Title 7 Natural Resources and Environmental Control
3500 Tidal Finfish
3500 Tidal Finfish
Weakfish and Spotted Sea Trout
3521 Weakfish Size Limits; Possession Limits; Seasons.
(Penalty Section 7 Del.C. §936(b)(2))
1.0 It shall be unlawful for any person to possess weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, taken with a hook and line, that measure less than thirteen (13) inches, total length.
2.0 It shall be unlawful for any person to whom the Department has issued a commercial food fishing license and a food fishing equipment permit for hook and line to have more than six (6) weakfish in possession during the period beginning at 12:01 AM on May 1 and ending at midnight on October 31 except on four specific days of the week as indicated by the Department on said person’s food fishing equipment permit for hook and line.
3.0 It shall be unlawful for any person, who has been issued a valid commercial food fishing license and a valid food fishing equipment permit for fishing equipment other than a hook and line to possess weakfish, lawfully taken by use of such permitted food fishing equipment, that measure less than twelve (12) inches, total length.
4.0 It shall be unlawful for any person, except a person with a valid commercial food fishing license, to have in possession more than six (6) weakfish, not to include weakfish in one’s personal abode or temporary or transient place of lodging. A person may have weakfish in possession that measure no less than twelve (12) inches, total length, and in excess of six (6) if said person has a valid bill-of-sale or receipt for said weakfish that indicates the date said weakfish were received, the number of said weakfish received and the name, address and signature of the commercial food fisherman who legally caught said weakfish or a bill-of-sale or receipt from a person who is a licensed retailer and legally obtained said weakfish for resale.
11 DE Reg. 514 (10/01/07)
5.0 It shall be unlawful for any person to fish with any gill net in the Delaware Bay or Atlantic Ocean or to take and reduce to possession any weakfish from the Delaware Bay or the Atlantic Ocean with any fishing equipment other than a hook and line during the following periods of time:
Every weekend day (defined as 12:01 AM on Friday through midnight Sunday) in both May and June, plus contiguous weekdays (defined as 12:01 AM Monday through midnight Thursday) at the beginning of May and the end of June, such that the total number of closure days add up to thirty four (34) days. The exact dates of closures each year shall be mailed in advance to the affected public and published annually in the Delaware Fishing Guide.
6.0 The Department shall indicate on a person’s food fishing equipment permit for hook and line four (4) specific days of the week during the period May 1 through October 31, selected by said person when applying for said permit, as to when said permit is valid to take in excess of six (6) weakfish per day. These four days of the week shall not be changed at any time during the remainder of the calendar year.
11 DE Reg. 514 (10/01/07)
7.0 It shall be unlawful for any person with a food fishing equipment permit for hook and line to possess more than eight (8) weakfish while on the same vessel with another person who also has a food fishing equipment permit for hook and line unless each person’s food fishing equipment permit for hook and line specifies the same day of the week in question for taking in excess of six (6) weakfish.
1 DE Reg 1770 (5/1/98)
2 DE Reg 1904 (4/1/99)
3 DE Reg 1088 (2/1/00)
4 DE Reg 1552 (3/1/01)
5 DE Reg. 2142 (5/1/02)
6 DE Reg. 1512 (5/1/03)
11 DE Reg. 514 (10/01/07)
3576 Spotted Seatrout Size Limit
(Penalty Section 7 Del.C. §936(b)(2))
1.0 Unless otherwise authorized, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess any spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, that measure less than twelve (12) inches total length.
