Delaware

Wondering how to get your Delaware fishing license online? Plus, exemptions, surf-fishing

Published

2 years ago

April 24, 2024

Wondering how to get your Delaware fishing license online? Plus, exemptions, surf-fishing

As a coastal state filled with ponds, streams and other bodies of water, Delaware is brimming with fishing opportunities.

But before you grab your fishing vest and tackle box and head out the door, remember that you can’t just show up and set up shop without a state fishing license.

Here’s a guide to Delaware fishing licenses, including how and where to obtain one, restrictions, exemptions and more.

Delaware fishing licenses

In Delaware, a state recreational fishing license covers crabbing, clamming and recreational fishing in all First State waters, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife also administers permits, stamps and passes for recreational fishing and hunting, and for state wildlife areas.

Fishing licenses need to be purchased annually by recreational anglers. All proceeds from the issuance of fishing licenses contribute to a “special account for the purpose of matching and securing federal money allotted to Delaware under the provisions of the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act,” according to DNREC.

The funds support statewide conservation, management, restoration and enhancement of sportfish and the provisions for public use, which benefit from these resources.

Some of the fishing licenses, permits and stamps in Delaware include:

A Delaware Trout Stamp, which is needed for anglers fishing for trout. It costs $4.20 for residents ages 16 to 64, $2.10 for residents ages 12 to 15 and $6.20 for nonresidents ages 12 and older. Delaware residents ages 65 and older are exempt from needing a Delaware Trout Stamp.
Surf-fishing permits, which are needed to surf-fish on both peak and off-peak days in Delaware. Residents and nonresidents are exempt from fishing license requirements if they operate a vehicle with a valid Delaware surf-fishing vehicle permit and the vehicle is located on a designated Delaware State Park surf-fishing area. Surf-fishing annual passes are also available.
Head boat and charter boat licenses, which are required for vessesls hired on a per-person or per-trip basis, respectively. Both the head boat and charter boat licenses cover paying passengers, the crew and the captain only while they are fishing aboard the vessel. These are issued directly from the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

DNREC’s Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police requires all boating and fishing events on the water to have a permit.

Applications can be submitted online. Application submission does not guarantee event approval, and events conducted on state park land and water may require an entrance or admission fee. Activities like concessions, fundraising or other public events are not allowed without a special permit.

Surf-fishing FAQ: Delaware surf-fishing permits go on sale Tuesday. Reservations still needed for peak days

Fisherman Information Network numbers

Along with a fishing license or resident boat fishing license, each angler will automatically have a Delaware Fisherman Information Network number issued to them at no cost.

All Delaware anglers aged 16 or older are required to have an annual FIN number before fishing around the state.

If you are exempt from fishing license requirements in Delaware, you may need to apply separately for a FIN number through Digital DNREC, an online permitting system,

How can I get my Delaware fishing license?

Delaware fishing licenses can be purchased online or in person.

Digital DNREC is where recreational licenses, permits, passes and stamps can be purchased online. Fairly new, this system allows recipients to create user accounts and profiles to manage their licenses and permits.

For purchasing in person, visit the licensing desk inside DNREC’s Richardson and Robbins Building at 89 Kings Highway in Dover or an authorized license agent.

Where can I get my Delaware fishing license?

If you want to obtain your recreational license, permit pass or stamp in person, here are places in Delaware that offer this service. Each location offers fishing, hunting and Conservation Access Passes unless otherwise noted.

New Castle County

Al’s Sporting Goods, 200 North Market St., Wilmington, (302) 655-1511.
Cabela’s, 1100 Christiana Road #1410, Newark, (302) 266-2300.
Captain Bones, 3195 South Dupont Highway, (302) 378-4200.
Dick’s Sporting Goods, 100 Center Drive, Newark, (302) 738-8322 or 1000. Brandywine Parkway, Wilmington, (302) 477-9577.
Master Baiter’s, 775 South Dupont Highway, Unit 2, New Castle, (302) 834-2248.
Walmart, 705 Middletown Warwick Road, Middletown, (302) 449-1254; 117 Walton Blvd., New Castle, (302) 324-0900; or 1251 Centerville Road, Wilmington, (302) 683-9312.

