Proposed Rule to Revise Fishing Gear Regulations in Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries

NOAA Fisheries requests comments on a proposed rule to revise fishing gear regulations in Atlantic highly migratory species fisheries.

Proposed Gear Revisions:

Buoy gear: Authorize power assistance for gear deployment and retrieval, the use of this gear under additional permits (Swordfish General Commercial permit; some tunas and shark permits), and the retention of additional species (some tunas and sharks).

Speargun fishing gear: Authorize this gear to retain and sell bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas under some commercial permits.

Continue reading →

DNREC Closes Seaford Fishing Pier Based on Unsafe Structural Findings

Citing unsafe structural findings, DNREC closed the Seaford fishing pier to anglers and public access /Delaware DNREC photo

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has closed the Seaford Fishing Pier located within the Seaford boat ramp fishing access area on the Nanticoke River after structural flaws were detected during an engineering assessment of the pier this week by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The assessment of the pier, which predates DNREC’s construction upgrades to the Seaford boat ramp in 1997, raised several structural concerns, including support pile deterioration and a sinkhole forming from a faltering bulkhead. Based on those structural findings, DNREC closed the pier as unsafe for anglers and public access.

Continue reading →

DNREC to Close Griffith Lake Boat Ramp in Milford Aug. 17

DNREC’s Griffith Lake boat ramp will close Aug. 17 for an extended period while the DNREC Dam Safety Program reconstructs
the spillway at the lake (above). Anglers have other options in the area for launching their boats /Delaware DNREC photo

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will close the Griffith Lake boat ramp in Milford for the foreseeable future starting Monday, Aug. 17. The ramp and adjacent parking lot will remain closed during reconstruction of the spillway at Griffith Lake Dam under the direction of the DNREC Dam Safety Program. The project is expected to be completed by the end of December 2027.

Anglers are encouraged by the DNREC Fisheries Section to utilize the Hearns Pond boat ramp or Blairs Pond boat ramp which are the nearest alternatives for fishing in the Milford area.

For more information about the spillway reconstruction by the DNREC Dam Safety Program, visit the Griffith Lake spillway improvement project webpage.

Fishermen and Boaters: Avoid Trouble, Steer Clear of Bubbles

NOAA Fisheries reminds all fishermen and boaters to keep a safe distance from whales. Whales can get hooked in tuna rigs or tangled in monofilament lines. Recently, the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network has received a number of reports of fishermen trolling their gear too close to humpback whales. This can result in injuries to both the whales and the people.

Continue reading →

2026 DNREC Photo Contest Winners Unveiled

Winners of the second DNREC Photo Contest were announced during Governor’s Day (July 30) at the Delaware State Fair. Left to right as shown above are contest winners and the categories for which they were cited: Vicente Pineda, People Enjoying Nature; Bill Cheadle, Watersheds: Landscapes and Waterways; Emma Serbinski, Youth; and Fred Waski, Hunting and Fishing. /Delaware DNREC photo

Winners of the 2026 DNREC Photo Contest gathered at the Delaware State Fair today to be honored by Governor Matt Meyer and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. This year – the second for the annual contest – DNREC encouraged photographers of all ages and skills levels to submit eye-catching images they had taken of the natural world in Delaware spanning five categories: People Enjoying Nature, Watersheds: Landscapes and Waterways, Wildlife and Aquatic Life, Hunting and Fishing, and Youth Entries.

Continue reading →

NOAA Addresses Shark Depredation

NOAA announces the formation of a new committee to focus on understanding and mitigating shark depredation and develop a strategic plan to address the issue.

Commercial and recreational anglers are increasingly concerned about economic losses and lost catch from shark depredation.

Stock assessments, acoustic tagging, and research are underway with an overarching goal of developing management approaches that benefit both fishermen and sharks.

Continue reading →

Maryland Fishing Report – July 1

July 4 is a license-free fishing day throughout Maryland, so if you have a friend or relative who doesn’t currently fish, take them out with you.

Large red drum are providing catch-and-release fishing for anglers near the mouth of the Potomac River.

White perch can be found in the tidal rivers and creeks, sometimes mixed in with spot and croaker.

All the tidal rivers have populations of blue and channel catfish, and the larger female blue catfish are showing signs of being finished with spawning; they are now on the prowl to build up body stores. .

Check out the full report.

2026/27 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide Now Available

Delaware hunters and trappers have new rules to know before their seasons begin this year. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has released the 2026/27 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide, which is now available at participating license agents statewide, at the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s licensing desk in Dover and on the de.gov/hunting webpage. Key changes this year include expanded Sunday hunting for all game species and an update on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which was recently detected in Delaware.

Continue reading →

Scientific Article on SharkDepredation in Atlantic

A new scientific paper published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science provides a
comprehensive overview of the breadth of shark depredation in recreational fisheries in
U.S. Atlantic waters over the past 100 years.

Continue reading →

2026 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Workshop Schedule

NOAA Fisheries announces the July-September 2026 schedule for free workshops held in locations across the Atlantic and Gulf of America regions.

These workshops are required for certain fishermen and dealers.

All updates will be posted on our website.

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop

This workshop is mandatory for all Atlantic shark dealers who have not already received a valid workshop certificate or whose certificate is expiring prior to the next permit renewal. Atlantic shark dealers may not receive, purchase, trade, or barter for Atlantic sharks unless a valid Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop dealer certificate is on the premises of each business location listed under the shark dealer permit where sharks are first received.

Pre-registration is highly recommended but not required. To pre-register, please contact Angler Conservation Education at (386) 682-0158.

View the Schedule