Knobbed whelk (knobbed conch) Regulations in Delaware (2026)

Where

Statewide

Size limit

3.0 It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any knobbed conch, Busycon carica , that measures less than five (5) inches in length or less than three (3) inches in diameter at the whorl. 4.0 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 3.0, a person may possess no more than five (5) knobbed conchs per 60 pounds that are less than the allowable minimum length limit or the minimum diameter at the whorl. 1 DE Reg. 250 (9/1/97) 1 DE Reg. 835 (1/1/98)

• 2.2 It shall be unlawful for any person to fish with a conch pot that is not equipped with a bait saving device, provided that a horseshoe crab or parts thereof are used as bait.
• 2.1 It shall be unlawful for any person to place more than one-half of a female horseshoe crab or one male horseshoe crab as bait in any type of pot on any one day in the waters of this State.
• 7 Del.C. §2802: (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, take or harvest conchs while fishing more than 2 conch pots in the waters of this State unless said person has in possession a valid commercial conch pot license.
• 7 Del.C. §2802: (c) It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vessel not equipped with a dredge to have on board said vessel more than 5 bushels of conchs unless said operator has in possession a valid commercial conch pot license.
• 7 Del.C. §2802: (d) It shall be unlawful for a commercial conch pot licensee to place, use, set or tend more than 2 conch pots from any vessel other than a vessel owned and operated by said licensee. Said vessel shall be listed by the Department on the licensee’s commercial conch pot license.
• 7 Del.C. §2802: (e) It shall be unlawful for more than 1 commercial conch pot licensee to place, use, set or tend conch pots from the same vessel.
• Dredge vessels: 1.0 Notwithstanding 7 Del.C. §§2803(a) and 2805, it is unlawful to for a vessel equipped with a dredge to possess knobbed conch during the period June 16 through January 14.

Official source

Where

Statewide

Size limit

3.0 It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any knobbed conch, Busycon carica , that measures less than five (5) inches in length or less than three (3) inches in diameter at the whorl. 4.0 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 3.0, a person may possess no more than five (5) knobbed conchs per 60 pounds that are less than the allowable minimum length limit or the minimum diameter at the whorl. 1 DE Reg. 250 (9/1/97) 1 DE Reg. 835 (1/1/98)

Season

1.0 Notwithstanding 7 Del.C. §§2803(a) and 2805, it is unlawful to for a vessel equipped with a dredge to possess knobbed conch during the period June 16 through January 14.

• 7 Del.C. §2803: (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, while operating a vessel equipped with a dredge or a vessel with a bullrake on board, to possess more than 15 bushels of conchs unless said person has in possession a valid commercial conch dredge license.

Official source