Pennsylvania Code
Title 58 - RECREATION
Part II - FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION
Subpart B - FISHING
Chapter 69 - FISHING IN LAKE ERIE AND BOUNDARY LAKES
Subchapter B - SPORT FISHING AND ANGLING
Section 69.12 - Seasons, sizes and creel limits-Lake Erie, Lake Erie tributaries and Presque Isle Bay including peninsula waters
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) It is unlawful to take, catch, kill or possess fish, except during the seasons specified in this section. It is not a violation of this section if a fish caught out of season from water where fishing for other species is lawful is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which it was taken.
(b) It is unlawful to take, catch, kill or possess fish of less than the minimum size specified in this section. It is not a violation of this section if an undersized fish taken from waters where fishing is otherwise lawful is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which it was taken.
(c) It is unlawful to take, catch or kill more than 1 day's limit of any species of fish as specified in the following chart during 1-calendar day. It is unlawful to possess more than 1 day's limit of any species of fish as specified in the following chart except under the following circumstances:
(d) It is unlawful to fish in or along any Lake Erie tributary stream from 12:01 a.m. on the Friday before the opening day of the regular season for trout until 8 a.m. on the opening day of the regular season for trout.
(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 opening day of the regular season for trout until 8 a.m. on the opening day of the regular season for trout.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (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:
| SPECIES | SEASONS | MINIMUM SIZE | DAILY LIMIT |
| MUSKELLUNGE and MUSKELLUNGE HYBRIDS | Inland seasons apply. See § 61.1 (relating to Commonwealth inland waters). | 40 inches | 1 |
| PIKE Northern | Inland seasons apply. See § 61.1 (relating to Commonwealth inland waters). | 24 inches | 2 |
| WALLEYE | January 1-March 14; and 12:01 a.m. first Saturday in May until midnight December 31 | 15 inches | Established annually by April 15** |
|
BASS Largemouth Smallmouth | January 1 to second Saturday in April and second Saturday in June until December 31. | 15 inches | 4 (combined species) |
| Second Saturday in April until second Saturday in June.* | 20 inches | 1 | |
| BROOK and BROWN TROUT*** | 8 a.m. the opening day of the regular season for trout until midnight Labor Day. | 9 inches | 5 (combined species) |
| 12:01 a.m. the day after Labor Day until 12:01 a.m. on the Friday before the opening day of the regular season for trout. | 15 inches | 3 (combined species) | |
| RAINBOW TROUT and SALMON*** | 8 a.m. the opening day of the regular season for trout until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before the opening day of the regular season for trout the following year. | 15 inches | 3 (combined species) |
| LAKE TROUT*** | 8 a.m. the opening day of the regular season for trout until 12:01 a.m. the Friday before the opening day of the regular season for trout the following year. | 15 inches | 2 |
| STURGEON | No open season | ENDANGERED SPECIES | |
| YELLOW PERCH | From December 1 through April 30 | 7 inches | Established annually by April 15** |
| From May 1 through November 30 | None | Established annually by April 15* | |
| SUNFISH, CRAPPIES, CATFISH, ROCK BASS, SUCKERS, EELS, CARP, WHITE BASS | Open year-round | None | 50 (combined species) |
| BURBOT (when taken by hook and line) | Open year-round | None | 5 |
| BURBOT (when taken by scuba divers by use of nonmechanical spears or gigs at a depth of at least 60 feet) | June 1 to September 30 | None | 5 |
| SMELT (when taken by hook and line) | Open year-round | None | None |
| AMERICAN EEL | Open year-round | 9 inches | 25 |
| BAIT FISH FISH BAIT, except American eel, mussels/clams and crayfish | Open year-round | None | 50 (combined species) |
| CRAYFISH (ALL SPECIES) | Open year-round | 50. The head must be immediately removed behind the eyes upon capture unless used as bait in the water from which taken. | |
| MUSSELS/CLAMS | Closed year-round | 0 | |
| ALL OTHER SPECIES | Inland Regulations apply. (See § 61.1.) | ||
* It is unlawful to conduct or participate in a fishing tournament (as defined in § 63.40 (relating to fishing tournaments and fishing derbies)) for bass on Lake Erie, Lake Erie tributaries or Presque Isle Bay during the period from the second Saturday in April until the second Saturday in June.
** See § 69.12b (relating to Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch adaptive management for establishing daily limits). After the Executive Director establishes the daily limit for the year, the information will be posted on the Commission's web site and available from any Commission office.
*** The daily limit for all species of trout and salmon (combined) is 5 from 8 a.m. the opening day of the regular season for trout until midnight Labor Day. The daily limit for all species of trout and salmon (combined) is 3 per day from 12:01 a.m. the day after Labor Day until 12:01 a.m. on the Friday before the opening day of the regular season for trout.
The provisions of this §69.12 issued under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. §§ 305, 322, 741, 928, 2102, 2307, 2711 and 5122-5124; amended under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. § 2102; and section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 186).
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 69.19 (relating to permit for the use of cast nets, throw nets or dip nets by sport anglers).
