Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 65.5 - Catch and release artificial lures only(a) The Executive Director, with the approval of the Commission, may designate waters as catch and release. The designation of waters as catch and release shall be effective when the waters are posted after publication of a notice of designation in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.(b) It is unlawful to fish in areas designated and posted catch and release except in compliance with the following requirements: (1) Fishing may be done with artificial lures only constructed of metal, plastic, rubber or wood or with flies and streamers constructed of natural or synthetic materials. Lures may be used with spinning or fly fishing gear. Use or possession of any other lures or substances is prohibited.(2) No trout may be killed or had in possession.(3) Open to fishing year-round.(4) Wading is permitted unless otherwise posted.(5) Taking of bait fish or fish bait is prohibited.(6) A current trout permit is required.(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, an angler in a boat may possess bait and fish caught in compliance with the seasons, sizes and creel limits in effect for the water from which taken, provided that the boat angler floats through the catch and release area without stopping or engaging in the act of fishing or the boat angler puts in or takes out his boat at an access point within the catch and release area. The provisions of this § 65.5 adopted August 13, 1982, effective 1/1/1983, 12 Pa.B. 2692; amended January 6, 1984, effective 1/7/1984, 14 Pa.B. 46; amended November 24, 2004, effective 1/1/2005, 34 Pa.B. 6328; amended September 23, 2005, effective 1/1/2006, 35 Pa.B. 5261; amended March 28, 2008, effective 3/29/2008, 38 Pa.B. 1468; amended December 21, 2012, effective 1/1/2013, 42 Pa.B. 7684; amended March 13, 2015, effective 3/14/2015, 45 Pa.B. 1256; amended September 25, 2015, effective 1/1/2016, 45 Pa.B. 5788; amended December 10, 2021, effective 1/1/2022, 51 Pa.B. 7691.The provisions of this § 65.5 amended under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. §§ 2101, 2102 and 2307.