58 Pa. Code § 61.1 - Commonwealth inland waters
SPECIES | SEASONS | MINIMUM SIZE | DAILY LIMIT |
ALL SPECIES OF TROUT AND SALMON (except landlocked Atlantic salmon) | Regular Season: 8 a.m. first Saturday in April to midnight Labor Day | 7 inches | 5 (combined species) except areas with special regulations |
Extended Season: Stocked trout waters 12:01 a.m. day after Labor Day to midnight the third Monday in February of the following year. | 7 inches | 3 (combined species), except Class A wild trout streams, where the daily limit is 0, and areas with special regulations (see Chapter 65 (relating to special fishing regulations)) | |
AMERICAN EEL | Open year-round | 9 inches | 25 |
BASS-Largemouth and Smallmouth and Spotted | |||
Lakes: | January 1 to midnight the day before first Saturday after April 11 and November 1 to midnight December 31** | 15 inches | 4 (combined species from all habitats) |
12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11 to 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11 | NO HARVEST-Catch and immediate release only (No Tournaments Permitted) | ||
12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11 to midnight October 31 | 12 inches | 6 (combined species) | |
BASS-Largemouth and Smallmouth and Spotted | January 1 to midnight the day before the second Saturday in April and October 1 to midnight December 31* | 15 inches | 4 (combined species) |
12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in April to 12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in June | NO HARVEST-Catch and immediate release only (No Tournaments Permitted) | ||
12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in June to midnight September 30 | 12 inches | 6 (combined species) | |
MUSKELLUNGE and MUSKELLUNGE HYBRIDS | Open year-round | 40 inches | 1 |
PICKEREL | 18 inches | 4 | |
NORTHERN PIKE | 24 inches | 2 | |
WALLEYE and hybrids (Saugeye) | January 1-March 14; and 12:01 a.m. first Saturday in May to midnight, December 31 | 15 inches | 6 |
SAUGER | 12 inches | 6 | |
AMERICAN SHAD** | Open year-round | No minimum | 3 |
HICKORY SHAD** | Closed year-round | No minimum | 0 |
GIZZARD SHAD | Open year-round | No minimum | 50 |
RIVER HERRING (alewife and blueback herring)** | Open year-round | No minimum | 50 |
STRIPED BASS and STRIPED BASS/WHITE BASS HYBRIDS | Open year-round | 20 inches | 2 (combined species) |
SUNFISH, YELLOW PERCH, CRAPPIES, CATFISH, ROCK BASS, SUCKERS, CARP, WHITE BASS AND OTHER GAMEFISH NOT OTHERWISE LISTED | Open year-round | No minimum | 50 (combined species) |
BAIT FISH FISH BAIT except American eel, mud bugs, mussels/clams and crayfish | Open year-round | No minimum | 50 (combined species) |
MUD BUGS (dragonfly 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) |
MUSSELS/CLAMS | Closed year-round | 0 | |
PADDLEFISH | Closed year-round | - | 0 |
CRAYFISH (ALL SPECIES) | Open year-round | 50. The head must be immediately removed behind the eyes upon capture unless used as bait in the water from which taken. |
* Note: Stocked trout waters are closed to all fishing from the third Monday in February to the second Saturday in April.
** Note: Unlawful to take, catch or kill American shad, hickory shad and river herring (alewife and blueback herring) in Susquehanna River and its tributaries. See § 61.4 and 61.7 (relating to Conowingo Reservoir; and Susquehanna River and tributaries).
Notes
The provisions of this §61.1 issued under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. §§ 741, 928 and 2102; amended under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. §§ 2102 and 5122-5124; and section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 186).
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 61.2 (relating to Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River and River Estuary); 58 Pa. Code § 61.7 (relating to Susquehanna River and tributaries); 58 Pa. Code § 61.8 (relating to Lehigh River, Schuylkill River and tributaries); 58 Pa. Code § 63.3 (relating to fishing in stocked trout waters); 58 Pa. Code § 63.48 (relating to permit for the use of cast nets or throw nets); 58 Pa. Code § 65.24 (relating to miscellaneous special regulations); and 58 Pa. Code § 69.12 (relating to seasons, sizes and creel limits-Lake Erie, Lake Erie tributaries and Presque Isle Bay including peninsula waters).
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