On October 21, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission held its quarterly meeting at the Harrisburg headquarters. For those unfamiliar with the commission’s organization, daily operations are overseen by the executive director. A board of commissioners – volunteers appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate – selects the executive director and, at quarterly meetings, establishes commission regulations, approves grants, real estate transfers and similar actions, as prescribed by Pennsylvania CS Title 30. “The Fish and Boat Code”.

At the Oct. 21 meeting, commissioners approved new regulations, regulatory changes and real estate acquisitions. These changes affect areas such as law enforcement, fishing and boating.

FISHING

Anglers using recognized fishing cleaning stations, such as those prevalent in Erie, may no longer be required to leave a 2-inch by 2-inch piece of skin intact. After public review and comment, the proposed regulatory change will require the nets to remain intact. This is still only a proposed change, which still needs to progress through the review process before final regulation can take place. Public comments can be submitted through the Fish & Boat Commission website.

The commission approved the addition of 20 new waters to the list of Class A wild trout waters, 24 waters to wild trout waters and revisions to six already listed waters. This is essential to protect wild and breeding trout populations, which are often affected by stocking, stream disturbance and other human activities, particularly during the spawning season.

Tamarac Lake in Crawford County was removed from the Catch & Release Lake program and added to the Big Bass program. The lake was initially enrolled in the Catch & Release program to provide additional protection after being drained for repairs and then restocked. It has now reached the point where it can support recreational fishing. Similar changes were approved for Pecks Pond in Pike County, which was transferred to the Commonwealth’s general inland water regulations.

Changes were also approved for one of Clinton County’s most popular trout streams, Fishing Creek. Under the new regulations, sections 7 and 9 of Fishing Creek, an area commonly known as “The narrow passages” have been moved to the Catch & Release Artificial Lures Only program. This change, designed to protect wild populations of speckled trout and brown trout, is the result of intensive surveys of anglers, communications with area landowners and public comment. The change will take effect on January 1, 2025.

In Lycoming County, commissioners approved the re-designation of Muncy Creek Section 5. This section will now be divided into three sections, creating new areas, Sections 6 and 7. Section 6 will be managed under the deferred harvest program for artificial lures only. Although this seems more confusing than necessary, this was done to allow a 1.1 mile section of a previously posted stream to be opened to the public after the landowner agreed to allow access if a special regulatory zone was established. This change also comes into effect on January 1, 2025.

BOAT

Commissioners approved a long-awaited change to boating safety equipment requirements. Under the new regulations, operators of boats less than 26 feet in length will be required to use the emergency stop switch when installed by the manufacturer. This change was made to comply with current U.S. Coast Guard requirements and address a growing concern regarding boats being run over due to the operator falling overboard.

Changes were also approved that will remove the commission’s boat capacity plate regulations, already regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard, and strengthen livery or rental requirements for boats operating in the Commonwealth. The enhanced regulations will better ensure that liveries provide appropriate safety instructions to customers, maintain required safety equipment, and protect customers from the operation of vessels that may otherwise not be in compliance with Pa.CS Title 30.

Elsewhere in the state, commissioners made the following changes:

The former temporary striped bass fishing limit has been made permanent. Additionally, approval was granted to modify netting requirements for striped bass, allowing anglers to possess a maximum of two nets per legal fish with the carcass in possession for identification and measurement purposes.

Clarified regulations regarding the use of circle hooks when using bait in the tidal Delaware Estuary.

They approved the purchase of an access easement along Little Juniata Creek in Perry County that will include a public parking area along this famous trout fishing water.