Open Areas Anglers Can Fish In Delaware

If you have been smart about self isolation I would get out and fish a little. Not only for fresh air, and you sanity, but for some people they need food. A fishing rod is a good way to measure social distancing. Bring hand sanitizer with you everywhere, and take gloves. Some bait shops are open, call ahead. I know Dan’s Bait and Tackle is closed and Fenwick Bait and Tackle. Some shops are doing curbside pick up you have to call ahead.
Port Penn Bait and Tackle
Icehouse Bait and Tackle is open.
Kelly’s Outdoors has night crawlers and freshwater gear.
lead Pot is open
A&K Tackle in Laurel

Due to the state of emergency updated restrictions, the Delaware beaches are closed to surf fishing in all parks, please stop asking. No matter how you ask, they are still closed. All Delaware bay and Inland bay beach areas are closed, even private communities and beaches.
“People found in designated closed Delaware State Park areas will be fined accordingly for being in a nondesignated area.”

Boat ramps are open as well as the piers there, unless they are a designated beach first, for example Cape Henlopen pier beach is closed to launch kayaks. Many boat ramps have courtesy docks, these have no fishing signs, but people fish them anyway, that is to your discretion and a DNREC officer. Just sayin …

Clamming can only be done by boat unless you can walk off a bulkhead and not a bay beach. Bay beaches are closed. Crabbing is open for bulkheads piers and boats.

There are still plenty of places you can fish around Delaware. Some of these may have restrictions in place. The main one is social distancing. That means stay six feet or more from one another. Don’t mug someone’s spot either, that is not only rude but not a good idea. Opening day for trout should be interesting this week.
Some towns may have their own restrictions that we are unaware of so look for signs.

Delaware State parks …
All beaches are closed, ALL OF THEM
Indian River Inlet is open to fish from the rail. The beaches are closed near the jetties, there are cones designating that closed area.
The back wall at Bubble gum beach is of course open
Burton’s pond trail bridge at the “pipes” you can only fish the bayside.
Holts landing sate park fishing pier is open.
Cape Henlopen State Park pier is open, pier beach is closed.
White Clay Creek Park
Lums Pond
Killens Pond
Use the Delaware State Parks website for other parks and accesses

All Delaware state public ponds are open. ” More than 30 Delaware freshwater lakes and ponds are open for fishing and other recreation. These impoundments, most of them managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife, range in size from five to 189 acres. They support a variety of gamefish.”

Fishing piers … some of these are in towns and may be restricted by the towns.
Milton fishing pier Broadkill River
Holts Landing State Park
Masseys Landing fishing pier
Milford fishing pier
Rosedale Beach crabbing pier
Lewes Canal Park and under the bridge
Newton Pond
Turkle Pond
Cupola park bulkhead fishing
Millsboro Pond bulkhead fishing
Collins Beach Fishing Pier
Scotton Landing Fishing Pier
C&D Canal north and south sides
Roosevelt Inlet and jetty, beach closed
Laurel River Park
Bowers Beach Jetty
Phillips Landing

There are other places, you can check the state’s list on their website. It is not the most user friendly map, but gets the job done. It is designed to look up in areas and towns, not an actual list. Again towns may have their own rules in place.

Bridges …
Broadkill River’s old bridge at route 1
Canary Creek bridge, Lewes, Pilot-town road
There are several places to pull off near bridges and fish. Look for signs it is easy to spot where to park, it is where everyone else does.

While you are exploring these areas some may be new to you. Carry in and carry out please. If you see someone else’s trash at this point and time. I would just leave it there unless you have gloves. I can’t believe I just said that, but these are different circumstances. If you leave trash behind, you are the lowest form of human.

Se safe be smart, social distance. Use a fishing rod to check your spacing.

Fish On!
Rich King