State bans stacking on drive-on beaches

State park officials are taking aim at fake fishing at drive-on beaches by requiring vehicles to park in a single line, with no stacking.

The problems at Delaware's drive-on beaches are well documented. Those who drive on must be actively engaged in fishing, but many do not. As the number of vehicles on the beach has risen, it has struck a nerve with surf fishermen up and down Delaware's coast, many of whom are calling for drastic changes at the drive-on beaches.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has issued  new rules just before the peak season is set to begin. To better enforce drive-on beach requirements, DNREC is banning multiple vehicles from stacking together.

Delaware State Parks Director Ray Bivens said as popularity of the drive-on beaches continues to rise action was taken to provide better enforcement while also improving public safety.

“Over the past several years, the Division of Parks & Recreation has seen a steady increase in the demand for surf-fishing vehicle permits,” Bivens said in a press release. “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.”

The number of surf-fishing permits issued jumped 30 percent in the last five years, and DNREC expects to issue about 15,000 permits this year.

Rich King of Delaware-Surf-Fishing.com said his website and Facebook page has been buzzing since DNREC's announcement earlier this week. No matter how people view the drive-on beaches, he said, most are passionate about the topic.

For King, rules are rules. Unless the state decides to change how people can use the drive-on beaches, he said, regulations must be followed.

“The point of that beach is surf fishing,” he said. “It's for the dad to take his kid out there to teach him how to fish. They can't have that experience when cars are stacked five deep and people are partying.”

King said he believes the stacking prohibition is a good start, but better progress could be made if the state parks had more money and more enforcement officers.

Bruce West, president of Delaware Mobile Surf-Fishermen, has a similar mindset. He applauded the state for listening to the concerns of user groups. He said he believes single-file parking will greatly improve enforcement efforts.

“It's just a good overall move to be able to enforce rules and regulations,” he said. “This didn't happen over night and it's not going to be cured overnight. It's a good start. We'll soon know – Memorial Day is coming up.”

DMS is willing to help with inspections at beach ramps to ensure those driving on have all of the required equipment as well as courtesy patrols along the beach to educate the public on the drive-on beach regulations.

“What we have is a limited resource, our beaches,” he said. “DMS wants to help in any way we can.”