Following a series of public hearings, amendments to Delaware’s fisheries regulations governing weakfish and largemouth bass, and a new regulation setting limits for black drum, have been approved by DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara.
The changes for 2010 are as follows:
Weakfish limits
To enable Delaware to remain in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for weakfish, the recreational creel limit has been reduced from six fish to one fish per person, per day. The amended Delaware Tidal Finfish Regulation also limits commercial fishermen to no more than 100 pounds of weakfish per vessel, per day or per trip.
Largemouth bass slot limits
Specialized size limits for largemouth bass which applied to Andrews Lake, Derby Pond and Hearns Pond have been eliminated as no longer necessary and 12 inches has been reinstated as the statewide size limit. (Becks Pond is the only remaining exception with a 15-inch minimum size and a two-fish limit) The change was made following recent bass surveys which show a more normal size distribution of bass.
Black drum regulation
Under a new addition to Delaware Tidal Finfish Regulations, Delaware is entering a joint fisheries management plan with New Jersey and will apply the same limits in managing black drum. The regulation establishes a 16-inch minimum size limit for both recreational and commercial fishermen and sets a recreational creel limit of three drum per angler, per day, and an annual commercial landing quota of 65,000 pounds. Commercial fishers also must meet a 10,000-pound daily limit, per vessel, for both the vessel or the dealers receiving fish.
These regulations will go into effect 10 days after publication in the next issue of the Delaware Register of Regulations. The orders establishing the regulations may be viewed online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders.aspx.
For more information, please contact the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.
