Share: 

New rules for state park beaches

July 3, 2020

On Tuesday, the DNREC Parks and Recreation Division set new rules for Delaware State Parks beginning Friday, July 3. The new rules are due to concerns over the possible spread of COVID-19.

The number of vehicles allowed at Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore and Fenwick Island state parks will be limited to approximately 60 percent of the parking capacity. Once the 60 percent is reached, all vehicles will be turned away, so there will be no long lines waiting to get in. Vehicles will not be admitted on a one-in, one-out basis.

I tried to get into Cape Henlopen June 27 around 9:30 a.m. The line was back to the ferry terminal. Went to Delaware Seashore State Park and could not find a parking space until I got to Conquest Road.

At all drive-on beaches, DNREC Natural Resources Police officers will monitor the situation, and if they find that vehicles do not maintain the 20-foot distance required by the governor’s emergency order, the beaches will be closed to drive-on vehicles.

In addition, face masks must be worn at all bathhouses and concession areas, and masks are strongly recommended on the beach.

FCC trouble

I received a press release from BoatUS that has me quite concerned. A company named Ligado Networks has received permission from the Federal Communications Commission to build a land-based industrial 5G network that will interfere with the GPS we rely on for navigating.

BoatUS is a founding member of the Keep GPS Working Coalition. This group along with many others, including NASA, Homeland Security, Defense and Justice, has expressed concern about this situation. To date, the FCC has ignored the concerns and told the rest of the world that relies on GPS, “Tough luck, you’re on your own.”

I suggest you go to Keep GPS Working Coalition to keep up with this problem. There may be a time when we will need to get our senators and representatives involved. Even the FCC depends on Congress for funding. 

Fishing report

The good news is surf fishing has been really slow, so there is no need to go to the beach this weekend. Ryan O’Neil did catch a 28-pound cobia from the beach on a kingfish head that he carried out past the breakers on his surfboard. The only reason I went last weekend was my grandchildren were here for a visit. I only travel to the west on the weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Flounder fishing has been surprisingly good in the ocean. The Old Grounds and B Buoy seem to be the hot spots, but those who have good wreck numbers find flounder along with triggerfish, sheepshead and sea bass. A few flounder and sea bass are also caught at reef sites 10 and 11, and the Del-Jersey-Land Reef.

Not only do the better anglers and captains catch limits of flounder, but also there have been some large fish taken. Fish between five and seven pounds show up almost every day, with a few larger to nine pounds caught so far this summer. Gulp! in nuclear chicken has been one of the top baits.

The bay has seen decent numbers of spot, croaker and kings, plus the occasional flounder caught at the reef sites and from the fishing pier at Cape Henlopen State Park. Bloodworms and FishBites remain the top baits in the bay.

Tuna and billfish are available in the canyons. The bite has slowed a bit from what it was a few weeks ago, but most trips do come back with meat for the table. On Tuesday, the Goin’ Deep came in with a 96-pound wahoo plus some tuna. The Captain Ike had tuna and released a white marlin Sunday.

Correction

I did an article on the tides and currents, and I made an error. I said the tides were higher and lower and the currents were stronger during new and full moons because the moon was closer to the earth during those times. That’s not exactly true. The moon may or may not be closer to the earth during the new and full moons, but the reason the tides are higher and lower and the currents are stronger is because the sun, the moon and the earth are aligned during a new moon, and the sun, the earth and the moon are aligned during a full moon. The fact that the pull of the sun and the moon add together moves the water higher and lower, therefore the current is stronger.

I thank Bob Byorick for pointing out my mistake. I knew better. I just sent my brain out for coffee that morning and I’m still waiting for it to come back. Those lines at Starbucks are killer.

 

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter