A Guide for Shoreline Residents

Residents living along Delaware’s public fishing ponds and lakes play an important role in the stewardship of the public fishing ponds and lakes managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. Waterside living offers peace, natural beauty, wildlife viewing and excellent angling opportunities. While enjoying these amenities, residents should keep in mind that these

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Freshwater Trout Fishing

DNREC’s freshwater trout program is a self-supporting put-and-take fishery. Rainbow, brown and/or brook trout are stocked in selected streams in New Castle County and in selected ponds in Kent and Sussex counties. Basic Requirements No minimum size. Four fish per day in fly-fishing

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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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Small Pond Angling

In addition to Delaware’s many state-owned freshwater fishing ponds, there are eight small ponds, most geared toward bank fishing and most managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. They are ideal for beginners and youth angling. Hillside Park Pond

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Delaware’s Public Freshwater Fishing Ponds

More than 30 Delaware freshwater lakes and ponds are open for fishing and other recreation. These impoundments, most of them managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, range in size from five to 189 acres. They support a variety of gamefish. Find full information about each of these ponds using

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Fish Monitoring via Electrofisher

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife uses electrofishing to safely sample fish populations in a variety of water bodies. Electrofishing is one of the most efficient sampling methods available to fisheries biologists. It uses an electric current to temporarily stun fish. This lets biologists sample and survey fish populations with minimal disturbance and risk

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Delaware Fishing Report

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 weekly by Eric Burnley, Sr. Find information on fishing in Delaware on the new Recreational Fishing – DNREC page and the updated DNREC Fisheries Section

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