Kent County

Bowers Bayside Bait, 145 Hubbard Avenue, Frederica, (302) 682-0043. This location only sells fishing licenses.
Carlisle’s Marine, 49 Artisan Drive, Smyrna, (302) 389-0100.
Dick’s Sporting Goods, 1365 North Dupont Highway, Suite 6000, Dover, (302) 678-9160.
Smith’s Bait and Tackle, 500 Denny St., Leipsic, (302) 744-9140.
Oaks Outdoors, 3544 Williamsville Road, Houston, (302) 424-2277.
Smyrna Community Hardware, 456 W. Glenwood Avenue, Smyrna, (302) 653-1144.
Smyrna Sporting Goods, 4 South Main St., Smyrna, (302) 653-7073.
Walmart, 263 Walmart Drive, Camden, (302) 698-9170; 36 Jerome Drive, Cheswold, (302) 674-2159; or 939 North Dupont Highway, Milford, (302) 422-2854.

Sussex County

Bethany Auto Parts & Marine, 13 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean View, (302) 539-0555. This location only sells fishing licenses.
Bob’s Marine Service, 3188 Roxana Road, Ocean View, (302) 539-3711. This location only sells fishing licenses.
G&E Hardware, 30244 Cedar Neck Road, Ocean View, (302) 539-1448.
H. C. Layton & Son, 406 Market Street, Bridgeville, (302) 337-8540.
Hook ‘em and Cook em’ Bait & Tackle, 39401 Inlet Road, Rehoboth, (302) 226-8220.
Hook ‘em and Cook ‘em Outfitters, Highway 1, York Beach Mall, South Bethany, (302) 539-6243.
Hopkin’s Gun Shop, 18647 Josephs Road, Milton, (302) 684-4878.
Lankford’s Gun Shop, 614 West Stein Highway, Unit 2, Seaford, (302) 536-7077.
Laurel Community Hardware, 1001 South Central Avenue, Laurel, (302) 280-6822.
Lewes Harbour Marina, 217 Anglers Road, Lewes, (302) 645-6627.
Lingo Marine, 121 Delaware Avenue, Millsboro, (302) 934-9877. This location only sells fishing licenses.
Old Inlet Bait & Tackle, 25012 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth, (302) 227-7974.
Rick’s Fishing Outdoor, 26019 Julias Lane, Long Neck, (302) 945-9245. This location only sells fishing licenses.
Rudy Marine Inc., 32606, Dupont Blvd., Dagsboro, (302) 999-8735.
Sam’s Fishing Tackle, 14260 Teattown Road, Greenwod, (302) 424-0197.
Short’s Marine, 32415 Long Neck Road, Millsboro, (302) 945-1200.
Tiderunners 3, 105 Anglers Road, Lewes, (302) 827-2533. This location only sells fishing licenses.
Vines Creek Marina & Tackle, 32213 Blue Crab Road, Dagsboro, (302) 732-6043.
Walker’s Marine, 26912 Walker Road, Seaford, (302) 629-8666.
Walmart, 4 College Park Lane, Georgetown, (302) 854-9454; 18922 Rehoboth Mall Blvd., Rehoboth, (302) 644-8014; or 22899 Sussex Highway, Seaford, (302) 628-1668.

