Regulations by Species

Big Bass Program Special Regulations

These special regulations apply to Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted bass in the waters listed below. Stocked trout waters (lakes) that are in the Big Bass Program are closed to all fishing from February 20 until the opening day of the trout season. This closure does not pertain to stocked trout waters (lakes) open to year-round fishing. For all other species, inland regulations apply.

LAKES

Season	Minimum Size	Daily Limit
Jan. 1 through April 12 and June 8 through Dec. 31	15 inches	4 (combined species)
April 13 through June 7	NO HARVEST- Catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted)

For the latest information and regulation updates, please consult the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s website:fishandboat.com.

WATERS GOVERNED BY THESE REGULATIONS

County	Water
Allegheny	Upper, Middle, and LowerDeer Lakes Closed to fishing from February 19 until 8 a.m. on openingday of trout.
Allegheny	Marshall Lake
Allegheny	North Park Lake
Armstrong	Keystone Lake
Beaver	Bradys Run Lake
Berks	Blue Marsh Lake
Berks	Carsonia Lake
Berks	Hopewell Lake
Berks	Kaercher Creek Dam
Bedford	Shawnee Lake (State Park)
Blair	Canoe Creek Lake (State Park) to include two small ponds and raceway adjacent to Canoe Lake
Bucks	Lake Towhee
Bucks	Nockamixon Lake (StatePark)
Butler	Lake Arthur (Moraine State Park)
Cambria	Beaverdam Run Reservoir
Cambria	Duman Lake
Cambria	Hinckston Run Reservoir
Cambria	Wilmore Dam

County	Water
Carbon	Mauch Chunk Lake
Centre	Colyer Lake
Chester	Chambers Lake
Chester	Marsh Creek Lake (State Park)
Clarion/Venango	Kahle Lake
Crawford	Sugar Lake
Cumberland	Opossum Lake
Fayette	Indian Creek Reservoir (Mill Run Reservoir)
Fayette/ Westmoreland	Bridgeport Reservoir
Indiana	Yellow Creek Lake (State Park)
Lackawanna	Lackawanna Lake (State Park)
Lancaster	Speedwell Forge Lake
Lehigh	Leaser Lake
Luzerne	Frances Slocum Lake (State Park)
Luzerne	Harris Pond
Luzerne	Lily Lake
Lycoming	Rose Valley Lake
Mercer	Shenango River Lake

County	Water
Monroe/Wayne	Gouldsboro Lake
Montour	Lake Chillisquaque
Perry	Little Buffalo Lake (HolmanLake)
Somerset	Quemahoning Reservoir
Tioga	Lake Nessmuk
Venango	Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake)
Washington	Cross Creek Lake
Washington	Peters Twp. Lake (Res. #2)
Wayne	Lower WoodsPond(partial drawdown)
Westmoreland	Indian Lake
Westmoreland	Keystone Lake (State Park)
Westmoreland	Twin Lakes Number One Reservoir (lower)
Westmoreland	Mammoth Dam
Westmoreland	Northmoreland Lake
Westmoreland	Twin Lake Number Two Reservoir (upper)
Wyoming	Stevens Lake
York	Lake Marburg (Codorus State Park)
York	Lake Redman
York	Lake Williams
York	Pinchot Lake (State Park)

SMALLMOUTH BASS AND LARGEMOUTH BASS–CATCH AND RELEASE

Counties	Waters	Season/Special Regulations
Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Northumberland,Perry	Susquehanna River (98.0 miles) from the inflatable dam near Sunbury downstream to Holtwood Dam, including all tributaries to a point ½ mile upstream from the confluence.	January 1 to December 31: NO HARVEST CATCHAND IMMEDIATE RELEASE ONLY. It is unlawful for an angler to castrepeatedly into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or redd in an effort to catch or take bass as with Commonwealth Inland Waters fishing regulations. From January 1 to April 12 and June 7 toDecember 31: Catch-measure-immediate release tournaments permitted (seefishandboat.com for tournament requirementdetails). From April 13 to June 7: Notournaments permitted.
Dauphin, Juniata, Perry	Juniata River (31.7 miles) fromSR0075 bridge at Port Royal downstream to the mouth, including all tributaries to apoint ½ mile upstream from theconfluence.

