General Fishing Regulations

Name: eRegulations
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Nursery Waters

Nursery waters are closed to fishing at all times.

Field Dressing and Disposal of Fish

It is unlawful to possess a fish in any form or condition other than in the whole or having the entrails removed while on shore, along the waters of the Commonwealth, onboard a boat or on a dock, pier, launch area or parking lot adjacent thereto. Fish may be processed fully if they are being prepared for immediate consumption on site. This does not apply to fish processed at a fish cleaning station officially recognized by the Commission or by a permitted charter boat/fishing guide operation.

It is unlawful to discard any fish carcass or parts thereof into the waters of the Commonwealth or upon any public or private lands contiguous to the waters unless disposal is on lands with permission from the landowner or it is where fish are properly disposed into suitable garbage or refuse collection systems or at an officially recognized fish cleaning station.

Tagged Fish

The PFBC and agencies in adjacent states apply tags to fish for special research purposes. If an angler catches a tagged fish and wishes to keep the fish, the tag number and location of the catch should be reported to the address or phone number on the tag or to the PFBC. If the angler doesn’t wish to keep the fish, no attempt should be made to remove the tag unless special instructions have been posted at access areas, by the media or elsewhere. For example, sometimes the PFBC uses two-part tags, and parts of or all of the tags should be removed in some cases with scissors or a knife. This type of tag typically resembles rubber spaghetti, and information such as tag numbers and toll-free phone numbers can be easily read. Tagged fish that are not kept should be returned to the water immediately after removing the tag or recording the information from the tag. In no case should tags be pulled from a fish as this will cause significant injuries.

It is unlawful for a person to implant tracking devices in or to tag, brand, mark or fin clip any fish taken from Commonwealth waters unless the fish are purchased from an authorized commercial aquaculture facility, are part of a Commission-recognized and sanctioned stocking by a cooperative nursery, are authorized by a scientific collector’s permit issued by the Commission, are part of a tagged fish contest in a boundary lake for which the Commission has issued a permit or are part of a Commission-partnered tagged fish contest.

Tackle and Equipment

Rods, Lines and Hooks

An angler may use a maximum of three lines fished either by rod or hand when fishing for gamefish, baitfish or both. An exception to this rule exists for those fishing through ice in winter (see Ice Fishing Equipment section below). On open water (not covered by ice), it is unlawful for a person to fish with more than three fishing rods at a time. There is no restriction on the number of hooks used on each fishing line. All rods, lines and hooks shall be under the immediate control of the person using them.

Snagging Hooks may not be used or possessed while in the act of fishing. A snagging hook is a device designed or modified to facilitate the snagging of fish and may be a hook with a single barb, weighted on a shank below the eye and above the barbs, or a hook otherwise designed or modified to make the snagging of fish more likely than it would be with a normal hook.

Ice Fishing Equipment

It is unlawful while ice fishing to use more than five fishing devices, which may consist of rods, hand lines, tip-ups or any combination. Each device shall contain a single fishing line with no restriction on the number of hooks used for fishing, except when fishing in the Pymatuning Reservoir, where no more than three hooks shall be attached to each line. Self-hooking devices such as jaw jackers and automated fisherman are allowed. Holes cut in ice may not exceed 10 inches between the farthest points as measured in any direction. All lines, rods or tip-ups shall be under the immediate control of the person using them. On PFBC lakes, shelters or shanties must be removed when through fishing for the day.

Gaff or Landing Net

A gaff or landing net is permitted to assist in landing fish caught using a lawful device (see Delaware River and Estuary regulations for exception). Nets of all types can be no larger (excluding the handle) than 4 feet square or 4 feet in diameter. The use of a cast net or throw net in any Commonwealth waters except waters listed on the Commission’s website are a violation of the Fish and Boat Code. These waterways require permits. Cast net and throw net permits are available online. It is unlawful to use any type of net or seine to catch or take gamefish.

Spears or Gigs

Spears or gigs may be used to take ONLY snakeheads, carp, suckers and catfish. Spears or gigs may not be mechanically propelled, may not have more than five barbed points and may not be used in stocked trout waters.

Bow and Arrow

Bow and arrow (including compound bows and crossbows) may be used for taking ONLY snakeheads, carp, suckers and catfish on all Commonwealth waters, day or night, with the following exceptions: (1) bowfishing is strictly prohibited in stocked trout waters during the closed season, (2) bowfishing is strictly prohibited in special regulations trout waters, (3) it is unlawful to cast direct rays of a spotlight, mounted headlight or any other kind of artificial light from any watercraft upon any occupied building or another watercraft and (4) it is unlawful to use generators on board a watercraft while bowfishing with a noise level that exceeds 90 decibel.

Assistance to Children

An adult who assists a child (15 years of age and younger) by casting or retrieving a fishing line or fishing rod is not required to possess a valid fishing license provided that the child remains within arms’ reach of the assisting adult and is actively involved in the fishing activity. An adult may assist a child by baiting hooks, removing fish from the line, netting fish, preparing the fishing rod for use and untangling the line without possessing a valid fishing license. An adult is required to possess a fishing license if they intend to set the hook for the child. An adult may not fish or set the hook for their child in a designated Children/Special Population Area.

Bait

Baitfish includes all forms of minnows; suckers, chubs, Fallfish, lampreys; Gizzard Shad 8 inches or less; and all forms of darters, killifishes and stonecats (except those listed as threatened or endangered species). Legally taken gamefish may be used as bait. It is unlawful to use or possess goldfish, comets, koi and Common Carp as baitfish while fishing.

Fishbait includes crayfish, crabs and the nymphs, larvae and pupae of all insects spending any part of their life cycle in the water.

A person shall not release or dispose live bait-fish into any water of this Commonwealth, except live baitfish baited on a hook for angling purposes. A person may collect live baitfish for angling. A species of baitfish collected for use as bait may not be transferred from waters in this Commonwealth into another drainage of this Commonwealth where this particular species does not already exist.

Season, Size, Limit

No closed season (except as noted below) and no minimum size. The daily limit and possession limit is 50 combined species. When purchasing bait, obtain and keep the sales slip or receipt. The receipt authorizes the possession of the fishbait or baitfish so purchased for a period of 15 days after its date of issue. Fishbait or baitfish purchased from a licensed dealer do not have a possession limit and do not count toward your daily limit of fishbait and baitfish taken from Commonwealth waterways. Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from February 17 to the opening day of trout season. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times.

Taking and Keeping Bait

Taking and keeping bait is permitted using rod and reel or handline, dip net or minnow seine not over 4 feet square or in diameter, or a minnow trap with no more than two openings that shall not exceed 1 inch in diameter. All devices must be under the immediate control of the person using them. Unattended minnow traps or baitfish containers left in Commonwealth waters must be identified with the owner’s or user’s name, address and telephone number. If fishing in a group and the total number of fishbait or baitfish taken exceeds the possession limit (50), separate containers must be provided for the fishbait and baitfish. Total possession limit in any one container may not exceed 50 baitfish or fishbait combined.

Mudbugs (dragonfly nymphs)

No daily limit from lakes, ponds, swamps or adjacent areas; the daily limit from rivers and streams is 50.

Frogs as Bait

Except for those listed as endangered or threatened or those with zero possession limit, frogs may be used as bait. Certain seasons and possession limits apply.

It is Unlawful

To possess, introduce or import, transport, sell, purchase, offer for sale or barter the following live species in the Commonwealth: snakeheads (all species), Black Carp, Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Zebra Mussel, Quagga Mussel, European Rudd, Ruffe, crayfish (all species), Round Goby and Tubenose Goby.
To fish with more than three fishing lines at any time when fishing for gamefish, baitfish or both.
To not have immediate control of all rods, lines and hooks.
To fish (includes taking baitfish and fishbait) from February 17 to 8:00 a.m. on the opening day of trout season in any stocked trout water. Exceptions are certain specially regulated waters and Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-round Fishing.
To cast repeatedly into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or redd in an effort to catch or take a bass.
To take or attempt to take fish or keep fish accidentally caught by snatch-fishing, foul hooking or snag fishing. Handfishing is not permitted.
To catch, kill or possess more than one day’s limit of any fish, except: (a) at your residence and (b) you may possess two days’ limit while traveling to your residence from an overnight fishing trip of two or more consecutive days.
To have on a stringer or in a container or otherwise in possession, while in or along waters of the Common-wealth or immediately returning therefrom, more than the daily creel limit of any fish for one person.
To fail to immediately return unharmed to the waters from which it was taken any fish caught out of season, undersize or over the daily creel limit. Any fish placed on a stringer, in any container or given away counts toward the possession limit of the person having caught it and the person to whom it was given.
To kill any fish and fail to make a reasonable effort to lawfully dispose of it.
To fish in or within 100 feet of the entrance or exit points of any fishway including fish ladders and other fish passage facilities.
To use gamefish as bait except when taken by rod and reel or handline in conformance with seasons, sizes and creel limits or when purchased from an authorized bait dealer.
To sell baitfish or fishbait taken from waters of the Commonwealth, except that licensed and authorized commercial fishermen may take and sell baitfish from Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay.
To sell baitfish or fishbait within the Commonwealth or transport same out of the state except by authorized and licensed commercial bait dealers.
To sell any species of fish, reptile (with the exception of Snapping Turtles) or amphibian taken from the Commonwealth.
To sell, offer for sale, purchase or barter any fish parts or fish eggs obtained from fish taken from waters of this Commonwealth including boundary waters. This prohibition does not apply to fish parts or fish eggs (1) lawfully taken or sold or offered for sale by holders of Lake Erie commercial fishing licenses if the particular species of fish is authorized for taking by commercial licensees or (2) those obtained from fish taken lawfully from waters outside of this Commonwealth.
To release any species of fish except those listed as approved by the PFBC in Commonwealth waters without written permission from the executive director of the PFBC.
To release fish from another state, province or country into Commonwealth waters without written permission from the Commission.
To transfer fish from one Pennsylvania watershed to another where that species is not always present without written consent from the Commission.
To introduce (stock) fish into waters of the Commonwealth without submission of a Notice of Stocking to the Commission (see Notice of Stocking (NOS) section).
To place an obstruction in any waterway that blocks the free movement of fish.
To use or have in possession while on or along Commonwealth waters nets larger than 4 feet square or in diameter except with a special permit issued by the PFBC.
To conduct an organized fishing tournament in which there are 10 or more participants without a permit issued by the Commission. Applications must be submitted 60 days before the date of the proposed tournament. Fishing tournaments may not be con-ducted for a species of fish during the closed season for that species. Unless a special exemption is granted, fishing tournaments may not be conducted on the opening day of the season for any species of gamefish. Contact the nearest region office (see Region Offices) for more information and permit applications. Applications are also online.
To conduct an organized fishing tournament and fail to submit an accurate fishing tournament catch report when required.
To conduct a tagged fishing tournament in boundary waters without a permit issued by the PFBC.
To throw, leave, discard or deposit litter, debris or trash of any kind in or along waters or lands adjacent to or contiguous to waters of the Commonwealth.
To obstruct the ingress, egress or regress to a person’s property, cattleways or fields.
To dig in or drive upon any lands.
To cut or damage trees or shrubs.
To build or tend open fires without permission.
To run any vehicle except fording in the most direct manner in any stream.
To interfere with officers authorized to enforce the Fish and Boat Code in the performance of their duties or to refuse to accompany any officer after having been arrested for a violation of the Fish and Boat Code.

If a Violation Occurs

Persons accused of violating the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Code or rules and regulations may be issued a citation and have a right to a hearing before a district justice. Law enforcement personnel have the authority to confiscate or seize as evidence fish and fishing equipment that are illegal or used to violate fishing laws or regulations. The PFBC may, upon proper notice, suspend or revoke the fishing privileges, boating privileges or other permits of any person convicted (or acknowledging guilt) of a violation of the Fish and Boat Code or PFBC regulations.

If you have been convicted of or plead guilty to a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period, you may be assessed an additional fine of $200 for those offenses classified as summary offenses.