Fishing license exemptions and exceptions

Delaware’s fishing and hunting regulations and state law provide several exemptions and exceptions to fishing and hunting licensing requirements, including:

While surf-fishing permits are not required for residents and nonresidents who are the operator of a vehicle with a valid Delaware sur fishing vehicle permit, other occupants in tow must have a resident or nonresident fishing license if they are fishing.
Seniors who are Delaware residents aged 65 years or older do not need to meet fishing license requirements. They must have proof of age and residency.
Children under 16 years old do not need to meet fishing license requirements or the FIN requirement.
Residents who own or live on a farm in Delaware containing 20 or more acres, and members of their immediate family living on the farm, may fish on that farm without a fishing license. The same applies for nonresidents who occupy farms in Delaware containing 20 acres and are engaged in the science of husbandry. Nonresidents who own but are not occupants of a farm in Delaware containing 20 or more acres, and where the science of husbandry is practiced, may fish on the land if the owner gives them written permission, or if fishing is permitted in the written lease. The same applies to their immediate family.
Anyone aged 16 and up who does not have an individual recreational fishing license and is fishing on a boat where the owner purchased a recreational boat fishing license, does not have to purchase a fishing license while fishing on board.

Other exemptions apply for the following criteria and can be obtained by calling the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (302) 739-9918:

Any Delaware resident who is legally blind.
Any Delaware resident who fishes in a fee-fishing facility, registered as such with the Department of Agriculture.
Any Delaware resident that is a patient in a rehabilitation hospital under the Department of Health and Social Services.

For more information, contact Trish Virdin, the licensing coordinator, at (302) 739-9918 or visit DNREC’s FAQ page about fishing licensing.https://dnrec.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/licenses/fishing-license-questions/

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle in Delaware County

Published

5 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle in Delaware County

Monday, May 11, 2026 10:57AM

TRAINER BOROUGH, Pa. (WPVI) — A person has died after being hit by a vehicle in Delaware County.

It happened around 2:45 a.m. on Monday in the 4300 block of West 9th Street in Trainer Borough.

Police and fire crews were called to the Parkview Mobile Home community for reports of a pedestrian hit by a car.

Officials say the victim went into cardiac arrest immediately after the crash.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

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Delaware

Delaware State Police investigation shooting in Laurel – 47abc

Published

17 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Delaware State Police investigation shooting in Laurel – 47abc

LAUREL, Del. — Delaware State Police are investigating a shooting in Laurel that left a 19-year-old man injured Friday afternoon and resulted in firearm charges against a Georgetown man, authorities said.

Troopers responded around 3:20 p.m. Friday to TidalHealth Nanticoke after the victim arrived at the hospital in a personal vehicle with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to police. Investigators said the man had been shot in front of a residence on Portsville Road near Randall Street in Laurel.

Police said the victim was transported to the hospital in a blue Mazda 3 driven by 20-year-old Alexison Amisial of Georgetown. Troopers later located the vehicle and Amisial at First Stop Gas Station, where investigators said he was found carrying an untraceable firearm concealed in his waistband.

Amisial was taken into custody without incident and charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon and possession of an untraceable firearm, both felonies, police said. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on a $3,500 unsecured bond.

The Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate the shooting. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Detective R. Mitchell at 302-752-3794 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.

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Delaware

Middletown runs away with record, team title at New Castle County meet

Published

1 day ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Middletown runs away with record, team title at New Castle County meet

WILMINGTON – On the track, Middletown’s sprinters appeared to perform with relative ease.

The relays were won by wide margins. Handoffs were clean. Form remained intact through the finish. When they are at their best, the Cavaliers barely touch the ground, coach Yvenel Sainsume said.

But the aftermath of Middletown’s boys 4×200 relay at the New Castle County championships at Abessinio Stadium May 9 revealed the toll of another state-record run.

Leadoff man Zamir Miller bent over with his mouth ajar, hands on his knees. Freshman phenom Riley Robinson laid on his stomach, spread like a starfish on the infield turf. There were gasps for air between high fives and hugs.

The Cavaliers team of Miller, Amir Jones-Branch, Robinson and Brandon Jervey ran 1:25.62 to break the 4×200 state record of 1:25.98 set by Salesianum at the 2023 county meet.

About an hour later, the same team ran 41.60 to win the 4×100. It was a meet record and No. 3 on the state all-time performance list.

