If you’re a surf fishing fanatic and have always wanted to lay claim to a low-digit plate, now’s your chance.
A more recent tradition, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will auction off available low-digit surf-fishing plates, with the funds supporting the Delaware State Parks.
The online auction starts Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 9 a.m., at usgovbid.com.
Unlike the five-digit license plates issued through the state Division of Motor Vehicles − which come at no cost to the permitholder and will be available through a lottery system this year − the bids for low-digit surf-fishing plates start at $250.
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This auctioning of low-digit surf-fishing plates started after the General Assembly authorized the auctions in 2015, according to DNREC.
Here are a few answers to questions that may still remain about this annual auction.
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How long does the auction last?
People will have the opportunity to bid on low-digit surf-fishing plates from Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. until Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
What numbers will be available?
The following individual numbers will be up for auction: 32, 58, 143, 226, 355 and 488.
In addition, people can bid on eight different “choice” categories. That means that if they win the bid on that category, they will have a choice of numbers in that range. Here are those categories:
- Choice of tag numbers 51 – 200
- Excludes: 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 93, 96, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 110, 111, 114, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 132, 148, 149, 160, 195, 197, 200
- Choice of tag numbers 201 – 500
- Excludes: 201, 202, 206, 207, 209, 211, 212, 222, 225, 233, 234, 239, 247, 250, 252, 262, 263, 278, 296, 300, 301, 302, 311, 312, 315, 321, 333, 344, 345, 350, 351, 369, 378, 379, 400, 401, 408, 410, 416, 420, 428, 440, 444, 450, 451, 454, 456, 460, 466, 468, 469, 478, 497, 498, 499, 500
- Choice of tag numbers 501 – 800
- Excludes: 506, 515, 555, 561, 666, 692, 730, 774, 787
- Choice of tag numbers 801 – 1000
- Excludes: 814, 888, 911, 966
- Choice of tag numbers 1001 – 2000
- Excludes: 1212, 1313, 1357, 1480, 1510, 1546, 1873, 1911, 1962, 1972
- Choice of tag numbers 2001 – 4000
- Excludes: 2020, 2222, 2302, 3232, 3405
- Choice of tag numbers 4001 – 7000
- Excludes: 4040, 4051, 4133, 4646, 5050, 5392, 5555, 5678, 5769, 5888, 6209, 6898
- Choice of tag numbers 7001 – 9999
- Excludes: 7123, 7777, 8858, 9102, 9694, 9999
Will a low-digit surf-fishing plate get you onto the beach?
No, a low-digit tag alone does not allow drive-on access to the State Park beaches. In order to surf fish, people need a current surf-fishing permit, as well as a surf-fishing permit issued by the Delaware State Parks.
So, if you have a low-digit tag, you also have to have a current sticker showing that your permit is up to date for that year. The good news? There will be no cap on surf-fishing permits this year, unlike previous years.
Wait, so anyone can still get a surf-fishing permit in 2023?
Yes. Because of recently announced changes to the surf-fishing program, there is no cap on the number of permits that DNREC issues for a given year. (Previously, the state could not issue more than 17,000 permits).
So, if someone purchases a low-digit surf-fishing plate in the auction this year, they will be able to buy a surf-fishing permit to go with that plate − something that hasn’t always been guaranteed amid high demand in recent years.
But there’s a caveat: While anyone can buy a surf-fishing permit for 2023, they will need to make reservations if they wish to surf fish between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on summer weekends and holidays.
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When will surf fishing permits go on sale?
Annual and two-year surf fishing permits from DNREC are expected to go on sale within the next few weeks, according to the state agency.
Because the cap has been lifted, though, people will not have to rush to their computers or state park booths like previous years.
The price of an annual surf-fishing permit for a Delaware resident is $90 and $180 for a non-resident. Off-peak permits are $70 for residents and $140 for non-residents.
There are also certain discounts for seniors and free annual surf-fishing permits available for firefighters and EMTs.
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Can you transfer a low-digit surf-fishing plate?
Yes, there is a one-time transfer fee of $72, which is the same amount the DMV charges for the transfer of low-digit black and white tags, according to DNREC.
While plates can be transferred, surf-fishing permits are non-transferrable.
Can you get a low-digit plate if you don’t live in Delaware?
Low-digit surf-fishing plates numbered 1 through 200 are limited to vehicles registered in Delaware, but plates greater than 200 are available to those registered out of the state.
Still have questions?
Visit destateparks.com/LowDigitTags.
Or, call the Division of Parks and Recreation at 302-739-9220.
Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches, with a focus on health-related issues. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.
