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Delaware

Fishing

Fishing

Freshwater Trout Fishing

License and Stamp Requirements for Trout Fishing

Resident / Age

Fishing
License

Young
Angler Trout Stamp

Trout Stamp

FIN

Under 12

No

No

No

No

12 thru 15

No

Yes

No

No

16 thru 64

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

65 and over

No

No

No

Yes

Fee

$8.50

$2.10

$4.20

None

Non-resident / Age

Fishing
License

Young
Angler Trout Stamp

Trout Stamp

FIN

Under 12

No

No

No

No

12 thru 15

No

No

Yes

No

16 and over

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Fee

$20.00

$6.20

None

Freshwater Trout Fishing

Delaware’s freshwater trout program is a self-supporting put-and-take fishery in selected New Castle County streams and Kent and Sussex County ponds. Revenue generated from the sales of trout stamps is used to purchase rainbow, brook and/or brown trout for stocking. Summer water temperatures limit trout survival and reproduction in Delaware waters, so stocked fish are meant to be taken, but may be released at the angler’s discretion.

Season / Hours - The 2024 freshwater trout season at Tidbury (Kent County) and Newton (Sussex County) Ponds opens at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday March 2, 2024 for youth under the age of 16, and one-half hour before sunrise on Sunday March 3, 2024 for all anglers. The 2024 freshwater trout season in New Castle County opens at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday April 6, 2024 for youth under the age of 16, and one-half hour before sunrise for all anglers on Sunday April 7, 2024. No fishing is allowed in designated trout streams or designated trout ponds (Tidbury & Newton Ponds) two weeks (14 days) prior to the scheduled opening of the trout season. It is unlawful to fish for trout in designated trout streams or designated trout ponds between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.

Trout Stamps - A trout stamp is required to fish in a designated trout stream from the first Saturday in April through June 30 and from the first Saturday in October through November 30 unless exempted by law. A trout stamp is also required to fish Tidbury Pond in Kent County and Newton Pond in Sussex County from the first Saturday in March through April 1. Electronically issued digital and paper facsimile stamps are available online and gummed paper stamps may be obtained at the Division of Fish & Wildlife license office at 89 Kings Hwy in Dover. Original gummed paper stamps must be signed across the face to legally fish for trout. Electronically issued stamps do not require a signature. Purchasers of electronically issued stamps may request an original gummed paper stamp when purchasing an electronically issued stamp or by calling 302-739-9918; the original gummed stamp will be mailed to you after December 31, 2024. Anglers must possess either a digital, paper facsimile or gummed paper trout stamp when fishing in designated trout streams and ponds.

Special Fly Fishing Only Section (Restricted Trout Stream)

  1. White Clay Creek from a point 25 yards above Thompson Bridge at Chambers Rock Road to the Pennsylvania state line is designated as a fly-fishing only trout stream.
  2. Red Clay Creek from the downstream side of Yorklyn Road (39°48’29.00”N and 75°40’33.00”W) approximately 0.4 miles downstream to the Auburn Valley State Park boundary adjacent Creek Road (39°48’31.00”N and 75°40’13.00”W).

It is unlawful to use any metallic, plastic or rubber spinners, spoons, lures, plugs or natural bait or to use more than two (2) flies on a line at any one time.

It is unlawful to possess more than four (4) trout within 50 feet of a fly fishing only section (restricted trout water). Anglers may catch and release trout on these waters as long as the four (4) trout possession limit is not exceeded. All trout released must be returned to the water as quickly as possible with the least possible injury. These restrictions are in effect year round.

Possession Limits of Trout

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess more than six (6) trout in any one day; except, it shall be unlawful to possess more than four (4) trout in or within 50 feet of any fly-fishing only waters (restricted trout streams).

Map of designated trout streams in New Castle county, Delaware.

#

Stream

Description

1

Christina Creek

MD state line through Rittenhouse Park

2

White Clay Creek

PA line to the downstream side of Paper Mill Road. Fly fishing only (restricted trout stream) section from a point 25 yards above Thompson Bridge at Chambers Rock Road to the Pennsylvania state line.

3

Pike Creek

Route 72 to bridge at Route 2 (Kirkwood Highway)

4

Mill Creek

Brackenville Road to Route 7

5

Red Clay Creek

PA line to approximately the Auburn Valley State Park boundary adjacent Creek Road (39°48’31.00”N and 75°40’13.00”W)

6

Wilson Run

Route 92 through Brandywine Creek State Park

7

Beaver Run

Pennsylvania line to Brandywine River

2024 Tentative Trout Stocking Schedule

WATER

PRIOR
TO SEASON*

March 14

April 8

April 11

April 15

April 18

April 25

May 2

Mid October

STREAMS (SEASON OPENS 7:00 A.M., APRIL 6 - YOUTH ONLY. APRIL 7 - 1/2 HR BEFORE SUNRISE FOR ALL ANGLERS)

Beaver Run

T

T

T

Christina Creek

T

T

T

T**

T

Mill Creek

T

T

Pike Creek

T

T

Red Clay Creek

T

T

T

T

White Clay Creek

T

T

T

T

T**

T

T**

T

Wilson Run

T

T

T

T**

T***

PONDS (SEASON OPENS 7:00 A.M. MARCH 2 - YOUTH ONLY. MARCH 3 - 1/2 HR BEFORE SUNRISE FOR ALL ANGLERS)

Tidbury

T

T

Newton

T

T

It shall be unlawful for any person to stock any species of fish into the non-tidal public waters of this State without the written permission of the Director. This regulation does not prohibit the stocking of private impoundments.