DNREC official explains Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier closure

Yes, Gloria, there truly are fish being caught in Delaware. While the freshwater crowd continues to catch a variety of fish in the ponds and tidal rivers and creeks, the saltwater anglers are finally getting in a few good licks.

The occasional short rockfish has been caught from the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. At least one was caught by the Savannah Road Bridge on a swim shad. These are fish that have been here all winter, and it will be a few weeks before we see any of the large females show up in numbers.

It has been my experience that most of the female rockfish move up the bay to the spawning grounds without spending very much time feeding along the way. Once the spawn is over, they head back down, and this is when we have a decent shot of catching a few.

Tog fishing remains very slow, but one boat running from Southshore Marina did catch two cod on Sunday. A few short rockfish were caught on bucktails from Indian River Inlet.

Perch fishing has been good one day and not so much the next. Bloodworms and grass shrimp have been the top baits, and the Broadkill River has been the top perch location.

Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier

I must admit I was very upset when I found out the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier would not be open in 2015. This was particularly upsetting since we had been told first it would open around Memorial Day and then when the cold weather hampered repairs that the opening would be delayed until summer.

In an effort to determine what happened to delay the project even longer, I contacted Mathew Chesser of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and he was kind enough to explain exactly why the repairs have taken such a long time.

When the pier was deemed unsafe and closed in November, the department spent time examining various options. Then a funding source had to be found, and since the current budget was already in place, new money for the pier could not be expected until July 1, 2015.

When the decision was made to repair the pier, a consultant had to be hired. It takes several weeks to develop a scope of work, a contract and then a purchase order. The consultant then has to consult with Parks staff, SPI Pharma and other stakeholders. Once the plans are far enough along, they are reviewed by park staff and the Division of Facilities Management to ensure the plans conform to all regulations and state codes. Then the plans are put out to bid.

As of last week, the plans had not been sent out to bid nor had any application for permits been submitted to the proper agencies. I was told these things should be done in the next week or two.

I asked if any other type of repair had been considered. Mr. Chesser said the engineering firm should have considered other types of repair, but felt the Epoxy system was the best, as it had been used successfully before.

It would appear that officials knew from the day they closed it in November that the pier could not be repaired by Memorial Day, early summer or any other time in 2015. I have no idea why we were told the repairs could be completed by late spring or early summer when they could not possibly have been done this year.

Once Mr. Chesser was kind enough to explain the process, it made perfect sense. Everything that is done by any government agency takes a long time due to the various things that must be addressed. DNREC must apply for permits just like any other person or company even though they are in effect applying to themselves. Consultants and engineering firms must be hired, and all plans have to be approved by several agencies to be certain all laws are followed. We may not like the process, but that does not change the fact that it must be followed.

Closing the pier is going to affect thousands of people. The Lighthouse View Tackle shop sold over 2,000 fishing licenses last year. During the summer there are hundreds of people using the pier both day and night.

I have been told that a new fishing pier for Cape Henlopen State Park is under consideration. I suspect it would have to be built near the main bath house because that is the only place with a large parking lot. If that is done, we can anticipate considerable problems as swimmers and sunbathers compete with fishermen for available parking space. Perhaps the Park Service will have to institute a reservation system for swimmers, so we can have enough space for fishermen. Yeah, like that will ever happen.