(LEWES, Del.) - The first day of summer means that beach season is in full swing in Delaware, but surf fishing and driving on the beach doesn't necessarily require warm weather and water. Four-wheel drive vehicles head down to the drive-on beaches in designated areas year round.
It's common in the Cape Henlopen State Park for vehicles to get stuck in the sand. This happens every day. If one hits a dark patch of sand called a "swell" it can be buried up to its frame in minutes. In some cases, the ocean will try to take it as its own.
Drive-on beaches in other parts of the country may not require four-wheel-drive, but beaches in Delaware do because of the silicone-based sand. Beaches in Florida have calcium-based sand and any car can drive over it and pack it down like cement. The sand on the Delaware beaches is so loose that if a vehicle's tires aren't properly aired down, it'll get stuck.
Before hitting the beach, drivers nead to air down their tires to 10-15 psi (pounds per square inch). This expands the tires so that when the driver goes over soft sand there's more traction. Driving on with fully-inflated tires would dig holes and bury a vehicle in the sand. To avoid this, it's important to always have a shovel, tow-strap, and board to put under a sunken vehicle to dig it out.
Even if a vehicle's tires are aired down to the proper psi level, it can get stuck. This happens to the regulars as well which is why it's important that everyone is fully equipped and prepared each time they hit the beach.
It's more common to get stuck going off the beach than coming on because entering the beach requires going downhill which isn't a problem. When trying to go uphill, some drivers try to speed out of the sand. That doesn't work out so well because the faster the vehicle moves, the more its tires will dig down into the sand.
When leaving the beach drivers must re-inflate their tires to the proper pressure level before hitting the road. If you plan on driving on the beach this summer, remember to drive smart, drive safe, don't stop fast or turn too hard, and follow the tracks of the other drivers. A surf fishing license and special beach permit is required in order to drive on at the Delaware State Park beaches. Drivers must also have the proper fishing gear and bait and be surf fishing.