Delaware State Parks annual pass, surf fishing permit sales delayed

The sale of 2022 Delaware State Parks annual passes and surf fishing permits will be delayed as a result of ongoing nationwide supply chain disruptions.

DNREC officials anticipate delivery of the tags in early 2022 and will begin sales online, in state park offices and by retail sales agents immediately after.

Due to the delay, 2021 surf fishing permits will be honored on surf fishing beaches through Jan. 31, 2022.

Daily entrance to Delaware State Parks is free through Feb. 28, 2022.

Annual passes and surf fishing permits are usually available for sale between Black Friday and Christmas; however, the manufacturer is awaiting arrival of back-ordered materials required to create the passes and permits.

Annual passes are a convenient way to access the parks for the entire fee season from March 1 to Nov. 30. Surf fishing permits allow individuals to drive onto designated sections of Delaware State Parks beaches for fishing.

Surf fishing permit sales during the winter of 2021 reached unprecedented levels. In March, DNREC announced that it had reached its 17,000-tag cap. In late March, DNREC announced that it would sell an additional 1,000 tags.

Low-digit surf fishing tags are currently available for sale to the highest bidders.

Until Dec. 9, bidders have the option to bid on 15 tags including tags 26, 54, 132, 211, 301, 454 and on nine “choice” categories, ranging from tags 51 to 9999. The highest bidder in each choice category can choose a number, if not already sold, within that category.

The auction is taking place online at this link.

For more information about annual passes or surf fishing permits, go to this link.