PROPOSED RULEMAKING

FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION

[58 PA. CODE CH. 63]

Fishing; General Fishing Regulations

[52 Pa.B. 3322]
[Saturday, June 11, 2022]

 The Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) proposes to amend Chapter 63 (relating to general fishing regulations). The Commission is publishing this proposed rulemaking under the authority of 30 Pa.C.S. (relating to Fish and Boat Code) (code). The proposed amendment updates the Commission's regulations pertaining to allowable fishing devices for use in Commonwealth waters.

A. Effective Date

 This proposed rulemaking, if approved on final-form rulemaking, will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

B. Contact Person

 For further information on this proposed rulemaking, contact Wayne Melnick, Esq., P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, (717) 705-7810. This proposed rule- making is available on the Commission's web site at www.fishandboat.com.

C. Statutory Authority

 This proposed amendment to § 63.9 (relating to snatch fishing, foul hooking and snag fishing) is published under the statutory authority of section 2102(a) of the code (relating to rules and regulations).

D. Purpose and Background

 The specific purpose and background of the proposed amendment is described in more detail under the summary of proposal.

E. Summary of Proposal

 Over the last several years, anglers have asked the Commission whether devices such as trout beads are a legal device for use in Commonwealth waters. These devices consist of a small bead that sits several inches above the hook and generally hook a fish on the outside of the mouth. Under the current regulations, any fish not hooked inside the mouth must be released unharmed to the waters it was taken from.

 Commission staff from the Bureaus of Law Enforcement and Fisheries have conferred and support a clarification of the regulations which would permit these devices.

 The Commission proposes that § 63.9 be amended to read as set forth in Annex A.

F. Paperwork

 This proposed rulemaking will not increase paperwork and will not create new paperwork requirements.

G. Fiscal Impact

 This proposed rulemaking will have no adverse fiscal impact on the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions.

H. Public Comments

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, objections or suggestions about this proposed rulemaking to the Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.

 Comments also may be submitted electronically by completing the form at www.fishandboat.com/regcomments. If an acknowledgment of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to ensure receipt. Electronic comments submitted in any other manner will not be accepted.

TIMOTHY D. SCHAEFFER, 
Executive Director

 Fiscal Note: 48A-331. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

Annex A

TITLE 58. RECREATION

PART II. FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION

Subpart B. FISHING

CHAPTER 63. GENERAL FISHING REGULATIONS

§ 63.9. Snatch fishing, foul hooking and snag fishing.

*  *  *  *  *

 (b) Nothing in subsection (a) may be construed to prohibit the use of long bow, crossbow, spear and gigs as provided in §  63.8 (relating to long bows, crossbows, spears and gigs) or other net or devices specifically authorized by law or this subpart.

 (c) Nothing in this section prohibits the use of a device so long as the eye of the hook is no more than 2 inches below the device.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-854. Filed for public inspection June 10, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]

---

No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.

This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.

---