7 Del. Admin. Code § 3501-3502

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 7, January 1, 2025

Section 3501-3502 - Striped Bass Spawning Season and Area Restrictions

(Penalty Section 7 Del.C. § 936 (b)(2))

1.0 The spawning season for striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Delaware shall begin at 12:01 A.M. on April 1 and continue through midnight on May 31 of each calendar year.

2.0 It is unlawful for any person to take and retain any striped bass during the striped bass spawning season from the Nanticoke River or its tributaries, the Delaware River and its tributaries to the north of a line extending due east beginning at and including the south jetty at the mouth of the C & D Canal, or the C & D Canal or its tributaries.

3.0 It is unlawful for any person to fish a fixed gill net in the Nanticoke River or its tributaries or the C & D Canal or its tributaries during the striped bass spawning season.

4.0 It is unlawful for any person to fish during the striped bass spawning season in the Nanticoke River or its tributaries or the C & D Canal or its tributaries with a drift gill net of multi- or mono-filament twine larger than 0.28 millimeters in diameter (size #69) or a stretched mesh size larger than five and one-half (5 1/2) inches.

5.0 It is unlawful for any person to fish any fixed gill net in the Delaware River north of a line beginning at the southern shore of Appoquinimink River at latitude 39°26'51.00"N and longitude 75°34'46.00"W and continuing due east to the boundary with New Jersey during January, February, March, April or May.

6.0 It is unlawful for any person to fish during the striped bass spawning season defined in 3502 Section 1.0 and in the areas defined in 3502 Section 2.0 with natural bait using any hook other than a non-offset circle hook when said hook measures greater than three-eighths (3/8) inches as measured from the point of the hook to the shank of the hook.

7 Del. Admin. Code § 3501-3502

8 DE Reg. 1169 (02/01/05)
18 DE Reg. 889 (5/1/2015)
23 DE Reg. 1040 (6/1/2020) (Final)