Youth Fishing & Tournament Info
40th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament
As part of its activities for National Fishing and Boating Week, June 6–14, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold its 40th annual Youth Fishing Tournament from 10 a.m.–1 p.m., Saturday June 6, 2026. The event will take place at designated ponds statewide.
This fishing event is for youths ages 4 to 15. An adult must accompany youths under age 12 and contestants should bring their own fishing equipment. The tournament is free to the public and prizes will be awarded for each age group and largest fish caught in each species.
The tournament was established to introduce youth to the sport of fishing and to teach the catch and release approach to conservation. Registration is free and there is no entrance fee required. The tournament is held rain or shine.
In addition to the youth fishing tournament celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week, the Division has designated June 7 and 8, 2026 as free fishing days when anyone may fish in Delaware’s waters without a fishing license.
For more information, visit the Delaware Youth Fishing Tournament webpage.
Aquatic Resources Education Center
You can learn about native Delaware sportfish and fishing opportunities in the First State by visiting Delaware’s Aquatic Resources Education Center at 2520 Lighthouse Rd., Smyrna, near the Route 9 Bayshore Byway. The center offers two stocked catch and release fishing ponds and a boardwalk featuring a unique vantage point for exploring the tidal salt marsh bordering Delaware Bay.
Follow the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife on Facebook for updates and information.
Family Fishing Programs
Fishing is a great outdoor activity for the entire family. The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife offers free fishing and seining events at the Aquatic Resources Education Center and at other locations around Delaware. These programs are geared toward children and families that want to learn more about fishing and the species that live in Delaware Bay.
TAKE A KID FISHING!
Take A Kid Fishing! events are held at the Aquatic Resources Education Center as well as other ponds throughout our state. Kids aged 6 to 15 and their families learn about basic fishing skills and get a chance to try their hand at catching a fish. For more information, visit the Delaware Take a Kid Fishing webpage.
LIFE IN THE BAY SEINING
Curious about what lives in the waters just off the beach in Delaware Bay? Join us at Woodland Beach to seine for critters along the shoreline. Participants will have a chance to use the seine net themselves to bring in a variety of life including macroinvertebrates and small fish while staff is on hand to identify and teach more about the species caught.
Adult Fishing Classes
The Aquatic Resources Education Center will offer our yearly fly-fishing class in the fall and is expanding our offerings for adults interested in learning more about the sport of angling. Participants must be 16 or older, hold a current Delaware fishing license and Delaware Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may obtain a free FIN number online or from a license agent where recreational fishing licenses are sold. Online fishing license services are available on the Delaware fishing license services webpage. Current adult recreation and education class offerings can be found on the Delaware adult recreation classes webpage.
REGISTRATION
For the most current and accurate information about upcoming programs, visit the Delaware adult recreation programs webpage. All equipment needed is provided by the Aquatic Resources Education Center and programs are free of charge, but pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please email.
Delaware’s Small Pond Program
The Division has nine small ponds scattered throughout the State which offer shore angling targeted at youth. The ponds range from ½ to 8 acres and contain good populations of largemouth bass and bluegill. Catch and release is the order of the day so barbless hooks are required at most. Additional information about pond locations and available facilities can be found on the Delaware small pond information webpage.
Largemouth Bass Tournament Permits
A Division of Fish & Wildlife Fishing Event Permit is required to hold a Largemouth Bass tournament in Delaware’s public ponds or rivers, regardless of the number of boats or anglers participating in the tournament. Applications may be submitted online through the Delaware fishing event reporting webpage or by calling the Division’s Enforcement Section at (302) 739-9913. Tournaments held on State Park properties must be approved by the Division of Parks and Recreation prior to submitting a permit application. Contact the appropriate park office for approval: Lums Pond (302) 368-6989, Killens Pond (302) 284-4526, and Trap Pond (302) 875-5153.
The Tournament Director or Organizer must submit a Largemouth Bass Tournament Report within 30 days of tournament completion. Tournament anglers are encouraged to practice catch and release and to implement other measures that minimize stress to bass caught during tournaments. Information about conservation measures, permit applications, reporting forms, and a newsletter for bass anglers is available on the Delaware Largemouth Bass Tournament webpage. Contact the Fisheries Section at (302) 739-9914 for additional information.