BROOD STOCK LAKES PROGRAM

These regulations are intended to restrict harvest and fish consumption from designated lakes during the FDA-mandated withdrawal period. During this period, fish anesthetics are used during Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike, and pickerel culture operations.From April 1 through May 31, fishing for these species is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take or possess any Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike, and pickerel from these lakes during this period. When caught, these fish species shall be immediately returned unharmed.

County	Water Area
Crawford	Conneaut Lake
	Lake Canadohta
	Woodcock Creek Lake
Erie	Edinboro Lake
	Howard Eaton Reservoir
Mercer	Lake Wilhelm

For all other species, Commonwealth inland waters seasons, sizes, and creel limits apply.

CATCH AND RELEASE LAKES

These lakes are regulated year-round as catch and release for all fish species. This means fishing is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take, kill, or possess any fish from these lakes. Once caught, all fish shall be immediately returned unharmed.

Additional catch and release regulations specifically for trout can be found on page 24. These include: Catch and Release Artificial Lures Only, Catch and Release All Tackle, and Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only.

HOW TO RELEASE FISH CATCH AND RELEASE

Some waters are managed strictly as “Catch and Release” waters. Minimum size limits require that fish less than the minimum must be released. Creel limits require that fish caught in excess of the limit must be released. Closed seasons require the release of fish species caught during a season when keeping them is not permitted. The number of fish that survive depends on several factors, including the length of the fight, where the fish is hooked, water temperature, and how the fish is handled and released.

To give fish released the best chance for survival, follow these recommended guidelines:

1. Use barbless hooks.
2. Play fish quickly. Try to land your fish as quickly as possible, and don’t play the fish to exhaustion.
3. Use a landing net.
4. Keep the fish in the water. The chance of a fish being injured increases the longer it is held out of water.
5. Wet your hands, your net, and other materials that may come in contact with the fish.
6. Hold the fish upside down while removing the hook. This can often pacify the fish and reduce handling time.
7. Remove hooks quickly. Hemostats or long-nose pliers are essential tools for quickly removing hooks.
8. Cut the line. When it is not possible to remove the hook without harming the fish, cut the line.
9. Don’t touch the gills. Do not handle fish by placing your fingers in the gill slits.
10. Hold the fish upright underwater after hook removal and allow it to swim away under its own power. If necessary, hold the fish out of the current until it revives.
11. Fish that are bleeding from the mouth or gills due to hook removal do not survive after being released back into the water. Anglers may be charged with violating the Fish and Boat Code by failing to immediately release the fish unharmed. If regulations permit, the angler should keep the fish and have it count towards his or her daily limit.

PANFISH ENHANCEMENT SPECIAL REGULATIONS

These regulations are intended to increase the number, quality, and size of panfish through the use of minimum length limits on sunfish, crappies, and Yellow Perch. For all other species, Commonwealth inland waters seasons, sizes, and creel limits apply, unless listed in other special regulation programs. It is unlawful to fish in the Panfish Enhancement Special Regulations waters listed below except in compliance with the following size and creel limits:

County	Water Area	Species	Minimum Size	Daily Limit
Berks	Blue Marsh Reservoir	Crappie	9 inches	20 When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same water- way, the creel limit is 20 for each specieswith the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined. “Sunfish” includes Bluegills, Pumpkin- seeds, and Redear Sunfish. “Crappie” includes both Black Crappiesand White Crappies. * see Misc. Special Regu- lations for Crappies at Foster Joseph Sayers Lake.
Cambria	Beaverdam Run Reservoir	Yellow Perch	9 inches
	Hinckston Run Reservoir	Sunfish	7 inches
		Crappie	9 inches
	Wilmore Dam	Sunfish	7 inches
		Crappie	9 inches
		Yellow Perch	9 inches
Centre	Colyer Lake	Crappie	9 inches
		Sunfish	7 inches
		● Yellow Perch	9 inches
Centre	Foster Joseph Sayers Lake* (Bald Eagle State Park)	Sunfish	7 inches
Chester	Chambers Lake	Sunfish	7 inches
		Crappie	9 inches
		Yellow Perch	9 inches
Crawford	Pymatuning Reservoir (StatePark)	Crappie	9 inches
Cumberland	Opossum Lake	Crappie	9 inches
Fayette/ Westmoreland	Bridgeport Reservoir	Crappie	9 inches
		Sunfish	7 inches
Huntingdon	Lake Perez	Crappie	9 inches
		Sunfish	7 inches
Lehigh	Leaser Lake	Crappie	9 inches
		Yellow Perch	9 inches
Mercer	Shenango River Lake	Crappie	9 inches
Monroe	Gouldsboro Lake (State Park)	Sunfish	7 inches
		Crappie	9 inches
		Yellow Perch	9 inches
Pike	Lower Lake (Lower Promised Land Lake) (State Park)	Sunfish	7 inches
		Yellow Perch	9 inches
	Promised Land Lake (Upper Promised Land Lake) (StatePark)	Sunfish	7 inches
		Yellow Perch	9 inches
Somerset	Quemahoning Reservoir	Sunfish	7 inches
		Crappie	9 inches
		Yellow Perch	9 inches
Tioga	Lake Nessmuk	Crappie	9 inches
		Sunfish	7 inches
		● Yellow Perch	9 inches
Washington	Cross Creek Lake	Sunfish	7 inches
		Crappie	9 inches
	Peters Twp. Lake (Reservoir #2)	Crappie	9 inches
Westmoreland	Indian Lake	Crappie	9 inches
		Sunfish	7 inches
	Lower Twin Lake	Crappie	9 inches
	Northmoreland Lake	Sunfish	7 inches
		Crappie	9 inches
	Upper Twin Lake	Crappie	9 inches

