NOTICES
FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION
Temporary Change to Fishing Regulations; Fishing in Stocked Trout Waters and Regional Opening Day of Trout Season
[51 Pa.B. 758]
[Saturday, February 6, 2021]The Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission (Commission), acting under the authority of 58 Pa. Code § 65.25 (relating to temporary changes to fishing regulations), has taken immediate action to amend 58 Pa. Code § 63.3 (relating to fishing in stocked trout waters), and 58 Pa. Code § 65.12 (relating to regional opening day of trout season), 58 Pa. Code § 65.26 (relating to extended trout season) 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). This action is necessitated by the continuing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that continues to pose a risk to the health of anglers and is designed to decrease that risk by reducing the potential for larger concentrations of anglers and adjusting the closed season to allow for modifications to stocking schedules. Specifically, the Executive Director has amended these sections to:
• Close to fishing all stocked trout streams and rivers between February 15, 2021, and 8 a.m. on April 3, 2021.
• Regulate all trout stocked lakes under Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing regulations to allow for catch-and-release fishing for trout between February 15, 2021, and 8 a.m. on April 3, 2021.
• Eliminate the Regional Mentored Youth Trout Day and move the Statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day to March 27, 2021.
• Eliminate the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season and move the Statewide Opening Day of Trout Season to April 3, 2021.
• Modify Lake Erie trout and salmon season, size and creel limits.
These are temporary changes affecting only the 2021 trout season and will expire on April 11, 2021.
While this temporary amendment is in effect, the following sections will be amended to read as follows:
§ 63.3. Fishing in stocked trout waters.
It is unlawful to fish in stocked trout waters regulated under § 61.1 (relating to Commonwealth inland waters) from 12:01 a.m. on [March 1 to 8 a.m. on the first Saturday after April 11] February 15 to 8 a.m on Saturday April 3, except for stocked trout water lakes where catch and release fishing only shall be permitted and in stocked trout waters regulated under § 65.12 (relating to regional opening day of trout season) from 12:01 a.m. on [March 1] February 15 to 8 a.m. on [the first Saturday after March 28] Saturday April 3, except for stocked trout water lakes where catch and release fishing only shall be permitted. As used in this subpart, the term ''stocked trout waters'' means waters that are stocked with adult trout by the Commission. A listing of stocked trout waters is published in the Commission's ''Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws,'' which is available from the Commission at Post Office Box 67000, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106-7000. The Executive Director or a designee may, from time to time, supplement or modify the list of stocked trout waters, and additions or deletions will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
§ 65.26. Extended trout season.
(a) General rule. The extended trout season is in effect [from the day after Labor Day until the last day of February of the following year] until 12:01 a.m. on February 15 on stocked trout waters and all waters downstream of stocked trout waters. A creel limit of three trout per day and a minimum size limit of 7 inches apply during this season, except Class A wild trout streams where the creel limit is 0 and areas with special regulations.
* * * * * § 69.12. Seasons, sizes and creel limits—Lake Erie, Lake Erie tributaries and Presque Isle Bay including peninsula waters.
* * * * * (d) It is unlawful to fish in or along any Lake Erie tributary stream from 12:01 a.m. on [the Friday before the first Saturday after April 11] April 2, 2021 until 8 a.m. on [the first Saturday after April 11] April 3, 2021.
(e) It is unlawful to possess trout or salmon in or along any Lake Erie tributary stream from 12:01 a.m. on [the Friday before the first Saturday after April 11] April 2, 2021 until 8 a.m. on [the first Saturday after April 11] April 3, 2021.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (d) and (e) and this subpart, the following seasons, sizes and creel limits apply to Lake Erie, Lake Erie tributaries and Presque Isle Bay, including peninsula waters:
* * * * *
TROUT and SALMON 8 a.m.
[first Saturday after April 11] April 3, 2021, until midnight [Labor Day] April 16, 2021.9 inches 5 (combined species only
2 of which may be lake trout or
only 3 of which may be rainbow trout).12:01 on April 17, 2021 until midnight September 6, 2021 (Labor Day). 9 inches 5 (combined species only 2 of which may be lake trout). 12:01 a.m. the day after Labor Day 2020, until 12:01 a.m. [on the Friday before the first Saturday after April 11] April 2, 2021. 15 inches 3 (combined species only
2 of which may be lake trout).* * * * * The Executive Director has determined the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a risk to the health of anglers and has found that these actions are necessary and appropriate to conserve and preserve fishing opportunities and to provide for the health and safety of persons who fish Commonwealth waters. The temporary modifications will go into effect immediately and expire on Labor Day, 2021.
TIMOTHY D. SCHAEFFER,
Executive Director
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 21-208. Filed for public inspection February 5, 2021, 9:00 a.m.]
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