Article by Larry Jock
Anglers
fish for free in Delaware waters on June 11th and 12th
To celebrate National Fishing Week, June 4th - 12th, the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife invites anglers to fish, clam or crab in their favorite Delaware waters on free fishing days, Saturday June 11th and Sunday June 12th. On these two days, anyone may fish the state’s waters without a fishing license. Anglers are reminded that even though they don’t need a license on those two days, they are still required to obtain a free Fisherman Identification Network (F.I.N.) number.
National Fishing Week festivities will also include the Division’s 25th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 11 at Ingrams Pond in Millsboro, Wyoming Pond in Wyoming’s Town Park and the dog training area at Lums Pond State Park in Bear.
With the exception of this one weekend, resident and non-resident anglers between the ages of 16 and 64 fishing in any Delaware waters – including ponds, impoundments, streams, rivers, bays and ocean - are required to purchase a fishing license. Clammers and crabbers are also required to have fishing licenses. Delaware residents older than 65 and both residents and non-residents under age 16 do not have to purchase a license. Licenses are required for non-residents age 65 and older.
For other inquiries or more information, please call 302-739-9918.
DNREC opens new Baker’s Channel
Secretary Collin O’Mara announced that a partnership with the Center for the Inland Bays has led to the marking of a new and safer boating channel around Massey’s Ditch, the primary navigation channel that connects Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay. Massey’s Ditch has also been the site of occasional collisions on the water that have marred Delaware’s perennial ranking as one of the best states in the country for boating safety.
The new Baker’s Channel was marked in February and boaters have begun using it to alleviate boating bottlenecks in the older channel and for floating outbound traffic from the Massey’s Landing boat ramp.
DNREC and the Center for the Inland Bays’ Water Use Plan Implementation Committee first conferred about marking a new channel for navigation after the Massey’s Ditch channel experienced shoaling issues, according to Chuck Williams, Division of Watershed Stewardship program manager, who noted that Baker’s Channel “is an average of 3-4 feet deep below mean low water” which also makes the navigation route around Massey’s Ditch less turbulent.
Baker’s Channel was named in honor of Captain Bill Baker who is a member of the Inland Bays’ Water Use Plan Implementation Committee. Captain Baker owns Bill’s Sport Shop in Lewes and has been an avid boater and fisherman in the area for many years. Beyond partnering with the Center for the Inland Bays on the new channel, DNREC also has a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard to place navigational aids in waterways throughout the Inland Bays and to supplement navigational routes (federal channels) that the Coast Guard is responsible for marking.
The Baker’s Channel markers were established under the purview of this agreement, Mr. Williams said, and through a similar agreement the Division of Watershed Stewardship has with DNREC’s Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section for marking channels. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has recommended a change in the numbering system used in placing the “Baker’s Channel” markers, and DNREC will make the changes over the next few weeks.
