ride from the Pea Patch Island pier to the fort after the tram path was reconstructed. They will also experience more durable trails and a revamped ADA-accessible heronry observation platform, known as the Heronry Overlook, in the Pea Patch Island Nature Preserve. The new screened pavilion provides an inviting space for groups to have lunch during their visits or for family reunions and other celebratory events.

“The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation has done a great job preserving this historic site and bringing it to life for the public. Today we celebrate improvements made around the fort that enhance that user experience,” said Gov. John Carney. “These improvements mean that the public can enjoy the fort for years to come. A visit to Pea Patch Island is a great experience and I encourage all Delawareans to see this unique park.”

The ride along the newly resurfaced tram path is a defining Fort Delaware experience. Once guests arrive to the island via the Delafort ferry, they are transported via covered tram along the path and enjoy scenic views of the island’s salt marsh and wildlife as they approach the historic fort.

The previous Heronry Overlook needed to be rebuilt to improve safety. The new structure is strong, safe and inviting, and includes a ramp to make it accessible for all visitors. Getting to the Heronry Overlook to see some of these incredible sights is a more pleasant experience now with trails resurfaced with stone.

The island is also home to the Pea Patch Nature Preserve and one of the most popular wading bird nesting areas on the East Coast. It supports nine species of herons, egrets and ibis, with an estimated 1,200 nesting pairs.

“The improved visitor access and amenities on this island were among our highest priorities at the state park,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Our Division of Parks and Recreation is the largest keeper of historic buildings in the state. Our work today expands on generations of preservation efforts by park stewards and ensures Fort Delaware will remain a historical destination for generations of visitors to come. These projects enhance the exclusive educational opportunities Fort Delaware gives its visitors, and I hope many Delawareans take advantage of this unique learning experience on Pea Patch Island.”

Also included in the project was a new maintenance building to keep equipment out of the weather, which can be brutal on the island. As stewards of the fort’s history, the division employees a historic mason who can remedy any damage to the fort’s brick from normal aging. The mason completed more than 2,000 hours of work at the fort over the last two years.

Design and construction for the project cost just more than $4 million and was provided by a matching grant from the U.S. National Parks Service Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Delaware Community Foundation Pea Patch Island Endowment and Parks Facility Rehabilitation Funds from the state’s capital budget.

Fort Delaware is a living history museum where visitors can experience life during the Civil War with first-person interpreters dressed in period clothing. Visitors can step back into the 1860s and experience the improved park amenities Wednesdays through Sundays from April 30 to Sept. 25.

Fort Delaware is operated in partnership with the Delaware River in Bay Authority, which operates the Delafort ferry that transports passengers between Delaware City, Fort Delaware and Fort Mott, N.J.

Fort Delaware is open on weekends only through June 11, and from Wednesday through Sunday starting June 14. Reservations are required to visit the fort. Go to destateparks.com/History/FortDelaware to reserve tickets and for information. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 877-987-2757 until 9 a.m. on the departure date.

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 Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Shauna McVey, shauna.mcvey@delaware.gov

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(DOVER, Del. — April 25, 2023) — Buena Vista: A Delaware Country Estate, located at 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), southwest of New Castle, Delaware, will welcome visitors for a one-day-only spring event on Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities will include workshops by the Sunshine Plein Air Artists and tours of the house and gardens (first-come, first-served); self-guided trail walks; and the opportunity to plant a flower to take home. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic lunches and cameras to capture the glories of spring at one of Delaware’s most historic estates. Admission is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-323-4430.

The main section of the Buena Vista mansion was built between 1845 and 1847 by John M. Clayton, United States secretary of state from 1849 to 1850 under presidents Taylor and Fillmore, and United States senator from 1829 to 1836, 1845 to 1849, and 1853 until his death in 1856. The home later became the residence of C. Douglass Buck, governor of Delaware from 1929 to 1937 and United States senator from 1942 to 1948. Buena Vista and its grounds were donated to the State by the Buck family in 1965 and now serve as a conference/event center administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs.

