(a) It is
unlawful to take, catch, kill or possess a fish of less than the minimum size
specified in this section. However, it may not be 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.
(b) 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:
(1) A person may
possess any number of lawfully caught fish at the person's residence.
(2) A person who is engaged in a fishing trip
away from home for 2 or more consecutive calendar days may, while transporting
fish from the place where caught to his residence, possess a number of fish
equal to no more than two times the daily creel limit for that species of fish.
In prosecution for vio-lation of this section, it shall be a rebuttable
presumption that a person transporting fish from a fishing site caught all of
the fish during 1 calendar day.
(3)
A fish will not be considered to be caught in violation of this section if it
is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which it was
taken.
(4) A fish caught that is
not to be counted in the creel limit shall be immediately released unharmed
into the water from which taken. Except as otherwise provided in §
53.24 or §
63.40 (relating to tournament and
fishing derby permits; and fishing tournaments and fishing derbies), a fish
placed on a stringer, or confined by any type of container, structure or
device, or not returned immediately to the water, will be considered as part of
the daily creel or possession limits. Fish returned to the water shall be
handled carefully and be returned unharmed to the water from which
taken.
(5) Fish may be given to
another person, but the fish shall be counted in the donor's creel limit and
neither donor nor recipient may kill or possess (while in the act of fishing)
more than the limit allowed.
(c) Except as provided by special
regulations, the following sizes and creel limits apply to Pymatuning
Reservoir:
| SPECIES |
SEASONS |
MINIMUM
SIZE |
DAILY LIMIT |
| WALLEYE |
Open year-round |
15
inches |
6 |
| BASS |
Open year-round |
12
inches |
5 |
| MUSKELLUNGE AND MUSKELLUNGE HYBRIDS |
Open
year-round |
30 inches |
2 |
| OTHERS (including Bait Fish and Fish
Bait) |
Open year-round |
None |
None |
| TURTLES (each species other than snapping
turtles) |
Open year-round |
None |
2 |
| MUSSELS/CLAMS |
Closed
year-round |
0 |
| 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. |
Frogs and tadpoles may be taken only from July 1 to October
31, both dates inclusive. Lights or firearms may not be used to take
frogs.
Not over 15 tadpoles or frogs may be taken or
possessed.
Possession limit for each turtle species (other than
snapping turtle) is two.* Hooks used to take turtles shall be at least 3 1/2
inches long with at least 1 inch space between point and shank.
No closed season on turtles other than snapping
turtles.
*Snapping turtles-Statewide regulations
apply.
Notes
The
provisions of this § 61.3 amended December 28, 1984, effective
12/29/1984, 14 Pa.B. 4691;
amended March 13, 1987, effective 3/14/1987, 17 Pa.B. 1084; amended April 19,
1996, effective 4/20/1996, 26
Pa.B. 1825; amended November 22, 1996, effective 1/1/1997, 26 Pa.B. 5701; amended November 5,
1999, effective 11/6/1999, 29
Pa.B. 5717; amended June 15, 2001, effective 1/1/2002, 31 Pa.B. 3205; amended December 17,
2010, effective 12/18/2010, 40
Pa.B. 7233; amended July 3, 2014, effective 1/1/2015, 44 Pa.B.
4177.
The provisions of this § 61.3 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
5122-5124; section 10 of the
Sunshine Act (65 P. S. §
280); and
section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §
186).
