November 29, 2022

Delaware State Parks Annual Passes,

Surf Fishing Permits go on Sale Today

The 2023 annual Delaware State Parks passes and surf fishing permits went on sale at

8 a.m. this morning.

 

Annual passes and surf fishing permits may be purchased at any state park office Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. State park offices also will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 to accommodate such sales.


Passes and permits may be purchased online at www.destateparks.com/Know/PassesTagsFees, with an estimated timeframe for delivery of three to four weeks.


Annual passes and surf fishing permits will not be sold at DNREC’s Dover campus.

 

The surf fishing permit sales cap implemented in 2019 has been removed as part of recently-announced surf fishing program changes to be piloted by DNREC for 2023, eliminating any need for rushing to purchase permits. With no cap to contend with, surf fishing permits for 2023 can be purchased at any time after sales start.

 

Annual Park Passes

Annual passes are a convenient way to access Delaware’s state parks throughout the entire fee season from March 1 to November 30. The annual pass costs $35 for Delaware residents and $70 for non-residents. Discounted rates are available for those 62 and older, military service personnel, veterans, and those receiving public assistance.

 

Delaware firefighters and emergency medical technicians can obtain an annual pass or surf fishing permit for free with an application available from their fire company or the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association. The completed form must be taken to a state park office to receive the pass or permit.

 

Surf Fishing Permits

The surf fishing permits available to anglers remain the same for the year ahead as DNREC pilots changes to the surf fishing permitting program. Sales are for an annual permit and a two-year permit, both of which enable year-round drive-on access, including peak weekends and holidays. Also available again for 2023 is the off-peak surf fishing permit that offers year-round drive-on access, excluding peak weekends and holidays from May 20 through the Labor Day Weekend.

 

The surf fishing permit fee for Delaware residents is $90 and $180 for out-of-state residents. The off-peak permit fee for Delaware residents is $70, while out-of-state residents will pay $140. Delaware residents 62 and older will get a discounted rate on both permit types.

 

First-time permit holders must also obtain a Delaware surf fishing license plate on which they are required to affix their surf fishing permit decal. In addition to entry onto Delaware State Parks’ drive-on beaches, the permit decal also doubles as an annual park pass.

 

New Surf Fishing Permit Reservation system

The cap on the number of surf fishing permits sold each year by DNREC is to be replaced with a technology-based reservation system for managing capacity on peak weekends and holidays when the state’s surf fishing beaches are in the highest demand. Reservations are not available nor required for off-peak permits.

Agriculture Officials Warn of Danger

Posed by Unsecured Potbellied Pigs 

Officials with the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) say there has been a significant increase in the number of potbellied pigs running at large in the state over the last six years. According to the DDA, pet pigs that became strays after their owners abandoned them or allowed them to roam are a big part of the problem.

 

The pigs pose a nuisance to landowners, increase the threat of establishing feral pig populations, damage natural resources, and risk carrying endemic diseases – such as salmonella and swine flu – that can spread to both people and animals.

 

Potbellied pigs are often misrepresented, and misperceived, as being small and manageable. While more diminutive than other swine, potbellied pigs still can weigh between 70 to 200 pounds and have a lifespan of up to 20 years.

 

"As potbellied pigs are a non-native species, swift action will be taken to mitigate any threats they pose to Delaware lands, livestock, natural resources, and human health," said the DDA in a recently released statement. "The pigs will be dispatched immediately if they are found at large on state-owned lands, including state forests, state wildlife areas, and state parks. Due to the ability of potbellied pigs to reproduce at a very young age, the state must ensure that a feral pig population does not become established."

 

Owners are encouraged to spay or neuter their pet pigs to prevent unintended litters. Owners should also use visible animal identification, such as an ear tag, so wandering animals can be returned.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, feral swine are established in 35 states with a total population exceeding six million. Ongoing research indicates damage and control costs exceed $1.5 billion annually.

 

For more information, contact the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4561.

With the Christmas shopping season underway, please consider making some of your purchases at locally owned retailers. Keeping your dollars working in our community will strengthen the regional economy while helping your friends and neighbors that rely on successful small businesses for their livelihoods.