Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 52, December 28, 2024
(a)
Finding. The Commission
finds under section 2904 of the code (relating to permits for the protection
and management of particular fish) that it is necessary for the protection and
management of trout in the waters of this Commonwealth that persons who fish
for trout have a permit for that activity.
(b)
Permit required. It is
unlawful for a person required by Chapter 27 of the code (relating to fishing
licenses) to procure a fishing license to fish for trout unless that person has
first procured a valid trout permit or a combination trout permit and Lake Erie
permit.
(c)
Exceptions.
(1) The
Commission will issue a trout permit without fee to disabled veterans who
possess a free fishing license under section 2707 of the code (relating to
disabled veterans).
(2) A person
who is exempt from the fishing license requirements of Chapter 27 of the code
or who is issued an institutional fishing license under section 2708 of the
code (relating to institutional licenses) is exempt from this
section.
(3) A person who purchased
a senior resident lifetime fishing license and a trout permit or a combination
trout permit and Lake Erie permit prior to January 1, 2015, shall be exempt
from the requirements of this section.
(4) A trout permit is not required to fish
for trout on free fishing days designated by the Commission under section
2709(d) of the code (relating to exemptions from license
requirements).
(5) A trout permit
is not required to fish for trout on Class A regulated fishing lakes. A trout
permit is not required to fish for trout on designated Class B regulated
fishing lakes that have the following characteristics:
(i) The lake is a natural pond or impoundment
located wholly on private property and constructed and maintained wholly with
private funds.
(ii) The lake is
operated by a private club or organization.
(iii) The lake is not open for fishing by the
general public, and fishing is restricted to members only.
(iv) The trout/salmon population of the lake
is composed entirely of trout or salmon stocked from private resources and
contains no trout or salmon stocked by the Commission, the United States
Government or cooperative nurseries recognized by the Commission.
(d)
Fish for
trout or salmon. A person fishes for trout or salmon when one of the
following applies:
(1) The person fishes in
waters under special trout regulations designated under those sections of
Chapter 65 (relating to special fishing regulations) that require a trout
permit, wilderness trout streams or their tributaries or Class A wild trout
waters or their tributaries.
(2)
The person fishes in streams or rivers that are stocked trout waters as defined
in §
63.3 (relating to fishing in
stocked trout waters) or their tributaries during the period from 12:01 a.m. on
the third Monday in February until midnight May 31.
(3) The person takes, kills or possess, while
in the act of fishing, a trout or salmon on or in waters of this Commonwealth
or boundary waters.
The provisions of this § 63.20 amended under the
Fish and Boat Code,
30 Pa.C.S. §
2904.
