Delaware Fishing License
If you are going to go fishing, crabbing, or clamming in Delaware you must obtain a fishing license. Since 2008 the State of Delaware has required all people engaged in recreational fishing activities (in fresh and salt water) to purchase a Delaware fishing license. A license can be obtained from your local bait shop, most public marinas, and most major retailers that have a sporting counter. The Head boat and charter boat fishing licenses are only available through DNREC. The following are the license fees as per the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife:
Delaware fishing license costs (effective Jan. 1, 2012)
| License Type | License Fee | Agent Fee | Maximum Cost |
| Resident fishing (Age 16-64) | $8.50 | $2.50 | $11.00 |
| Non-resident fishing (Age 16 and over) | $20 | $2.50 | $22.50 |
| 7-Day Non-resident fishing (Age 16 and over) | $12.50 | $2.50 | $15 |
| Resident Trout Stamp (Age 16-64) | $4.20 | $1 | $5.20 |
| Non-resident Trout Stamp (Age 12 and over) | $6.20 | $1 | $7.20 |
| Young Angler Trout Stamp (Age 12-15) | $2.10 | $1 | $3.10 |
| *Resident boat fishing (20′ vessel and below) | $40 | $2.50 | $40 |
| *Resident boat fishing (Vessel over 20′) | $50 | $2.50 | $50 |
| *Resident head-boat license | $300 | NA | $300 |
| *Resident charterboat license | $150 | NA | $150 |
| *Non-resident boat fishing license (20′ vessel and below) | $40 | $2.50 | $40 |
| *Non-resident boat fishing license (Vessel over 20′) | $50 | $2.50 | $50 |
| *Non-resident head-boat license | $600 | NA | $600 |
| *Non-resident charter boat license | $300 | NA | $300 |
* New licenses
Delaware Surf Fishing Vehicle Permits
In Delaware, you may drive your 4×4 or all wheel drive vehicle onto the State Park beaches to fish. However, some strict rules apply. First and foremost; you MUST have a Delaware State Surf Fishing Vehicle Permit. Certain vehicle regulations apply in order to qualify for the permit as well. The vehicle must be licensed and registered to legally operate on the roadways and it must have at least 7 inches of ground clearance. So NO ATV’s and NO low-rider trucks.
Surf fishing vehicle permits are available through the Delaware State Park Service. You can read more about the vehicle permit and purchase one online here.
| Resident | Non-Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Vehicle | $65 per year | $130 per year |
| Seniors age 62 and over | $55 per year | $110 per year |
| Replacement Permit (restrictions apply) |
$10 | $10 |
Delaware State Park Annual Pass (park entry passes) – For more detailed information about fishing in Delaware’s State Parks, please visit the State Parks Site
Delaware State Fishing Sizes, 2012 Seasons, and Creel Limits - Please click here to view DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Recreational Fishing Size, Seasons, and Creel Limits for 2013.
2013 Seasons, Size and Creel Limits
NON-TIDAL WATERS
SPECIES
OPEN SEASON
MINIMUM SIZE
DAILY LIMIT
Largemouth bass
All year
12 inches; except 15 inches in Becks Pond
6 daily limit ; except 2 from Becks Pond
Smallmouth bass
All year
None between 12 – 17 inches
6 daily limit (no more than 1 > 17 inches)
Striped bass hybrid (Only occur in Lums Pond)
All year
15 inches
2 daily limit
Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, redear, crappie, yellow & white perch)
All year
None
50daily limit (no more than 25 of one species)
Trout (special rules apply, seeFreshwater Trout Fishing)
Streams open 1stSat. in April
Ponds open 1stSat. in March
None
6 daily limit (4 in fly-fishing only waters)
TIDAL WATERS
SPECIES
OPEN SEASON
MINIMUM SIZE
DAILY LIMIT
American eel
All year
6 inches
50 daily limit
American & hickory shad
Closed Nanticoke R. & its tribs.; Open all year elsewhere
None
10 daily limit in any combination
Atlantic croaker
All year
8 inches
None daily limit
Atlantic sturgeon
Closed – no harvest permitted (see Be On The Lookout section below)
Black drum
All year
16 inches (DE River & Bay)
3 daily limit (DE River & Bay)
Black sea bass
Jan. 1 – Feb. 28
12.5 inches
15daily limit
May 19 – Oct. 14
25 daily limit
Nov. 1 – Dec. 31
25 daily limit
Bluefish
All year
None
10 daily limit
Catfish (any species)
All year
None
None
Red drum
All year
20 – 27 inches may be retained
5 daily limit
River herring (alewife & blueback)
Closed – no harvest permitted
Scup
All year
8 inches
50 daily limit
Spanish mackerel
All year
14 inches
15 daily limit
Spotted seatrout
All year
12 inches
None daily limit
Striped bass
All year
28 inches, except only 20 – 26 inch fish may be retained from July 1 – Aug. 31 in DE River, DE Bay & their tribs (DE waters only).
