* Includes new summer flounder regulations in effect May 11.
A license is now required for hook and line recreational fishing in Delaware tidal waters.
It is illegal to fish for any species of game fish (see Gamefish and General Fishing Restrictions)
with more than two hooks and lines, and each hook and line shall have no more than three separate lures with hooks.
(Images courtesy of, or purchased from, artist Duane Raver and the US Fish & Wildlife Service )
|
2008 Recreational Fishing Size, Seasons, and Creel Limits |
|
Species |
Recreational Minimum Size Limit |
Recreational Season |
Recreational Creel Limit per Angler |
American Eel
 |
6” |
Open Year Round |
50 |
Bass, Black Sea
 |
12” |
Year Round |
25 |
Bass, Largemouth
 |
12” |
Open Year Round |
6 |
Derby Pond |
None between 15”-18” |
Open Year Round |
6, no more than 1>18” |
Hearns Pond |
None between 15”-18” |
Open Year Round |
6, no more than 1>18” |
Andrews Lake |
None between 12”-15” |
Open Year Round |
6, no more than 1>15” |
Becks Pond |
15” |
Open Year Round |
2 |
Bass, Smallmouth
 |
None between & including 12” & 17” |
Open Year Round |
6, no more than 1>17” |
Bass, Striped
 |
(Non Tidal) 15” (Tidal) 28” |
Open Year Round** |
2 by hook and line only |
| Bass, Hybrid Striped |
15” Non-tidal |
Open Year Round** |
2- non-tidal; no limit in tidal water |
Blue Crabs
 |
5” Hard; 3.5" Soft; 3” Peeler |
Open Year Round |
1 Bushel |
Bluefish
 |
None |
Open Year Round |
10 |
Clams, Hard
 |
1.5” Wide |
Open Year Round@ |
500 w/permit; 100 – resident; 50 - non-resident |
Croaker, Atlantic
 |
8” |
Open Year Round |
None |
| Drum, Black |
None |
Open Year Round |
None |
Drum, Red
 |
20-27”, none > 27” |
Open Year Round |
5 |
Flounder, Summer
 |
19 1/2"* |
No closed season-Now open year round.*
*New regulations go into effect May 11. |
4* |
Flounder, Winter
 |
12” |
Open Feb. 11 – April 10 |
10 |
|
Horseshoe Crabs
|
NONE MAY BE TAKEN |
NONE MAY BE TAKEN |
NONE MAY BE TAKEN |
Lobster
 |
3 3/8” Carapace length; female maximum length 5 ½” until 2008 regulations are finalized. |
Open Year Round |
none; 2 per diver |
Mackerel, Spanish
 |
14” |
Open Year Round |
10 |
|
Panfish*
* Includes the freshwater species of bluegill, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish, black crappie, white crappie, white perch and yellow perch
|
None |
Open Year Round |
50; but no more than 25 per species |
| River herring (blueback & alewife)# |
None |
Open Year Round |
10 combined species |
Shad (Hickory and American)***
 |
None |
Open Year Round, Closed Nanticoke River & its tributaries |
10 combined species |
|
Shark
Complete Shark Regulations |
54” fork length; except no limit for dogfish species |
Open Year Round |
1 per vessel per day; 1 per person per day from shoreline or pier; no limit for dogfish species |
| Spot |
None |
Open Year Round |
None |
Weakfish (Sea Trout)
 |
13” |
Open Year Round |
6 |
Spotted Seatrout
 |
12” |
Open Year Round |
None |
Sturgeon, Atlantic
 |
- |
CLOSED |
- |
Tautog
 |
April 1 - May 11: 15"
July 1 - Aug. 31: 14"
Sept. 29 - March 31: 14" |
May 12-June 30*
Sept. 1-28
* New closure this year. |
3 (April 1 - May 11)
10 (July 1 - Aug. 31)
10 (Sept. 29 - March 31) |
Trout (Freshwater)
 |
None |
Opens first Saturday in April |
6 (4 in restricted streams ); 6 in ponds |
White Perch
 |
8” (Tidal water) |
Open Year Round |
None in tidal water, 25 in fresh water |
Scup
 |
8” |
State Waters*
Open Year Round |
50 |
| *State waters include the Delaware River and Bay, Coastal Bays, and Atlantic Ocean out to 3 miles. Federal Waters include the Atlantic Ocean beyond 3 miles from the Delaware Shore.
**Striped bass recreational season is closed on the spawning grounds (Nanticoke River, C&D Canal, and Delaware River and their respective tributaries north of the southern most jetty at the C&D Canal) during April and May. On the spawning grounds, all striped bass must be released & circle-hook regulations apply. Striped Bass are not permitted to be retained if taken with a recreational gill net.
*** American shad and hickory shad (species combined) daily limit 10; catch and release only in the Nanticoke River and its tributaries.
# River herring and alewife 10-fish limit, aggregate of fish. - Finfish are measured from tip of snout to tip of tail.
- Blue crabs are measured tip to tip on the back (Females with eggs are protected, females with U-shaped apron have no size limit).
- Lobster carapace length is measured from rear of eye socket
to rear of body shell. |
Fishing for highly migratory oceanic species such as bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, true albacore, blackfin tuna, swordfish, billfish and certain shark species, when caught in waters outside of Delaware's jurisdiction (ocean waters greater than 3 miles offshore), are subject to federal regulations. For more information on federal regulations, call the National Marine Fisheries Service at (301 713-2347 or (508) 281-9260. In addition, a 24-hour information line is available at (301) 713-1279 or (508) 281-9305.
Federal regulations for highly migratory species such as tuna, billfish, and federally regulated sharks can be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/
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