Delaware’s new recreational striped bass regulation to take effect on May 11

DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife announces new recreational striped bass regulation to take effect on May 11

Regulation to reduce recreational harvest by 25 percent for fishery compliance

DOVER (April 9, 2015) – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today that the new recreational striped bass regulation will be effective on May 11, 2015. The regulation change brings Delaware into compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Fisheries Management Plan, which has been amended to require a 25-percent reduction in both the recreational and commercial striped bass harvests in 2015. The new regulation reduces recreational harvest through changes in size limits, but maintains Delaware’s current seasons and possession limits.

“This regulation maximizes opportunities for all of Delaware’s recreational anglers to catch striped bass, the favorite fish of many of our anglers, while also achieving the mandated reduction in Delaware’s recreational harvest,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis.

Under the new regulation, a recreational angler is allowed possession of two striped bass (in any combination) from 28 to 37 inches or 44 inches or greater, with the season open year-round for all state waters except those covered by the slot season or spawning closures. The regulation retains the popular summer slot striped bass season of July 1 through Aug. 31 in Delaware Bay, Delaware River and their tidal tributaries, but with a reduced slot season size limit of 20 to 25 inches. The slot season possession limit remains at two fish.

The spawning season closure remains in effect from April 1 through May 31, with no striped bass to be kept from the Nanticoke River or its tributaries, the Delaware River and its tributaries north of and including the south jetty of the C&D Canal, or the C&D Canal and its tributaries. Striped bass caught in these areas during spawning season must be immediately released back into the waters.

The commercial striped bass weight quota for 2015 has automatically been reduced by the required 25 percent in accordance with established regulation procedure.

For more information on striped bass regulations, call the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914 or visitwww.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries.