2008PENNSYLVANIA FISHING SUMMARY SummarySummary ofof FishingFishing RegulationsRegulations aandnd LLawsaws 2 TROUTTROUT OPENERSOPENERS 18 Southeastern Regular Opening Day AND Counties March 29 April 12 for Trout Statewide www.fish.state.pa.us 2008TO PennsylvaniaFIND THE STOCKING Summary DAY of Fishing OF TROUT Regulations STREAMS and AND Laws LAKES NEAR YOU, VISIT www. WWW.FISH.STATE.PA.US.fi sh.state.pa.us 1 Pennsylvania Water Trails Long before airports, highways or even trains, Pennsylvania’s streams, rivers and lakes provided a means of transportation for native inhabitants. Today, you can travel these same routes, enjoying the state’s natural resources while getting glimpses of rich history and tradition on offi cial Pennsylvania wa- ter trails. Water trails are boat routes suitable for canoes, kayaks and, in some cases, small motorized watercraft. Each water trail is unique, a refl ection of Pennsylvania’s diverse geology, history, ecology and communities. For maps and more information about Pennsylvania Water Trails Program, go to the PA Fish & Boat Commission’s web site: www.fi sh.state.pa.us Boating Courses & Safety Education Certifi cates: Boating Safety Education Certifi cates are required for persons born on or after January 1, 1982, to operate a motorboat greater than 25 horsepower AND for ALL personal watercraft operators. To obtain a Commission-approved, permanent boating Safety Educa- tion Certifi cate, boaters must successfully complete a classroom or long-distance learning Commission-approved boating course. Pennsylvania residents must have a certifi cate is- sued by the Commission. To fi nd a boating course, contact one of the following resources: PFBC web site: www.fi sh.state.pa.us PFBC Boating Course Hotline: 1-888-PAFISH-1 (1-888-723-4741) Long-distance learning courses: Visit www.fi sh.state.pa.us to access Commission- approved Internet courses or to order approved video-correspondence courses. Become A Better Boater-Take A Boating Course! GO ONLINE TO RENEW YOUR BOAT REGISTRATION, AND TO BUY YOUR FISHING LICENSE TOO! Online purchases and renewals are easy, fast, and leave more time for what’s really important. PA 1234 AA Visit the Outdoor Shop - www.theoutdoorshop.state.pa.us 2 www.fi sh.state.pa.us 2008 Pennsylvania Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws WELCOME TO GREAT FISHING FOR 2008 QUICKVIEW of Summary Contents REGULATIONS BY LOCATION (all fi sh species) Inland Waters 6 Delaware River and estuary 8 Lake Erie and tributary streams 9 WHAT’S NEW FOR 2008 Pymatuning Reservoir 10 Conowingo Reservoir 10 REGULATION CHANGES • Changes to waters in Big Bass Program Catch and Release Lakes Program 26 (page 7). Miscellaneous Waters 28 • Changes and additions to Approved Trout Waters (pages 13 through 22). • Changes and additions to Special REGULATIONS BY SPECIES Regulations for Trout Waters (pages 13 Big Bass Program 7 through 22). • Changes to Miscellaneous Waters with Brood Stock Lakes Program 27 Special Regulations (page 28). Panfi sh Enhancement Special Regulations 27 • Seasons, sizes, creel limit changes to Delaware River (page 8) and Conowingo Reptiles & Amphibians 29 Reservoir (page 10) • New regulations concerning transportation TROUT FISHING REGULATIONS of fi sh out of the Lake Erie Watershed in the Commonwealth (page 9) Trout Fishing Regulations 11 FISH-FOR-FREE DAYS Southeast Region 13 • Sat., May 24 and Sun., June 1, 2008. Southcentral Region 14 No fi shing license is needed to fi sh on either Southwest Region 16 of these days. It’s a great way to introduce MARCHMARCH 2929 APRILAPRIL 1212 someone to the world of fi shing. Check the Northwest Region 17 Commission’s web site for events. Remember Northcentral Region 18 that all other regulations apply. SEE PAGE 11 FOR DETAILS Northeast Region 21 Always wear REQUIREMENTS & LAW your life jacket. Fishing Licenses 30 Permits 31 Some 80% of General Regulations 32 boating fatalities Tackle, Equipment, and Bait 32 happen to boaters Unlawful Acts, BUI, and Life Jackets 33 who are not PFBC Property and Dog Regulations 34 wearing a life jacket. Fish Consumption Advisory 35 Reporting Pollution 38 For more detailed reference, see index on page 42. This booklet is a summary of the laws and regulations applicable to fi sh and fi shing in Pennsylvania in effect or proposed as of October 2, 2007. It is not, nor is it intended to portray, a verbatim reproduc- tion of the text of the laws and regulations. Users are advised that regulations summarized in this book are subject to changes, which, as made, are printed in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Offi cial text is found in 58 Pa. Code and online at: www.pacode.com; the law is found in 30 Pa. C.S. and is also available online at: http://members.aol.com/StatutesPA/30.html. For detailed and/or up-to-date information, contact the nearest offi ce of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. This publication is partially paid for through the sale of advertising. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission neither endorses products or services listed nor accepts any liability arising from the use of listed products or services. ©2008 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission TO2008 FIND Pennsylvania THE STOCKING Summary DAY ofOF Fishing TROUT Regulations STREAMS ANDand Laws LAKES NEAR YOU, VISIT www.WWW.FISH.STATE.PA.US.fi sh.state.pa.us 5 ALL FISH SPECIES–INLAND WATERS COMMONWEALTH INLAND WATERS (includes the Youghiogheny River Lake and does not include special regulation areas or endangered and threatened species not shown on this chart.) Species Seasons Minimum Size Daily Limit ALL SPECIES OF TROUT AND SALMON Regional Opening Day of Trout Season* - March 29 at 7 inches 5-streams, lakes,and ponds 8 a.m. through Sept. 1 (only 18 southeastern PA counties) (combined species) Regular Season - April 12 at 8 a.m. through Sept. 1 7 inches 5-streams, lakes,and ponds (combined species) Extended Season: Approved trout waters and all waters 7 inches 3 (combined species) downstream of approved trout waters. Jan. 1 through Feb. 29 and Sept. 2 through Dec. 31 Additional regulations may apply- see Trout Regulations-page 11-22 BASS-LAKES Jan. 1 through April 11 and Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 15 inches 4 (combined species) Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted April 12 through June 13 NO HARVEST - Catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted) Additional regulations may apply- see Big Bass Regulations-page 7 June 14 through Oct. 31 12 inches 6 (combined species) BASS-RIVERS AND STREAMS Jan. 1 through April 11 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 15 inches 4 (combined species) Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted April 12 through June 13 NO HARVEST - Catch and immediate release only Additional regulations may apply- (no tournaments permitted) see Big Bass Regulations-page 7 June 14 through Sept. 30 12 inches 6 (combined species) Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge** Open year-round 40 inches 1 (combined species) Pickerel** 18 inches 4 Northern Pike** 24 inches 2 (combined species) Walleye and Saugeye (Hybrids) Jan. 1 through March 14 and 15 inches 6 Sauger May 3 through Dec. 31 12 inches 6 American Shad *** Open year-round No minimum 6 American Shad Open year-round - Lehigh River, Schuylkill River**** and tributaries No minimum 1 American Shad, Alewife, CLOSED YEAR-ROUND Blueback Herring Susquehanna River and tributaries Hickory Shad *** CLOSED YEAR-ROUND Herring, Gizzard Shad *** Open year-round No minimum 50 (combined species) American Eel Open year-round 8 inches 50 Striped Bass and Striped Bass/ Open year-round 20 inches 2 (combined species) White Bass Hybrids Sunfi sh, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Open year-round No minimum 50 (combined species) Crappies, Catfi sh, Rock Bass, Suckers, Carp, White Bass and other gamefi sh not otherwise listed Additional regulations may apply- see Panfi sh Enhancement Special Regulations-page 27 Baitfi sh/Fishbait (except Mudbugs) Open year-round No minimum 50 (combined species) American Eel (as Baitfi sh) Open year-round 6 to 8 inches 50 Mudbugs (Dragonfl y Nymphs) Open year-round No minimum Unlimited if taken from lakes, ponds, swamps, and adjacent areas. 50 per day if taken from moving waters (rivers and streams) Paddlefi sh CLOSED YEAR-ROUND *** Unlawful to take, catch, or kill American shad, hickory NOTE: For bass regulations, power dam pools and recre- Seasons, sizes, and creel limits – Except for trout season, shad (endangered species), alewife, and blueback herring ational dam pools on the Susquehanna River and naviga- which begins at 8 a.m., all regulatory periods in the fi shing (collectively known as river herring) in the Susquehanna tional dam pools on the Ohio River drainage are “rivers.” regulations are based on the calendar day, one of which River and all its tributaries. ends at midnight and the next of which begins immediately NOTE: Approved trout waters are closed to fi shing from thereafter. **** Schuylkill River upstream of the I-95 bridge and its March 1 to the opening day of the regular trout season in * Includes only those waters in 18 southeastern PA counties tributaries. April, unless included in the Early Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program or Regional Opening Day of Trout and two waters crossing from those counties listed in the NOTE: It is not a violation of the bass regulations if a bass Season Program. Regional Opening Day of Trout Season Program. is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which ** Except those species in waters listed in the Brood Stock it was taken. It is unlawful for an angler to cast repeatedly NOTE: Landlocked alewife less than 8 inches in length Lakes Program. Tiger muskellunge is a muskellunge into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or redd in an effort taken from inland ponds, lakes, or reservoirs that are col- hybrid. to catch or take bass.