Resources for Delaware Pond Owners

Many small “farm” ponds in Delaware provide important recreational opportunities. Children may catch their first bluegill from such a pond. Ponds provide aesthetic beauty, irrigation, fire safety in rural areas, and wildlife habitat.

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Gamefish and Freshwater Fishing Restrictions

Gamefish are found in either tidal or non-tidal freshwater in Delaware. Gamefish taken from Delaware waters cannot legally be sold, traded or bartered unless authorized by permit. Black Crappie Gamefish Species Include: Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Black Crappie White Crappie Rock Bass White Bass Walleye

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Largemouth Bass Tournaments

Largemouth Bass fishing tournaments are popular in Delaware’s public ponds and tidal rivers. Most events are held between April and November. Data collected during the tournaments is useful to biologists that manage bass populations. Get a Tournament Permit Bass Tournament Reporting

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Aquatic Plants and Herbicides

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife gets many questions about aquatic plant problems in small ponds. White-waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) Aquatic plants provide habitat for fish and small pond creatures. According to biologists, plant cover between 20 and 40 percent is ideal for warmwater gamefish such as largemouth bass,

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Public Hearing: Including Cobia in the Tidal Finfish Regulations

The Division of Fish & Wildlife will conduct a public hearing on proposed revisions to the Tidal Finfish regulations to include a new section on Cobia (Rachycentron canadum).

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Public Hearing: Striped Bass Spawning Season and Area Restrictions

The Division of Fish & Wildlife will conduct a public hearing (Docket #2019-R-F-0026) on on February 26, 2020, on proposed revisions to the regulations governing Striped Bass Spawning Seasons and Area Restrictions.

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Becoming an Outdoors-Woman

DNREC’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is an educational program offering hands-on workshops to encourage and enhance participation in outdoor activities like hunting and shooting sports, fishing and boating, and non-harvest activities. The 2025 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program was held at Lums Pond State

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Hunter Education Training Centers and Ranges

There are hunter education training centers in all three Delaware counties, and shooting ranges in Kent and New Castle Counties. [button type=”primary” block=”true”

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Hunter Education Volunteer Instructor Program

The Delaware Hunter Education Program needs you to help prepare the next generation and other newcomers to hunting or trapping for a safe and enjoyable hunting future. Join

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Hunter Education Courses

The Hunter Education Program offers a variety of classes, both basic and advanced. Hunter Education [button

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Hunter Education Course Calendar

The Hunter Education Program offers a variety of classes, both basic and advanced. Basic hunter education classes are available in person or online. Use the Digital DNREC Hunter Education system to register for hunter education courses, print hunter education cards, and manage your profile. [eme_events category=14 template_id=4 

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Delaware Master Hunter Program

The Delaware Master Hunter Program is not for beginners. Your hunting license was only the beginning. And you aren’t a beginner anymore. In fact, you’ve been at this outdoors pursuit called hunting for a long time and have a wealth of experience to show for it.

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Hunter Education

The Delaware Hunter Education Program is committed to putting safe, ethical and educated hunters in the field. Since 1970, it has continued Delaware’s tradition of fair chase hunting by educating and developing responsible, involved, safe and knowledgeable hunters for the future of The First State. [panel type=”success”

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Shellfish Aquaculture

The Division of Fish and Wildlife makes acreage in the Inland Bays available for leases for shellfish aquaculture. Regulations Questions and Answers

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Delaware Fishing Records

This page lists each current Delaware record fish as well as the anglers who hooked, fought and landed them. Eighteen freshwater species and thirty saltwater species of trophy fish have been recognized as state records in Delaware. These fish are the largest specimens documented to have been caught by rod and reel.

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Council on Recreational Fishing Funding

The Council on Recreational Fishing Funding was created in 2007 and serves in an advisory capacity to the Director of Fish and Wildlife. It considers matters relating to funding fishery-related projects as well as fishery-related construction priorities for the expenditure of funds generated from the sale of recreational fishing licenses. [column md=”5″

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Advisory Council on Shell Fisheries

The Advisory Council on Shell Fisheries was created in 1953 and serves in an advisory capacity to the Director of Fish and Wildlife. It considers matters relating to the control and direction of the shellfish industry and the protection, conservation and propagation of shellfish of this State, and such matters as may be referred to

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Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish

The Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish was created in 1953 as the Council on Game and Fish. It serves in an advisory capacity to the Director of the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. Danielle Patone Recording Secretary 302-739-9912

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Advisory Council on Tidal Finfisheries

The Advisory Council on Tidal Finfisheries was created in 1984 to advise the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and represent both the commercial and recreational interests in the state’s regulation of finfish.

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Fish and Wildlife Advisory Councils

Delaware state law establishes several councils to advise the Director of Fish and Wildlife on matters relating to fisheries, recreational fishing, wildlife and hunting, and shell fisheries. The Division is also part of the Delaware Native Species Commission. Advisory Council on Wildlife and

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Contact Information

Patrick J. Emory, Director 89 Kings HighwayDover, DE 19901302-739-9910patrick.emory@delaware.gov

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Licenses and Permits

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife manages licenses, permits, registrations, stamps and conservation access passes related to fishing, hunting, boating, and the use of state wildlife areas. There are hunter safety and boating safety education requirements that must be met. Manage Your Recreational Licenses on Digital DNREC [column md=”5″ xclass=”col-xs-12 col-lg-5

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Fish and Wildlife License Agents

Hunting and fishing licenses, and conservation access passes (CAP), can be purchased at the following authorized licensing agents. Some agents only sell fishing licenses while others sell only hunting licenses and conservation access passes. Licenses also can be purchased online or at the licensing desk inside DNREC’s Richardson and Robbins Building, at 89 Kings Highway

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Questions and Answers: Delaware Fishing Licenses

The following are many of the questions that have come in about fishing licenses in Delaware. If you have a question, and don’t find the answer here, please send us an email at DFWRecLic@delaware.gov.

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Low Number License Lottery

DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will not hold a low-number hunting license lottery for the 2020/21 hunting season. Please check back for lottery information about the 2021/22 licensing season. For more information, Delaware residents can contact Danielle Davis, Division of Fish and Wildlife License Program Coordinator, at 302-739-9918, between the

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Fish and Wildlife License Fees