Fish & Wildlife Directory
Delaware
Fishing
State of Delaware
John C. Carney Jr.
Governor
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Shawn M. Garvin
Secretary
Division of Fish & Wildlife
David E. Saveikis
Director
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON WILDLIFE & FRESHWATER FISH
Edward A. Montague, Chair
Garrett L. Grier, Jr.,
Vice Chair
Raymond F. Burris
John Neal Dukes
Nathan R. Hudson
Joe C. Johnson
Steven M. Kendus
Dale R. Scuse
F. Thomas Unruh
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON TIDAL FIN FISHERIES
Dr. Dewayne Fox,
Chair
P. Wes Townsend,
Vice Chair
Brian Hoffecker
Marvin M. Kahl, Jr.
James G. Little
Bernard L. Pankowski
Joseph A. Smith
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON RECREATIONAL FISHING FUNDING
Bernard L. Pankowski,
Chair
David A. Russell,
Vice Chair
Ralph William Baker
Eric B. Burnley, Sr.
Richard Carlisle
Loren C. Evans
Hon. Ronald Gray
Hon. Gerald Hocker
Ronald L. Horton
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SHELL FISHERIES
Leonard Voss, Jr.,
Chair
Steven Copp
Jordan Giuttari
Edward Hale, Jr.
Richard S. Hand, Jr.
Desmond Kahn
Paul Satterfield
Directory
Division of Fish & Wildlife –
www.fw.delaware.gov
F.I.N. number (800) 432-9228
F.I.N. Helpline (866) 447-4626
Fisheries Section, Dover (302) 739-9914
Fisheries Field Offices
Little Creek (302) 735-2960
Woodland Beach (302) 735-8650
Aquatic Resources
Education Center (302) 735-8652
Recreational Fishing Licenses (302) 739-9918
Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Section
New Castle County (302) 836-4682
Kent County (302) 739-6139
Sussex County (302) 855-1901
24-hour hotline (KENTCOM) for reporting violations,
problems (800) 523-3336
Boating Safety (302) 739-9915
Ramp Certificates (302) 739-9916
Boat Registration (302) 739-9916
General Information
Freshwater Trout Program (302) 739-9914
Non-tidal Fishing (302) 735-2960 / (302) 735-8650
Tidal Fishing (302) 739-9914 / (302) 735-2960
Fish Consumption Advisories (302) 739-9914
Division Public Health (302) 744-4546
Artificial Reef Program (302) 735-2960
Fishing / Boating Access Areas (302) 739-9914
Clamming (302) 735-2960
Shellfish Health & Safety,
Closures (302) 739-9939
Crabbing (302) 735-2960
State Record
Fish Verification (302) 735-2960 / (800) 523-3336
Fish Kills & Environmental
Emergencies/Complaints (800) 662-8802
State and Federal law prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion and/or disability. Complaints or inquiries should be directed to: Personnel Office, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
For the actual wording of the Fisheries Statutes and Regulations, as well as a wide variety of other information, visit the Division’s website AT www.fw.delaware.gov
This summary is for the convenience of the sportsman and is not intended to cover all fishing laws and regulations. For specific provisions, reference should be made to Title 7, Delaware Code and Delaware Administrative Code. When federal and state laws conflict, the law which is more restrictive governs.
Fish Facts
Hey, having trouble identifying your catch? Want to know a good bait to use to catch a certain species? Need to find out what the current state record is for a species? Check out our “Fish Facts” page with loads of helpful information on over 180 species of fish and shellfish you can catch in Delaware waters. Just type fishspecies.dnrec.delaware.gov in any browser and click on a category. Many folks keep it bookmarked on their smartphone for quick access. Enjoy!
Catch and Release
Many anglers practice catch and release fishing. This behavior, popularized by bass anglers, promotes the release of fish by anglers so the fish can be caught again.
A long-term bass tagging study in Delaware has demonstrated many tagged fish are caught, released, and caught again — a few as many as four times. The Division strongly encourages catch and release fishing to maximize angling success — unless a fish population is known to be overcrowded.
Public Ponds
A guide to public ponds, available online, is updated annually with the latest fisheries data. Each pond’s information includes: fish populations, vegetation conditions, special regulations and facilities, and a contour map of the pond.
This information is available at: http://de.gov/pondbook.
NEW License Plates
Purchase a Delaware recreational fishing specialty motor vehicle license plate to show your passion and support for sport fishing in Delaware. There is a one-time purchase price of $95, $80 of which will be used to promote recreational fishing in Delaware and to support fisheries research, habitat restoration, and fish stocking. The new fishing plates can be ordered by mail. An application and ordering instructions are available online at https://tinyurl.com/DEFishplate.
Collecting Stamps
If you are interested in collecting trout or duck stamps, please contact the Division 302-739-9918 or visit our website at www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/Pages/TroutStamp.aspx