2018PENNSYLVANIA FISHING SUMMARY Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws 2018 Fishing License BUTTON WHAT’s NeW FOR 2018 l Addition to Panfish Enhancement Waters–page 15 l Changes to Misc. Regulations–page 16 l Changes to Stocked Trout Waters–pages 22-29 www.PaBestFishing.com Multi-Year Fishing Licenses–page 5 18 Southeastern Regular Opening Day 2 TROUT OPENERS Counties March 31 AND April 14 for Trout Statewide www.GoneFishingPa.com Use the following contacts for answers to your questions or better yet, go onlinePFBC to the LOCATION PFBC S/TABLE OF CONTENTS website (www.fishandboat.com) for a wealth of information about fishing and boating. THANK YOU FOR MORE INFORMATION: for the purchase STATE HEADQUARTERS CENTRE REGION OFFICE FISHING LICENSES: 1601 Elmerton Avenue 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive Phone: (877) 707-4085 of your fishing P.O. Box 67000 Bellefonte, PA 16823 Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000 Phone: (814) 359-5110 BOAT REGISTRATION/TITLING: license! Phone: (866) 262-8734 Phone: (717) 705-7800 Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The mission of the Pennsylvania Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday PUBLICATIONS: Fish and Boat Commission is to Monday through Friday BOATING SAFETY Phone: (717) 705-7835 protect, conserve, and enhance the PFBC WEBSITE: Commonwealth’s aquatic resources EDUCATION COURSES FOLLOW US: www.fishandboat.com Phone: (888) 723-4741 and provide fishing and boating www.fishandboat.com/socialmedia opportunities. REGION OFFICES: LAW ENFORCEMENT/EDUCATION Contents Contact Law Enforcement for information about regulations and fishing and boating opportunities. Contact Education for information about fishing and boating programs and boating safety education. REGULATIONS BY LOCATION (ALL FISH SPECIES) NORTHWEST REGION SOUTHCENTRAL REGION INLAND Waters...................................... 10 11528 SH 98, Meadville, PA 16335 1704 Pine Road, Newville, PA 17241 Pymatuning Reservoir...................... 12 Law Enforcement: Education: Law Enforcement: Education: (814) 337-0444 (814) 336-2426 (717) 486-7087 (717) 486-7352 CONOWINGO Reservoir....................... 12 Fax (814) 337-0579 Fax (814) 337-0579 Fax (717) 486-8227 Fax (717) 486-8227 Delaware River AND estuary.......... 13 Counties: Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Counties: Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, LAKE ERIE AND tributary STREAMS.. 14 Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Catch AND RELEASE LAKES................ 15 Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York SOUTHWEST REGION Miscellaneous Waters..................... 16 236 Lake Road, Somerset, PA 15501 NORTHEAST REGION Law Enforcement: Education: 5566 Main Road, Sweet Valley, PA 18656 REGULATIONS BY SPECIES (814) 445-8974 (814) 443-9841 Law Enforcement: Education: BIG BASS Program............................... 11 Fax (814) 445-3497 Fax (814) 445-3497 (570) 477-5717 (570) 477-2206 Catch AND RELEASE BASS...................11 Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fax (570) 477-3221 Fax (570) 477-2621 BROOD StocK LAKES............................ 15 Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Counties: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, PANFISH Enhancement........................ 15 Washington, Westmoreland Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS....................... 17 Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming NORTHCENTRAL REGION 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive SOUTHEAST REGION TROUT FISHING REGULATIONS Bellefonte, PA 16823 P.O. Box 9, Elm, PA 17521 TROUT Fishing Regulations............. 20 Law Enforcement: Education: Law Enforcement: Education: SOUTHEAST REGION............................... 22 (814) 359-5250 (814) 359-5193 (717) 626-0228 (215) 968-3631 Southcentral REGION....................... 23 Fax (814) 359-5254 Fax (814) 359-5153 Fax (717) 626-0486 Fax (215) 968-1610 Counties: Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Counties: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, SOUTHWEST REGION.............................. 24 Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, NORTHWEST REGION.............................. 25 Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Philadelphia, Schuylkill Northcentral REGION....................... 26 Tioga, Union Office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday NORTHEAST REGION.............................. 28 REQUIREMENTS & LAW STATE FISH HATCHERIES FISHING Licenses................................... 4 BELLEFONTE* BENNER SPRING OSWAYO* REYNOLDSDALE* PERMITS.................................................... 5 1115 Spring Creek Road RESEARCH STATION 96 State Route 244 East 162 Fish Hatchery Road GENERAL FISHING Regulations........ 