Middletown for a second straight year won the boys team championship, accumulating 127 points to best second-place Salesianum (94 points) and third-place Appoquinimink (56 points). Next week, the Cavaliers will defend their Division I title, entering as the favorites in several sprint events.

Dealing with cumulative fatigue and a few nagging injuries, Middletown has picked its spots throughout the spring.

At the county meet, the team prioritized a chase of the sprint relay state records over maximizing team point output across the lineup. They were chasing their own standards – last year, Middletown set the 4×100 state record (41.34) and was Delaware’s fastest in the 4×200 (1:25.84).

So far this spring, the holdovers from last year’s squad – seniors Miller and Jones-Branch – have shown they are even better than they were a year ago. But it was Robinson’s third leg in the 4×200 that created much of the separation between Middletown and runner-up Appoquinimink (1:28.07).

“Riley is a dog,” Jones-Branch said. “You would think as a freshman you would be scared to come in and hang out with the big dogs, but he never gets scared. He never backs down from a challenge. He always steps up. He’s always talking. He steps up and competes.”

Robinson has the fifth-fastest 100 time and the 12th best 200 in the state this season. He credited the team’s embrace of him for his performance.

“I want to be like Zamir and Amir,” Robinson said. “They’re very helpful. They help all of the young guys. If you feel left out, they’ll joke with you. Me personally, I think that’s what really helped me out.”

Jervey, the anchor, is Middletown’s queen chess piece. The junior won the individual 100 in 11.04, joining 400 champion Jayden Feaster, 300 hurdles winner Ethan Earle and pole vault leader Jessie Standard as Middletown’s individual-event winners.

Jervey is also among the state’s best hurdlers and ran on Middletown’s winning 4×400 with Logan Elmore, Sharvell Corbin and Feaster.

“It didn’t even feel like I was going as fast as I did,” Jervey said. “We felt like we were going a little slow. So, when that [4×200] time came out we were a little shocked. But it felt good.”

Meet records fall in distance events

When Tatnall’s Dylan McCarthy led the 1,600 through 400 meters in 63 seconds, it became obvious this group of Delaware’s top milers were intent on pushing the pace.

After that first lap, Saint Mark’s Alec Jurgaitis took the lead and stayed on the gas pedal through the middle laps with McCarthy, Tatnall senior Gavin Leffler and Salesianum junior James Dempsey attached.

At the bell, Jurgaitis surged and only Dempsey could hold on. At the start of the final turn, Dempsey let loose a big kick that Jurgaitis couldn’t match.

Dempsey won in 4:11.24, taking down the meet record set by Charter of Wilmington’s Kieran Tuntivate in 2015 by a half-second. Jurgaitis finished second in 4:13.93 and McCarthy placed third in 4:15.51.

“For Alec to take it, that was really gutsy,” Dempsey said. “I just wanted to go with him. I was like, ‘I have a lot left in me so I’m going to push here.’”

Dempsey ran the final 400 in 57.59. It was his first win at a major championship meet. He now ranks third on the state all-time performance list.

“In indoor, I didn’t want it bad enough,” Dempsey said. “I kind of realized that if I want to run in college and run at the next level, I have to push myself even harder this year.”

Dempsey has prodigious talent.

As an eighth grader at Dickinson in his second year in the sport, he ran a 4:42 mile on the Abessinio track. He lowered his time to 4:29.51 as a freshman and 4:16.75 as a sophomore.

“We have been trying to get him to be patient,” Salesianum distance coach Scott Davis said. “He’s been coming along, dropping a ton of time. We knew it was there. It was just a matter of being patient and sitting.”

In the boys 800, Charter of Wilmington’s Brandon Williams and Jurgaitis separated early from the field. Running from the lead, Williams summoned a faster second lap than his first to hold off Jurgaitis.

Williams ran 1:52.59 to break the meet record of 1:52.89 set by Mount Pleasant’s Johnelle Joe in 2017. Jurgaitis finished second in 1:53.46.