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the public on Delaware history. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the State’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

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Contact:
Amy Golden-Shepherd
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-608-5337
E-mail: amy.goldenshepherd@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

A young angler shows off a catch made at a 2022 ‘Take-A-Kid Fishing!’ event held at DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center. /DNREC photo

Registration Now Open for Series That Continues Through Late July

Do you know a child or young teen who might enjoy learning about fishing and delight in having the opportunity to catch a fish? The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control invites budding anglers ages 6 through 15 to come out with a parent, grandparent, or guardian and learn how to fish through the “Take A Kid Fishing!” program. Educators from the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Aquatic Resources Education Center will be on hand to lead the activities and teach fishing skills.

“Take a Kid Fishing!” events are offered free of charge to all participants, but advance registration is required at de.gov/takf. While all fishing equipment is provided at no charge for use at the events, advance registration ensures that enough fishing gear is on hand at each “Take A Kid Fishing!” date.

“Take a Kid Fishing!” teaches young anglers fundamental fishing skills and conservation concepts, including catch-and-release. Along with the angling experience, these free fishing events also feature activity stations and prizes. When participating in them, packing refreshments and a picnic lunch is encouraged.

“Take A Kid Fishing!” events will be held starting in April, with dates and locations below:

• 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, April 12, Silver Lake Park, Dover
• 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday April 13, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 10, Lums Pond State Park, Bear
• 5 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 5 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 22, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 24, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, June 29, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 1, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 8, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, July 13, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 15, Redden State Forest, Georgetown
• 5 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 20, Silver Lake Park, Dover,
• 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 22, Lums Pond State Park, Bear

“Take A Kid Fishing!” event dates can also be found at de.gov/takf.

Individuals 16 years of age and older who accompany and engage in fishing with “Take a Kid Fishing!” participants must have a current Delaware fishing license or a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number. Delaware recreational fishing licenses are sold online and by license agents statewide. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may obtain a free FIN number online or from a license agent where recreational fishing licenses are sold. Online services at de.gov/fishinglicense include fishing license purchases, FIN numbers, a list of participating license agents, and related information. Young people under the age of 16 are exempt from license and FIN requirements.

More information about fishing in the First State also can be found in the 2023 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide is also available in printed form from license agents throughout the state.

“Take A Kid Fishing!” is sponsored by the DNREC Aquatic Resources Education Center, with host sites provided by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation, the Delaware Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture and City of Dover Parks and Recreation.

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 Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov

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A white-tailed deer browsing on a wildlife refuge. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

DNREC Reports Almost 17,000 Deer Taken by Hunters, With More Than Half the Total From Sussex County

Delaware hunters harvested 16,848 deer during the 2022/23 hunting season, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. The number reported by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife represents an increase of 9.5% over last year’s harvest total and ranks as the third highest harvest in Delaware’s history, behind the 2021/22 season and the record-setting 2020/21 season, when 17,265 deer were taken in the state.

The 2022/23 season also marks the 10th year in a row Delaware’s deer harvest has exceeded 14,000 deer, with 1,704 (10% of the season total) harvested through the state’s deer damage assistance programs designed to help farmers who are experiencing crop damage. Sussex County had the highest harvest with 8,986 deer, followed by Kent County with 5,235, and New Castle County with 2,627.

During the 2022/23 season, hunters harvested more females (does) than males (bucks), with 58.1% (9,789) does and 41.9% (7,059) bucks. The doe harvest was a new record, eclipsing a previous high set during the 2004/05 season. Antlerless deer – does, juvenile bucks without antlers known as button bucks, antlered bucks with antlers measuring less than three inches, and bucks that had already shed both of their antlers when harvested – represented 74.1% of the total harvest. Antlered deer – bucks with an antler at least 3 inches in length – represented 25.9% of the harvest.

Other 2022/23 season harvest facts of note included:

• The November general firearm season yielded 6,995 deer or 41.5% of the harvest.
• The highest Delaware wildlife management zone harvest was from Zone 11 in Sussex County, an area bordered by Rtes. 113 and 13 to the east and west, and Rtes. 16 and 9 to the north and south, respectively.
• The preferred method of take for hunters was by shotgun – accounting for 35% of the deer harvest.

Over the coming weeks, DNREC wildlife biologists will continue analyzing the harvest data with more results to be made available at that time. For more information about Delaware deer management, visit de.gov/deer.

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 Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

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