A big change is coming for the surf-fishing program in Delaware: There will be no cap on the number of permits issued for 2023, according to an announcement from State Parks Director Ray Bivens on Wednesday.
Yes, that means people don’t have to rush to the computer or Delaware State Parks’ gates to snag those coveted surf-fishing tags that allow drive-on beach access. No longer crushed by the “sold out” announcement from State Parks, anyone who wants a surf-fishing tag can now get one.
Still, there was a reason the cap was put in place − to protect the natural resources and manage crowds. That’s where another change comes in. After a stakeholder group met this spring, State Parks announced that it will be piloting a new reservation system for 36 of the busiest days during the season.
DELAWARE TRADITION:How Delaware’s love of surf fishing at state parks competes with beach access amid constant growth
Why make these changes now?
The pilot reservation system and lifting of the cap come after the demand for surf-fishing permits has continued to grow in recent years and peaked at unprecedented heights in the past two years.
In 2020, the maximum 17,000 tags sold out in just a few months, prompting the state to release an additional 1,000 tags. Eager anglers and beach enthusiasts lined up overnight for a chance to get one of these extra permits.
Then, nationwide supply chain disruptions caused DNREC to delay the sales of surf-fishing permits last year until February 2022.
When sales opened on the State Parks’ website at 10 a.m. on Feb. 1, the immediate surge of traffic to the website caused it to shut down or load improperly for many anxious customers. Within four hours, all surf-fishing tags had been sold out. More than 12,000 permits sold within the second hour when the website was back up and functioning.
SOLD OUT:Standard surf-fishing permits gone within a few hours for 2022 season
And it’s not just out-of-staters snagging these permits either. Last year, 79% of all permits went to Delawareans, according to Bivens.
After seeing this unprecedented interest in surf-fishing permits, DNREC announced a new pilot program in March which would allow people to buy additional “off-peak” permits that could only be used on weekdays and non-holidays.
But the state agency realized more needed to be done to rework the surf-fishing program, so in May, DNREC brought together a group of stakeholders − people in the surf-fishing community, college professors, local elected officials, members of the Delaware State Parks Council and Delaware Department of Transportation − to further review “sales process, permit delivery, compliance, enforcement and public safety,” according to a DNREC press release.
Part of this research included issuing 30,000 surveys to people who participated in the surf-fishing program in June and July, and State Parks received 7,000 responses.
Bivens said the biggest takeaway from those surveys was this: “People did not like the cap. They did not think the cap was working, but if the cap was to go away, that would require managing capacity in some other way.”
The State Parks director had some data to show that the cap was not doing exactly what the Parks intended, too. Because people would purchase two-year surf-fishing permits, and then the Parks added the off-peak permits as another option last year, the number of active permits was a little more than 29,000, Bivens said.
How the reservation system will work
Similar to reserving a campground at a Delaware State Park, anyone with a surf-fishing permit must now make a reservation before driving onto the beach on weekends during the summer or holidays. This reservation also allows people to enter the park even when it’s at capacity, which happens frequently during these busiest times.
When are reservations required?
Starting the third weekend in May through Labor Day weekend, reservations are required Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Peak holidays are Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July and Labor Day.
Any surf-fishing permitholders who wish to drive onto the beach before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m. during these days may still do so without a reservation.
How to make a reservation
People will be able to make a reservation online or by phone, but not in person at the State Park offices.
The reservations will only become available that same week for which you are planning to make the reservation. For example, you may only be able to reserve July Fourth weekend starting the Tuesday before, Bivens said.
While State Parks has not yet announced the day of the week that reservations will become available, the division said it will remain consistent week to week, even for holidays.
Day-of reservations will be accepted up until 4 p.m. as available, too.
Other requirements:
- People will need an annual or two-year surf-fishing permit to make a reservation. Off-peak permitholders are not eligible to make reservations.
- You can only make a reservation for the permit attached to your account.
- Reservations are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
- Only one reservation is allowed per permitholder per day.
- Surf-fishers will pay a $4 fee for each reservation, which Bivens said covers the cost of the reservation system and enforcement.
When making a reservation, people will need to select a specific beach location. This can be helpful, Bivens said, because if someone sees that Cape Henlopen State Park has run out of reservations, they can then reserve at Delaware Seashore or Fenwick Island instead.
After successfully reserving a date, people must print out their reservation and display it in their vehicle, so enforcement officers can see it. People can show the reservation on their phones as a backup.
If someone is caught surf-fishing without a reservation on a summer weekend, they will be subject to a fine, Bivens said.
When do surf-fishing permits go on sale, and what are your options?
Bivens emphasized that “there is no chaos this year about getting your surf-fishing permit,” with the lifting of the cap, and sales will begin in December.
People will be able to purchase a standard surf-fishing permit, which allows them to drive onto the beach anytime but requires reservations on those summer weekends and holidays. They can also buy an off-peak surf-fishing permit at a discounted rate, but that permit does not grant them access on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays during the summer.
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.
If someone purchased a two-year permit last year, and they don’t wish to participate in the new program this year, they can request a refund for the second year no later than March 31, 2023.
One more thing: Make sure to watch the new instructional video
All permitholders will be required to view an instructional surf-fishing video.
The video will include beach driving tips, such as airing down vehicle tires, in-vehicle mandatory equipment and safety requirements for surf fishing on state park beaches, according to State Parks.
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.
