There will be no early-morning car lines of people hoping to snag a surf-fishing permit at state parks this year. Instead, anglers will be positioned behind their phones and computers, hoping to get a reservation.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s new surf-fishing reservation system launches on Tuesday, May 16. This summer, reservations will be required for drive-on surf-fishing at state parks on weekends and holidays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 20 through Sept. 4.
You don’t need a reservation Monday through Friday (as long as it’s not a holiday), but you do need to get to the beach before the park reaches capacity, which often happens midsummer.
Getting set for summer:Beach season is near. Here’s your guide to parking at the Delaware beaches for 2023.
And no matter when you’re surf-fishing, a permit is still necessary. There’s no limit on how many can be sold and you can get them online anytime. They take three to four weeks to deliver, though, so if you need one sooner, you can also purchase permits at park offices during business hours.
Here are the reservation system details.
How and when can I make a reservation?
The first thing you need to know is reservation confirmations must be printed and displayed in the registered vehicle, so best to figure out printing options now.
Get set for summer:More sand coming to Delaware beaches faster. Schedule moved up as another dredger arrives.
Reservations can be made at www.destateparks.com/surftagsales or by calling 800-499-8221. They’re $4 each, nonrefundable and nontransferable. They cannot be made in person.
Reservations for Saturdays will become available on Tuesdays and for Sundays on Wednesdays. For example, the system will open on Tuesday, May 16, for reservations on Saturday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 17, for reservations on Sunday, May 21.
Holiday reservations will be made available the Thursday before the holiday. For example, reservations for Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day), will become available Thursday, May 25.
The system opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. On weekends and holidays, it’s open 8 a.m. to noon.
This year’s holidays:
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 29
- Juneteenth, Monday, June 19
- Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4
- Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4
Sad farewell:Another goodbye to a longtime Rehoboth Beach business. Royal Treat will not reopen.
In past years, surf-fishing tags sold out as soon as the gates opened and people could be processed, so this year, be prepared to make your reservations as soon as the online system opens.
Only one reservation is allowed per person per day. If you have more than one vehicle permitted and want to take them on the beach on the same day, each driver will have to make a reservation.
One other thing to know: On weekends and holidays, permit holders can still surf-fish during sunlight hours, before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Sussex County and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught
