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 Pages Categorized With: "Fisheries Section"

The Fisheries Section

The DNREC Fisheries Section works to enhance and protect Delaware’s fish and aquatic resources in support of recreational and commercial fishing. It provides first-class fishing and boating access to Delaware’s many waterways. And it conducts fisheries research, resource monitoring and collection of biological information on marine fisheries.


Horseshoe Crab Viewing

The Delaware Bay hosts the world’s largest concentration of spawning horseshoe crabs. People come from all over the world to view the spawning crabs and the associated migratory shorebirds. Horseshoe crabs can be viewed on several Delaware Bay beaches and from DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center. When Spawning Occurs


Recreational Fishing

The DNREC Division of Fish and wildlife provides first-class fishing and boating access to Delaware’s many waterways.  Information for Recreational Anglers The Delaware Fishing Report offers information on when to fish, where to fish, which species are biting and how to catch them. It is written


Licensing and Regulations

Recreational fishing in Delaware requires licenses for most anglers and is governed by both state regulations promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and regional and national regulations.
Fisheries Section Menu
  • The Fisheries


    Horseshoe Crab Monitoring

    The horseshoe crab plays a prominent role in the ecology and fisheries of Delaware Bay. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife monitors Delaware’s horseshoe crab population using multiple methods. The crabs are huge feeders on marine worms and bivalves. Their eggs serve as a primary food source


    Research and Monitoring

    Biologists from the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife keep track of the state’s fish populations. They work on Delaware’s rivers, ponds, estuaries, on the Delaware Bay and in coastal waters and study how different species are faring.
    Fisheries Section Menu


    Commercial Fishing

    Commercial fishing in the state of Delaware requires proper licensure and, in some cases, permits. Some fisheries have established quotas. And there are reporting requirements that must be met.
    Fisheries Section Menu
  • The Fisheries Section



  • The American Eel in Delaware

    Although many Delawareans may find them unappealing, American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) support a major fishery in Delaware. American Eel (Photo: Duane Raver, Jr.) American Eels are mostly sold live for bait and exported as a food fish. Historically, Delaware landed over 100,000 pounds of eels annually. The eels were





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