Illegal shark fishing on the rise in Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. — Four people have been charged this month with illegal shark fishing, a growing interest among anglers, Delaware wildlife officials say.

“Landing, attempting to land, possessing or removing any prohibited shark species from the water is illegal in Delaware, and prohibited shark species must be immediately released while still in the water,” said Cpl. John McDerby of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police.

He added that taking a shark out of the water for photographs “is dangerous and harmful to the shark.”

Shark fishing along the Atlantic coast has grown in popularity over the past several years, McDerby said.

He noted the four recent cases:

-- Gary M. Messick, 32, of Milford was cited July 12 for three counts of removing a prohibited shark species from the water for landing a prohibited shark species on the beach and two counts of possession of a prohibited shark species, along with one count of fishing without a license near Big Stone Beach in Kent County on the Delaware Bay. Messick was issued fines totaling $700 including court costs.

-- Willard J. Millman Jr., 61, of Milford also was cited July 12. He was charged with one count each of possession of a prohibited shark species and removing a prohibited shark species from the water for landing a prohibited shark species on the beach. The location was not disclosed. Millman was issued fines totaling $214 including court costs.

-- On July 11, Jerson F. Sefil, 49, of Frederica, was cited for five counts of possession of a prohibited shark species near Milford. Sefil was issued fines totaling $535 including court costs.

-- On July 7, Ernest L. Edwards, 55, of Wilmington was cited for two counts of possession of a prohibited shark species near Bowers Beach. Edwards was issued fines totaling $214 including court costs.

In addition to popular targeted species of mako and thresher sharks, McDerby said, anglers may encounter prohibited species including sand tiger, dusky and sandbar sharks.

The most commonly caught types of sharks in Delaware are sand tiger, sandbar, smooth dogfish and spiny dogfish sharks, McDerby said, but anglers are not allowed to keep sand tiger and sandbar sharks due to overfishing and their low reproductive rate.

Additionally, he said, hook-and-line anglers cannot remove any sand tiger shark, sandbar shark or any other prohibited species from the water.

Prohibited sharks also must be released immediately, “in a manner that will ensure maximum probability of survival,” he said.