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS - SEASONS AND LIMITS

Species	Season	Daily Limit	Possession Limit
American Bullfrog	July 1 through October31	10 (combined species)	20 (combined species)
Green Frog	July 1 through October31	10 (combined species)	20 (combined species)
Snapping Turtle	July 1 through October31	15	30
Amphibian Eggs and Tadpoles	No closed season	15 (combined species)	15 (combined species)
Timber Rattlesnake*	June 8 through July 31	1 annual limit** (must be at least 42 inches inlength, measured lengthwise along the dorsalsurface from the snout to the tail, excluding therattle, and must possess 21 or more subcaudal scales.***)
Eastern Copperhead	June 8 through July 31	1 annual limit**

* It is unlawful to hunt, take, catch, or kill Timber Rattlesnakes west of Route 15 and south of Interstate 81 to the Maryland line where there is no open season.

** It is unlawful to possess, take, catch, or kill more than one Timber Rattlesnake or Eastern Copperhead per calendar year except as provided in Chapter 79.7(f) (Fish and Boat Code) relating to organized reptile and amphibian hunt permits). It is unlawful to possess more than one Timber Rattlesnake or Eastern Copperhead at any time except as provided in Chapter 79.7 (f) (Fish and Boat Code).

*** Subcaudal scales are large flat scales located on the underside of a Timber Rattlesnake between the vent (anal scale) and the base of the tail rattle.

The following ENDANGERED and THREATENED native species have NO OPEN SEASON. The DAILY LIMIT is 0 (zero) and POSSESSION LIMIT is 0 (zero).

The Commission has identified some species of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and aquatic organisms as endangered, threatened, or candidate species. Endangered and threatened species face extirpation and have NO OPEN SEASON.

SALAMANDERS:

• Eastern Mud Salamander (Endangered)
• Green Salamander (Threatened)
• Blue-spotted Salamander (Endangered)

FROGS and TOADS:

• Eastern Spadefoot (Threatened)
• New Jersey Chorus Frog (Endangered)
• Eastern Cricket Frog (Endangered)
• Coastal Plains Leopard Frog (Endangered)

SNAKES:

• Eastern Massasauga (Endangered)
• Kirtland’s Snake (Endangered)
• Northern Rough Greensnake (Endangered)

TURTLES:

• Bog Turtle (Endangered)
• Southeastern Mud Turtle (Endangered)
• Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Threatened)

The following native reptile and amphibian species have NO OPEN SEASON. The DAILY LIMIT is 0 (zero) and POSSESSION LIMIT is 0 (zero).

SALAMANDERS:

• Eastern Hellbender
• Four-toed Salamander
• Jefferson Salamander
• Marbled Salamander
• Common Mudpuppy
• Northern Ravine Salamander

FROGS and TOADS:

• Mountain Chorus Frog
• Upland Chorus Frog
• Western Chorus Frog

SNAKES:

• Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
• Eastern Ribbonsnake
• Eastern Smooth Earthsnake
• Eastern Wormsnake
• Mountain Earthsnake
• Queensnake
• Short-headed Garter Snake
• Smooth Greensnake

TURTLES:

• Blanding’s Turtle
• Woodland Box Turtle
• Spotted Turtle
• Wood Turtle

SKINKS/LIZARDS:

• Eastern Fence Lizard
• Northern Coal Skink

The following native reptile and amphibian species have NO CLOSED SEASON. The DAILY LIMIT is 1 (one) and POSSESSION LIMIT is 1 (one).

SALAMANDERS:

• Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
• Eastern Red-backed Salamander
• Red-spotted Newt
• Eastern Long-tailed Salamander
• Northern Dusky Salamander
• Northern Red Salamander
• Northern Slimy Salamander
• Northern Spring Salamander
• Northern Two-lined Salamander
• Seal Salamander
• Spotted Salamander
• Wehrle's Salamander
• Valley and Ridge Salamander

FROGS and TOADS:

• Eastern American Toad
• Gray Treefrog
• Fowler's Toad
• Northern Leopard Frog
• Pickerel Frog
• Spring Peeper
• Wood Frog

SNAKES:

• Eastern Gartersnake
• Eastern Milksnake
• Eastern Ratsnake
• Northern Black Racer
• Red-bellied Snake
• DeKay's Brownsnake
• Northern Ring-necked Snake
• Northern Watersnake

TURTLES:

• Eastern Musk Turtle
• Eastern Painted Turtle
• Eastern Spiny Softshell
• Northern Map Turtle
• Midland Painted Turtle

SKINKS/LIZARDS:

• Common Five-lined Skink

The practice of catch and release of amphibians and reptiles is encouraged.

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS for ALL Reptiles and Amphibians:

• A fishing license is required to catch or take reptiles and amphibians from the lands and waters of the Commonwealth.
• Unless otherwise indicated, reptiles and amphibians may only be taken by hand, hook, snake tongs, turtle hooks, traps, and nets less than four feet square or four feet in diameter.
• It is unlawful to take, catch, or kill a reptile or amphibian through the use of firearms, chemicals, explosives, winches, jacks, or other devices.
• It is unlawful to damage or disrupt the nest or eggs of a reptile or to gather, take, or possess the eggs of any reptile in the natural environment of this Commonwealth.
• It is unlawful to alter, damage, or destroy habitat in the pursuit of a reptile or amphibian.
• It is unlawful to take, catch, kill, or possess for the purposes of selling or offering for sale, importing or exporting for consideration, trading or bartering, or purchasing an amphibian or reptile whether dead or alive, in whole or in parts, including the eggs or any life stage that was taken from lands or waters within this Commonwealth.
• It is unlawful to transport or import into or within this Commonwealth a native species from another jurisdiction. It is also unlawful to receive a native species that was transported or imported into or within this Commonwealth from another jurisdiction.
• Taking, catching, and possessing amphibians and reptiles in Department of Conservation and Natural Resources natural areas designated by posters is prohibited.

Frogs:

• The use of artificial light to take frogs at night is illegal.
• Frogs may be taken with long bow and arrow, including compound bows, crossbows, spears, or gigs. Spears or gigs may not have more than five barbs and cannot be used in stocked trout waters.

Turtles:

• Set-lines, turtle traps, or other devices for catching turtles must include a tag indicating the name, address, and phone number of the owner or user. Traps, nets, or other devices must be of a floating or partially submerged design to allow for the release of untargeted turtles. Hooks must be at least 3.5 inches long with not less than 1 inch space between the point and shank of the hook. The number of lines or hooks per line is unlimited.

Permits:

• A permit is required to hunt, take, catch, kill, or possess Timber Rattlesnakes and Eastern Copperhead snakes.
• Venomous Snake Permit holders must submit a catch report regardless if they did not hunt or hunted and did not harvest.
• A permit is required to hunt, take, catch, or kill Snapping Turtles for the purpose of sale, barter, or trade.
• The venomous snake permit fee for residents is $31.97 per year; the fee for non-residents is $61.97 per year.
• The Snapping Turtle permit fee for residents is $61.97 per year; the fee for non-residents is $121.97 per year.
• Prices for venomous snake and Snapping Turtle permits include a $1.00 agent fee and $0.97 transaction fee.

To purchase Venomous Snake and Commercial Turtle permits, visit your license issuing agent. Commercial Turtle Permits can also be purchased online.