SlotGaugeCheck a catchChanneled Whelk regulations in Delaware
Conchs & whelks · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Channeled Whelk size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware tidal waters | Open year-round | 6 inch minimum | No daily limit (max 2 conch pots) |
Notes
- Pots must carry all-white buoys with the owner's name and address and be tended at least every 72 hours.
Exact DNREC wording
- Season
- Open year-round (conch pots only, max 2 pots)
- Size
- 6 inches along the axis or 3.125 inch diameter at the whorl
- Limit
- No daily limit
- Delaware tidal waters — as printed
- “Channeled whelk must measure at least 6 inches along the axis or have a minimum diameter at the whorl of 3.125 (3 1/8) inches. Conch may only be taken using conch pots; recreational conch potters may not use more than two conch pots.”
Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).
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About the channeled whelk
Species of gastropod
Busycotypus canaliculatus, commonly known as the channeled whelk, is a very large predatory sea snail, a marine prosobranch gastropod, a busycon whelk, belonging to the family Busyconidae.
Read more about Busycotypus canaliculatus on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
All 196 Delaware species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Channeled Whelk in Delaware?
6 inch minimum in Delaware state waters.
How many Channeled Whelk can you keep per day in Delaware?
No daily limit (max 2 conch pots).
When is Channeled Whelk season in Delaware?
Open year-round.
Is my Channeled Whelk a keeper today?
A channeled whelk is a keeper today if it measures at least 6 inches, with No daily limit (max 2 conch pots).