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Surf-fishing reservations begin May 16

New system only applies during peak-season weekends and holidays
May 9, 2023

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will launch the pilot surf-fishing program reservation system for Delaware State Parks drive-on, multi-use beaches Tuesday, May 16. Reservations are required during peak times this summer season.

In 2022, the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation worked with stakeholders and used public input to develop a program to provide access to surf fishing on state park multi-use beaches during peak times while protecting natural resources. 

For annual and two-year surf-fishing permit holders, reservations will be required on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., from Saturday, May 20, through Labor Day Monday, Sept. 4, a total of 36 days in 2023. Reservations are not required Monday through Friday, except for holidays. Reservations for holidays will become available the prior Thursday. Off-peak surf-fishing permits do not qualify for reservations because they are for use during only non-peak times. 

The system will open for reservations beginning Tuesday, May 16, for reservations Saturday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 17, for reservations Sunday, May 21. Reservations for each weekend will open weekly each Tuesday for the upcoming Saturday and Wednesday for the upcoming Sunday; reservations will be available until sold out for that weekend.

Reservations may be made at destateparks.com/surftagsales and will be first-come, first-served. The website also includes frequently asked questions and other drive-on surf-fishing resources. Annual and two-year surf-fishing permit holders may access the beach without a reservation on peak weekends and holidays after 4 p.m., but they must be off the beach by 8 a.m. the next morning. 

Reservations can be made online via desktop and mobile 24 hours per day once the weekly reservation window opens, or via phone at 800-499-8221 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on weekends and holidays. Reservations cannot be made in person at state parks or at the DNREC Central Office in Dover.  

Reservation confirmations must be printed and displayed in the registered vehicle for enforcement verification. Annual and two-year surf-fishingpermit holders with reservations will be allowed into the park for surf fishing even if a park gate is closed when parking capacity has been reached. 

Other details:  

• A fee of $4 per reservation will be charged to reserve drive-on access. This fee is nonrefundable

• One reservation will be allowed per annual and two-year surf-fishing permit holder per day. Reservations are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Those with more than one surf-fishing permit who would like to use multiple vehicles on the same day will require the driver of the vehicle to make a reservation under their customer account

• Reservations may be made for any of the drive-on multi-use beaches in Delaware State Parks

• Once a reservation is made, it cannot be changed. If the person who made the reservation wishes to drive onto the beach at a different location from where they reserved, they must cancel and make another reservation for the correct beach based upon availability.

To find answers to frequently asked questions and other surf-fishing resources, go to destateparks.com/surftagsales.

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