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The fishing season is underway in the fabulous First State. Delaware offers great fishing opportunities at this time of year, whether you prefer to fish striped bass up in the Delaware River, big black drum in the bay, summer flounder in the Inland Bays or go bass fishing on one of our beautiful ponds. Before you head out, let’s review Delaware’s licensing requirements and the regulations on some of our favorite fish.
If you are at least 16 but younger than 65, you must purchase a Delaware fishing license and have it with you while fishing, crabbing or clamming. Delaware fishing licenses can be purchased online at www.delaware.gov and at many bait and tackle shops and chain stores. There are exemptions other than age to the fishing license requirement. The 2012 Delaware Fishing Guide, available online at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries or as a booklet anywhere fishing licenses are sold, has all the information you need to find out whether you need a license and which license is right for you.
If you fish in Delaware you must get a Delaware FIN (Fisheries Information Network) number regardless of whether you need a Delaware fishing license. A FIN number is issued to you when you purchase your fishing license, so you are automatically covered if you buy a license. If you do not need a license, you can get your FIN number by calling toll-free 1-800-432-9228 (for live operator/customer service, call 1-866-447-4626) or by visiting the website www.delaware-fin.com.
You must have your FIN number with you when you fish. If you have a Delaware FIN number and fish the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay, the Delaware River or in New Jersey coastal waters, you are required to register with New Jersey’s Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. Participation is free of charge. For more information, visit www.saltwaterregistry.nj.gov. FIN numbers are not reciprocal between states, so you must get a Delaware FIN number even if you have a FIN number from another state.
The 2012 Delaware Fishing Guide not only has all the information you need about licensing, it also has the location of all of our boat ramps, all of our fishing regulations, information about our artificial reef guide and much more. Please visit the aforementioned web site or pick one up when you buy your license.
Now let’s look at the status of some of our most popular fish and the latest regulations covering them.
Weakfish, known to many Delawarean’s as sea trout or just trout, have long been identified with the Delaware Bay, so much so that this beautiful, delicious, fun to catch was made Delaware’s state fish. Although the weakfish population in the Delaware Bay fluctuated in the past from periods of high abundance to periods of scarcity, the disappearance of weakfish from the Bay over the past fifteen years has been unprecedented. Delaware commercial weakfish landings dropped 99.4% between 1997, the last peak landings year, and 2009. The recreational harvest dropped 99.1% during the same period. However, there have been some promising signs this spring that a weakfish recovery may be underway. The latest weakfish stock assessment showed that an increase in the natural mortality of weakfish due to predation (fish eating fish), and not overfishing, was the likely cause of the decline. However, the bag limit on weakfish was still dropped to protect the stock as it rebuilds. You can keep only one weakfish measuring 13” or greater per trip.
The striped bass population is declining from the historically high level it was at for much of the past ten years, but it is still healthy and well above the overfishing threshold. The summer slot striped bass season, which targets resident male striped bass, will begin on July 1 and continue through August 31. The slot fishery is open only in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and their tidal tributaries. The limit is two striped bass measuring from 20 to 26-inches. The limits remain at two fish at 28-inches in coastal waters and Delaware’s Inland Bays year round.
The summer flounder population is healthy, but the stock assessment showed a population decline last year. Delaware’s quota for 2012 was reduced by 8% from the 2011 level, but this decrease was small enough that we did not need to change our regulations for 2012. The summer flounder season will be open until October 23 and the limit remains at four fish that are at least 18-inches long.
Black drum fishing in the Delaware Bay has been increasing in popularity over the past ten years. Black drum get huge and it is not unusual for anglers to haul in fish weighing 50 lbs. and more from the bay. Although black drum fishing is open year round, May is usually the best month. The limit is 3 black drum that are at least 16-inches long.
Delaware’s black sea bass regulations will now be identical to the regulations the National Marine Fisheries Service has set for black sea bass fishing in Federal waters (the ocean beyond 3 miles from shore).
Although the Federal regulations have not been finalized, we anticipate they will add three more days to the coming fall season, three days to the 2013 spring season and add a winter season in 2013. The limit will be 25 fish that are at least 12.5-inches long (excluding the tail filament).
Our tautog regulations are in the process of being changed to comply with a 39% reduction in catch mandated by the latest amendment to the tautog management plan. There are two options being considered; each will require an increase in the minimum size. The regulations should go into effect by fall, in the meantime the current regulations are in effect.
So hit the water and have a great time fishing in Delaware. Good luck!