“I could feel Alec on me with about 200 to go, so I just full sprinted from that point to the line, basically,” Williams said. “I was scared like the whole time.”

Charter of Wilmington coach Rick Schuder said Williams has a laid-back personality, but is an aggressive runner, often taking charge from the front as he did at the county meet and when he set the indoor 800 state record in February’s indoor state meet.

“I think he’s ok with pressure,” Schuder said. “He’s always run his best at the big meets. I think he’s ok with it. He just rises to the occasion.”

Williams will hunt for the Charter of Wilmington school record of 1:51.91 set by Chris Brown in 2019 at the upcoming state championship and Meet of Champions. Williams now ranks tenth on the state all-time performance list.

Alec Jurgaitis leads Saint Mark’s to 4×800 victory

In most years, the New Castle County meet is split between consecutive days. This year, the first day of competition, including the preliminary straightaway races and multiple novice sections, unfolded on Thursday, May 7 before the bulk of the action on Saturday, May 9.

On the first day of the meet, Jurgaitis took the baton for the final leg of the 4×800 just a few strides behind race leader Middletown. Watching from the infield, his Saint Mark’s teammates felt good about their chances.

Jurgaitis, a senior, owns the fastest personal best of anyone in the race and unlike at the indoor state championship won by Middletown when he risked a fast first 400 meters to close a large gap, Jurgaitis was positioned to run under control and unleash a fast kick.

“I saw him sitting on them with a lap to go and I was like, ‘I know Alec. I know he’s ready to go now,’” said second leg Connor Wrinn. “And he did. He ran some ridiculous time.”

Saint Mark’s wins boys 4×800 at New Castle County meet

The Spartans ran 7:52.30, which is No. 12 on the state all-time performance list.

Jurgaitis’ 1:52.26 split gave Saint Mark’s the victory in 7:52.30. That time ranks 12th on the state all-time performance list. Middletown finished second, breaking its school record with a time of 7:55.82.

Evan Paskevicius (2:00.35) and Wrinn (1:58.43) ran well but Saint Mark’s still trailed midway through the race. Sophomore Ryan Brooks ran the critical third leg that set up Jurgaitis well.

Brooks lingered behind Middletown through the first 600 meters then made up two seconds with an all-out sprint in the final 200. His split of 2:01.26 was a personal best.

“He had such a great workout Monday,” Jurgaitis said. “He was beating me in the last few reps… He’s just pushing that last 200 as hard as he can. I knew he had it in him and he was going to race to put me in the best position.”

“[My coach] told me just give Alec a chance,” Brooks said.

Notes from around the track

With a 61.31-second last lap, Tatnall’s Michael Simmons won the 3,200 in 9:39.33 over Delaware Military Academy’s Ryan Organek (9:44.67). Simmons is the first freshman to win the boys 3,200 at the New Castle County meet. “I’m just glad to be part of a moment,” Simmons said.

Appoquinimink’s Wayne Roberts won the 200 with a personal best of 21.93. He also finished second in the 400 in 48.47.

Wilmington Friends’ Chukwuma Chukwuocha won the triple jump with a jump of 44-6.5. “It’s definitely more mental for me,” the Friends junior said. “I know I can do it. I’ve done it before. It’s all about trusting the process and understanding that it’s not all going to happen at once.”

Odessa’s Rodney Coker won the 110 hurdles by two thousandths of a second over Salesianum’s Austin Thomas (14.653 to 14.655).

Howard’s Zi’Yon Henderson-Conkey and Korey Manley took first and second in the high jump, both clearing 6-2. Manley also finished second in the triple jump. The county meet was only his second ever track and field competition.

Tatnall’s Max Martire won the county discus title for a third straight year with a throw of 176-4.

Howard’s Suhayl Benson won the long jump by one inch over Delaware Military Academy’s Chris Keller. Benson could not complete his final three jumps after suffering an injury while racing the 400.