The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)/ Division of Fish & Wildlife proposes to amend Delaware’s non-tidal finfish regulations to adjust the start time for the opening day of freshwater trout season on designated trout streams and to make two technical corrections. (Public Comment Period Closed)

Opening day of the freshwater trout season is an event that draws large crowds of anglers to New Castle County’s designated trout streams. Opening day of trout seasons often have a specified start time to help manage angler competition for fishing locations, but the current 7:30 a.m. opening day start time serves no current resource management purpose, is not meaningful for managing angler competition for fishing locations and unnecessarily limits angler access and participation. At the suggestion of a member of the public, Delaware’s Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish recommended that the start time of Delaware’s opening freshwater trout season be changed from 7:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., which is consistent with the 7:00 a.m. opening day start time established for designated trout ponds in Kent and Sussex Counties and provides expanded angler opportunity and participation. Angling hours for the remainder of the trout season (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset) are not affected by this action.

The Department also proposes to clarify the definition for that portion of Pike Creek that is designated as a trout stream to reflect contemporary landmark and roadway naming and to clarify that the upper bound of the smallmouth bass protected slot limit includes those fish measuring 17 inches in total length.

The proposed amendments may be inspected at the Department’s offices located at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or are available by contacting the Fisheries Section at (302) 739-9914.

Public Hearing Officer:

Bethany Fiske