Tautog Regulations in Delaware (2026)

Where

Statewide

Size limit

1.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of 7 Del.C. § §929 and 939 , it is unlawful for any person to possess any tautog, Tautoga onitis , less than sixteen (16) inches in total length.

Bag limit

2.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of 7 Del.C. §§938 and 939 , it is unlawful for any person to take and reduce to possession more than four (4) tautog per day during the period beginning at 12:00 a.m. on January 1 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on May 15, and during the period beginning at 12:00 a.m. on July 1 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, at or between the place where said tautog were caught and said person's personal abode, temporary or transient place of lodging or, for a licensed commercial foodfisherman, point of sale.

Season

2.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of 7 Del.C. §§938 and 939 , it is unlawful for any person to take and reduce to possession more than four (4) tautog per day during the period beginning at 12:00 a.m. on January 1 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on May 15, and during the period beginning at 12:00 a.m. on July 1 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, at or between the place where said tautog were caught and said person's personal abode, temporary or transient place of lodging or, for a licensed commercial foodfisherman, point of sale. 2.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of 7 Del.C. §§938 and 939 , it is unlawful to take and reduce to possession any tautog during the period beginning at 12:00 a.m. on May 16 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on June 30.

• 4.1 It is unlawful to retain tautog from any pot or trap unless the hinges or fasteners of at least one panel or door of the pot or trap is equipped with one of the following degradable materials:
• 4.1.1 Untreated hemp or jute string of not more than 3/16-inch (4.8 mm) diameter;
• 4.1.2 Magnesium alloy fasteners, timed float released (pop-up devices) or similar device approved by the Division;
• 4.1.3 Non-galvanized or non-coated iron wire of not more than 0.094-inch (2.39 mm) diameter.
• 3.1 After December 31, 2018, it is unlawful for a commercial fisherman to possess tautog in Delaware unless it is tagged prior to landing with a tautog harvest tag issued by the Division in accordance with this section.
• 3.1.1 Tautog harvest tags must be firmly affixed to the bony portion of the gill cover (operculum) such that the tag number faces outward from the body and can be readily viewed.
• 3.2 The Division of Fish and Wildlife may only issue tautog harvest tags to those commercial fishermen that apply to participate in the commercial tautog fishery using a form provided by the Division and returning said form to the Division by no later than September 1 in the calendar year preceding their participation.
• 3.3 After December 31, 2018, it is unlawful to buy, sell, barter or trade or offer to buy, sell, barter or trade tautog unless the fish has a firmly affixed and lawfully applied tautog harvest tag issued by a state in accordance with Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog (October 2017).
• 3.5 It is unlawful for any person issued tautog harvest tags to not file a complete and accurate monthly accounting of tag use by the last working day of the month following tag use on a form provided by the Division.

Official source