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.
Fishing and Boating Access Areas
Programs for Physically-Challenged Anglers
State regulations require using inline circle hooks when fishing for striped bass using cut or whole natural baits like clams, squid, mackerel, menhaden, seaworms, or eels. Using inline circle hooks significantly increases survival of released striped bass by reducing occurrences of gut hooking.
Help Striped Bass Survive Catch and Release
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, the Delaware Bay, and coastal waters and study how different species are faring.
Among other research and responsibilities, they track invasive fish species, provide guidance for Delaware pond owners, and guidance on controlling aquatic plants and herbicides.
The DNREC Division Fish and Wildlife provides a summary of Delaware’s commercial fishing regulations. While the summary is useful, it is important to also review the relevant regulations, and the state laws they are based on.
List of striped bass weigh stations
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife makes acreage in the Inland Bays available for leases for shellfish aquaculture.
The 2024 oyster season is in two parts: April 1 through May 31 and September 2 through December 31.
The total quota for the fishery is 13,037 bushels.
Delaware law (7 Del.C. §§914 and 1910) requires commercial fishermen to submit monthly reports to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. The forms below are fillable PDF forms. Please save them to your hard drive and use the free Adobe Acrobat reader to complete them and save a completed copy to submit.
Related Topics: dfw, fish and wildlife, fisheries, fishing, outdoors, outdoors and recreation, recreation, research
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