Pennsylvania Fishing Regulations
Managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Summary below verified 2026-07-27.
⚠️ This is a planning summary, not the law. Rules change mid-season and many waters carry special regulations. Verify with the official Pennsylvania rules before keeping fish.
License fees
Anglers 16+ need a license; a separate trout permit is required to fish stocked trout waters or keep trout. Lake Erie permit for Erie tributaries.
| Resident annual | ≈$28 |
| Non-resident annual | ≈$61 |
| Trout permit (add-on) | ≈$15 |
Fees approximate as of 2026-07-27; agency fees pages have exact current pricing.
Season, size & bag limits — popular species
| Species | Waters | Season | Daily bag | Size limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout (stocked waters) | Statewide stocked waters | Opening day early April – Labor Day (extended season after) | 5 (3 in extended season) | 7" minimum | |
| Largemouth & smallmouth bass | Statewide | Year-round; harvest restricted mid-April – mid-June | 6 combined (4 during early season on some waters) | 12" minimum | No-harvest catch-and-release during spawn on many waters |
| Walleye | Statewide | May 1st weekend – mid-March | 6 | 15" minimum | |
| Muskellunge | Statewide | Open year-round | 1 | 40" minimum | |
| Panfish (crappie, bluegill, perch) | Statewide | Open year-round | 50 combined | None statewide | Panfish-enhancement lakes have 20-fish/size rules |
Season dates shift slightly each year and special-regulation waters are common — confirm in the PFBC Summary Book before keeping fish.
Plan your Pennsylvania trip
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