DOVER, DELAWARE (5/12/2015) New parking rules are in effect for all state surf-fishing beaches to enable tougher enforcement of a requirement that those bringing vehicles be actively engaged in fishing, officials announced today.
Vehicles with surf-fishing permits will now be required to park in single file on the beach, with a ban on vehicle “stacking,” said Ray Bivens, Delaware State Parks director.
Bivens said surf-fishing vehicle permits issued by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control rose 30 percent over the last five years – from 11,380 in 2011 to a projected 15,000 for the current year.
“With the increase in permits issued have come a higher number of park visitors not following the rules associated with recreational surf fishing. This change will allow for stronger enforcement of the actively-engaged surf-fishing rule and also make our beaches safer for park visitors, Bivens said.”
He said various user groups, the Delaware Mobile Surf Fishermen chief among them, have voiced growing concern that the enforcement of surf-fishing vehicle permit regulations must be paramount to any other activities on the state’s surf-fishing beaches.
Chief Wayne Kline of Delaware State Parks enforcement, said, “While Delaware State Park beaches are a great place to engage in fishing and other recreational activities, parking two-, three- and four-deep on the surf-fishing beaches presents parks’ enforcement staff with a number of challenges.”
Bivens also said vehicle parking will be accommodated “on a first-come, first-served basis and space may not be reserved for others who may be coming later in any given day.”