Anglers will soon have more freedom to fish without planning ahead, as the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced it will drop surf fishing reservations at several drive-on beaches starting Saturday, July 12.
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Delaware State Parks will require surf fishing permit holders to make reservations for drive-on beach access on weekends and holidays between Saturday, May 24, and Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The reservation system will autofill vehicle information based on the surf fishing permit number entered. Permit holders can make multiple reservations for different vehicles under a single customer account.
Delaware State Parks issues reminders for surf fishing reservations for July 4. They also remind fishers to keep the beaches clean and protect the wildlife during the holidays.
The decision, which also includes the closure of surf crossings at Cape Henlopen State Park as of 5 PM Monday January 8, aims to ensure public safety in light of the expected weather changes.
Many surf fishermen are calling the new permit reservation system a flop. They say many people who got the required reservations did not use them, leaving an empty beach but lots of permits sold for the Memorial Day Weekend.
LEWES, Del. - If you missed out on getting a surf fishing permit, now is your chance. DNREC launched a pilot program on Tuesday that offers off-peak surf fishing tags. At this time, there is an unlimited number of off-peak permits available.
Visitors to Delaware's State Park beaches will have to deal with some restrictions for the upcoming holiday weekend and beyond. Beginning Friday, July 3 these policies will be in effect: