Licensed To Reel

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

Additional regulations map apply–see Trout Regulations

Regional Opening Day of Trout Season*

April 2 at 8 a.m. through Sept. 5 (only 18 southeastern PA counties) 7 inches 5-streams, lakes and ponds (combined species)

Regular Season

April 16 at 8 a.m. through Sept. 5 7 inches 5-streams, lakes and ponds (combined species)

Extended Season (approved trout waters and all waters downstream of approved trout waters)

Jan. 1 through Feb. 28 and Sept. 6 through Dec. 31 7 inches 3 (combined species)

Bass-Lakes

Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted

Additional regulations may apply–see Big Bass regulations

Jan. 1 through April 15 and Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 15 inches 4 (combined species)

April 16 through June 17 NO HARVEST - catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted)

June 18 through Oct. 31 12 inches 6 (combined species)

Bass-Rivers and Streams

Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted

Additional regulations may apply–see Big Bass regulations

Jan. 1 through April 15 and Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 15 inches 4 (combined species)

April 16 through June 17 NO HARVEST - catch and immediate release only (no tournaments permitted)

June 18 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 May 7 through Dec. 31 15 inches 6

Sauger 12 inches 6

American Shad*** Open year-round No minimum 3

American Shad

Lehigh River, Schuylkill River**** and tributaries Open year-round No minimum 1

American Shad, Alewife, Blueback Herring

Susquehanna River and tributaries CLOSED YEAR-ROUND

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/White Bass Hybrids Open year-round 20 inches 2 (combined species)

Sunfish, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Crappies, Catfish, Rock Bass, Suckers, Carp, White Bass and other gamefish not otherwise listed

Additional regulations may apply–see Panfish Enhancement Special Regulations

Open year-round No minimum 50 (combined species)

Baitfish/Fishbait (except Mudbugs and Mussels/Clams) Open year-round No minimum 50 (combined species)

American Eel (as Baitfish) Open year-round 6 to 8 inches 50

Mudbugs (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

Paddlefish CLOSED YEAR-ROUND

Seasons, sizes and creel limits – Except for trout season, which begins at 8 a.m., all regulatory periods in the fishing regulations are based on the calendar day, one of which ends at midnight and the next of which begins immediately thereafter.

* Includes only those waters in 18 southeastern PA counties and two waters crossing from those counties listed in the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season Program.

** Except those species in waters listed in the Brood Stock Lakes Program. Tiger muskellunge is a muskellunge hybrid.

*** Unlawful to take, catch or kill American shad, hickory shad (endangered species), alewife and blueback herring (collectively known as river herring) in the Susquehanna River and all its tributaries.

**** Schuylkill River upstream of the I-95 bridge and its tributaries.

NOTE: It is not a violation of the bass regulations if a bass is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which it was taken. It is unlawful for an angler to cast repeatedly into a clearly visible bass spawning nest or redd in an effort to catch or take bass.

NOTE: For bass regulations, power dam pools and recreational dam pools on the Susquehanna River and navigational dam pools on the Ohio River drainage are "rivers." It is unlawful to conduct a fishing tournament on the North Branch, West Branch or main stem of the Susquehanna River that allows tournament anglers to harvest bass.

NOTE: Approved trout waters are closed to fishing from March 1 to the opening day of the regular trout season in April, unless included in the Early Season Trout-Stocked Waters Program, Regional Opening Day of Trout Season Program or Approved Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing Program.

NOTE: Landlocked alewife less than 8 inches in length taken from inland ponds, lakes or reservoirs that are collected by legal means may be harvested for use as baitfish.

 Open season year round - NO HARVEST April 16-June 17