8 Bellefonte, PA 16823 1225 Shiloh Road Coudersport, PA 16915 New Paris, PA 15554 TACKLE, Equipment AND BAIT.............. 8 (814) 355-3371 State College, PA 16801 (814) 698-2102 (814) 839-2211 Unlawful ACTS....................................... 9 CORRY* (814) 355-4837 PLEASANT GAP TIONESTA* 13365 Route 6 HUNTSDALE* 450 Robinson Lane 172 Fish Hatchery Lane ADA ACCOMMODATIONS......................... 9 Corry, PA 16407 195 Lebo Road Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 Tionesta, PA 16353 BOUNDARY WATERS............................... 12 (814) 664-2122 Carlisle, PA 17013 (814) 359-5121 (814) 755-3524 SALTWATER ANGLER REGISTRY........... 12 (717) 486-3419 FAIRVIEW PLEASANT MOUNT* TYLERSVILLE ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES.... 17 2000 Lohrer Road LINESVILLE* P.O. Box 3 43 Hatchery Lane Fairview, PA 16415 13300 Hartstown Road Pleasant Mount, PA Loganton, PA 17747 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES.................. 18 (814) 474-1514 Linesville, PA 16424 18453 (570) 725-3965 Boating, BUI AND LIFE JACKETS........ 19 (814) 683-4451 (570) 448-2101 UNION CITY FISH CONSUMPTION Advisory............. 30 * Includes visitor center. Visitors are welcome 9450 Route 6 REPORTING POLLUTION......................... 33 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Union City, PA 16438 Groups should make advance arrangements. (814) 438-2222 © 2018 Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission TO2018 FIND Pennsylvania THE STOCKING Summary DAY OFof Fishing TROUT Regulations STREAMS AND and LawsLAKES N E AR YOU, VI S IT www.fishandboat.com WWW.FISHANDBOAT.COM. 3 LICENSES, PRICING, Proof OF RESIDENCY Reduced Disabled Veterans Licenses – Any dis- FISHING LICENSES abled veteran who has a disability incurred in any war Fishing licenses are sold by license issuing agents through an electronic point-of-sale (P.O.S.) or armed conflict who is between 60 and 99 percent system. This system brings increased efficiency, more options, and easier upgrades for anglers. disabled as certified by the United States Veterans Internet fishing licenses are sold online at: www.pa.wildlifelicense.com. Administration and is a resident of this Commonwealth A current license, signed in ink, is required of persons age 16 and over to fish or angle for any spe- may obtain a reduced fee resident fishing license upon cies of fish and to take fishbait, baitfish and species of amphibians and reptiles from Commonwealth application to the Fish & Boat Commission or county waters by those legal methods described in this booklet. treasurer. FISHING is defined as the act of angling, or to catch, take, kill or remove, or the attempt to catch, Military personnel are required to purchase a fish- take, kill or remove, from any waters or other areas within or bordering this Commonwealth any fish ing license. Those who are stationed in Pennsylvania by any means or method for any purpose whatsoever. CASTING and/or RETRIEVING, whether by under permanent change of station orders (PCS) for a rod, reel and line, or by handline, for oneself or for others, requires a current license, unless specifically duration of 6 months or more, who produce documenta- exempted by law. See “Assistance to Children” on page 8 for specifics on when a license is required tion proving same, qualify for a resident fishing license. when assisting a child (12 years of age and under). All others must obtain a tourist or non-resident license. Certain active duty military personnel are exempt from Pennsylvania’s fishing license requirement. To be eligible 2018 FISHING LICENSES for the military waiver, an angler must be a bona fide LICENSE YEAR Code Type of Fishing License or Permit Age Cost* Pennsylvania resident, be on active duty, be stationed Annual licenses are valid 101 Resident (Annual) 16-64 $22.90 outside Pennsylvania and be here on authorized leave. from December 1, 2017, 104 Senior Resident (Annual) 65 & up $11.90 While in the act of fishing, the military personnel must through December 31, 105 Senior Resident (Lifetime) 65 & up $51.90 carry proof of each of these requirements, such as a 2018. WHILE FISHING, 108 1-Day Resident (not valid March 15–April 30) 16 & up $11.90 your license must be 102 Non-Resident (Annual) 16 & up $52.90 PA driver’s license, a military ID and valid military orders signed in ink and must 106 1-Day Tourist **(not valid March 15–April 30) 16 & up $26.90 showing the place of assignment and leave status. be displayed on an outer 103 3-Day Tourist 16 & up $26.90 garment. In addition, Under the law, a qualifying soldier, sailor, airman or anglers must be prepared 107 7-Day Tourist 16 & up $34.90 Marine does not receive a free Pennsylvania fishing to furnish positive proof 110 Voluntary Youth Fishing License (Annual) Less than 16 $2.90 license. Instead, eligible active duty military person- of identification. 109 Mentored Youth Permit Less than 16 $0.00 nel can legally fish without a license under the limited * Includes issuing agent fee 150 Trout-Salmon Permit 16 & up $9.90