2 daily limit, except catch & release only on spawning grounds April 1 – May 31
Summer flounder
Jan. 1 – Oct. 23
18 inches
4 daily limit
Tautog
Jan. 1 – Mar. 31
15 inches
5 daily limit
April 1 – May 11
3 daily limit
July 17 – Aug. 31
5 daily limit
Sept. 29 – Dec. 31
5 daily limit
Weakfish
All year
13 inches
1 daily limit
White perch
All year
8 inches
None daily limit
Winter flounder
Feb. 11 – Apr. 10
12 inches
2 daily limit
NOTE: A GENERAL FISHING LICENSE IS NOW REQUIRED TO FISH FOR BLUE CRABS AND CLAMS.
SPECIES
OPEN SEASON
MINIMUM SIZE
DAILY LIMIT
Blue crab
Pots: Mar. 1 – Nov. 30; other gears year around
Peeler – 3 inches
1 bushel
Soft-shell – 3.5 inches
Hard-shell – 5 inches
Hard clams
All year
1.5 inches
100/resident
50/non-resident
Lobster
All year
3 3/8 – 5 1/4 inches (slot)
2; V-notched prohibited
SHARKS & HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES (HMS) – SPECIAL PERMIT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR FEDERAL WATERS
SPECIES
OPEN SEASON
MINIMUM SIZE
DAILY LIMIT
Spiny & smooth dogfish
All year
None
None
Blacktip shark, bull shark, great hammerhead, lemon shark, nurse shark, scalloped hammerhead, silky shark, smooth hammerhead, spinner shark, tiger shark
Jan. 1 -May 14
54 -inches FORK LENGTH
Boat anglers- only 1 shark of any species per vessel, except 1 additional bonnethead and 1 additional Atlantic sharpnose per angler onboard vessel. Shore anglers – only 1 shark of any species per angler, except 1 additional bonnethead and one additional Atlantic sharpnose per shore angler.
July 16 – Dec. 31
Blue shark, oceanic white-tip shark, porbeagle, shortfin mako, thresher shark
All year
54 -inches FORK LENGTH
Atlantic sharpnose shark, blacknose shark, bonnethead, finetooth shark
All year
None
PROHIBITED SPECIES
Sandbar shark, sand tiger, Atlantic angel shark, basking shark, bigeye sand tiger, bigeye sixgill shark, bigeye thresher, bignose shark, Caribbean reef shark, Caribbean sharpnose shark, dusky shark, Galapagos shark, longfin mako, narrowtooth shark, night shark, sevengill shark, sixgill shark, smalltail shark, whale shark, white shark
The sandbar & sand tiger are toothed sharks commonly taken in the nearshore waters of the state and are prohibited. Like all prohibited species, they must be immediately released to ensure the maximum probability of survival.
SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS FOR SHARK
It is unlawful to fillet a shark prior to landing. A shark may be eviscerated prior to landing, but head, tail and fins must remain attached to the carcass.
It is unlawful to release a shark in a manner that will not ensure the sharks maximum probability of survival (i.e. no gaffs, no clubbing, careful hook removal, etc.).
It is unlawful to possess the fins from any shark prior to landing unless they are naturally attached to the body of the shark.
TUNAS AND HMS – SPECIAL PERMIT REQUIRED
Atlantic tunas, swordfish and billfish
*Special permit required – All private vessel owners/operators recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) for personal use in the Atlantic Ocean must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit. Further limits and restrictions apply. Consultwww.hmspermits.gov or call toll free (888) 872-8862 for specific information and permits.
