Trending
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission at its regular quarterly meeting voted to amend bowfishing regulations.
While the use of long bows, crossbows, spears, and gigs used in bowfishing is already regulated within the Pennsylvania Code, these amendments are intended to address an increasing number of complaints to PFBC law enforcement staff regarding the intense lighting and generator noise that can be created by those participating in bowfishing. The changes will prohibit bowfishing on any special regulation trout waters; make it unlawful to cast direct rays of a spotlight, mounted headlight, or any other artificial light of any kind from any watercraft upon any occupied building or another watercraft; and limit noise from generators used aboard a boat while bowfishing to no more than 90 dB(a), which is consistent with regulations for noise produced by motorboats.
In measuring noise emissions, the test measurement will be made with the sound level meter at a distance of at least four feet above the water at a point where the transom gunwale and the port or starboard gunwale intersects.
Also related to bowfishing regulations, commissioners voted to approve a publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking that would add invasive snakehead fish to the list of approved species that can be targeted with long bows, crossbows, spears and gigs. Snakeheads are an invasive species that are found in some Commonwealth waters, primarily in the southeast region, but range expansion to new waters across the state threatens popular sport fisheries.
Many of the states surrounding Pennsylvania already permit bowfishing as a method for harvesting snakeheads to reduce their impact to the aquatic resources where they reside.
Under this proposal, it would remain unlawful to possess and transport live snakeheads and introduce live snakeheads into Pennsylvania waters. The PFBC recommends that all snakeheads caught should be disposed of properly and not be released.
This still is subject to approval on final rulemaking at a future meeting.
The Board voted to amend regulations pertaining to snatch fishing, foul hooking, and snag fishing. Over the last several years, anglers have asked the PFBC whether devices such as trout beads are a legal device for use in Commonwealth waters. These devices consist of a small bead that sits several inches above the hook and generally hook a fish on the outside of the mouth. Under the current regulations, any fish not hooked inside the mouth must be released.
Under this change, regulations would be amended to include language that clarifies that devices such as trout beads are permitted so long as the eye of the hook is no more than two inches below the device.
Commissioners voted to amend regulations pertaining to the unlawful taking of fish using nets. In recent years, WCOs have noticed an increase in individuals using nets to attempt to take fish. Under this change, the Pennsylvania Code will be amended to include new language prohibiting the "attempt to take fish" using unauthorized fishing methods.
Commissioners voted to amend regulations pertaining to officially recognized fish cleaning stations. To assist in properly identifying fish species that have already been processed at a non-commercial fish cleaning station, under this amendment, anglers will be required to keep a two-inch-by-two-inch piece of skin on fish fillets and prohibit the chunking of the fillets into pieces.
All approved changes will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Boating
The board voted to approve the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to electric boat motors. Current regulations limit boat propulsion to electric motors only on PFBC owned or controlled lakes, some State Park lakes, and waterbodies specified in in the law relating to special regulation counties.
Due to advancements in technology that have resulted in electric motors capable of very high horsepower and speed similar to gas-powered internal combustion engines, this proposal would amend the following regulations to specify that electric motors may not be operated at greater than slow, no wake speed on select waters.
Additionally, where horsepower limitations are prescribed, they apply to internal combustion (i.e., gas or diesel) motors only. Boaters should note that internal combustion motors attached to or installed in boats do not need to be removed but these motors may not be used on these waters.
If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment will go into effect January 1, 2023.
Commissioners voted to approve changes to fire extinguisher regulations for recreational motorboats. This change, which will bring PFBC regulations in line with updated U.S. Coast Guard rules, will not change which motorboats are required to have fire extinguishers on board, but relieves these recreational vessels from certain inspection, maintenance, and recordkeeping requirements that are more suited for commercial vessels.
The change would also establish that portable fire extinguishers, when required to be carried on recreational motorboats, shall be maintained in "good and serviceable" condition, which is consistent with language in the USCG rules. These changes will go into effect January 1, 2023.
The Board voted to approve changes to several regulations pertaining to boat-towed watersports. Under these changes, language contained within several sections of the Pennsylvania Code would be updated to better reflect current trends and ensure consistency when referring to this type of recreational boating activity.
Upon reviewing model language adopted in 2021 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the PFBC identified opportunities to update language to better include modern boat-towed watersport activities and devices and clarify the regulations, but not modify currently prohibited or allowable activities.
Fisheries
The Board approved changes to fishing regulations on Penns Creek, Section 03, a Class A wild trout stream with a robust population of wild Brown Trout in Centre and Mifflin counties. Under this change, a Miscellaneous Special Regulation that has been in place since 2014 will be removed. The current Miscellaneous Special Regulation is an experimental trout slot limit regulation that allowed for year-round fishing, use of all tackle types, and the harvest of two trout per day that are at least seven inches but less than 12 inches in length, from the opening day of the regular season for trout through Labor Day, with no harvest permitted the remainder of the year.
As a result of PFBC surveys from 2014-2019 that revealed the presence of larger Brown Trout (greater than 16 inches in length) and favorable angler feedback during this experimental period, the PFBC created an official Trout Slot Limit program with two subprograms in 2021. Upon removal of the current Miscellaneous Special Regulation, Penns Creek, Section 03, will be proposed for designation into the All-Tackle Trout Slot Limit program at a future meeting of the Board.
It should be noted that while the name of the regulation applied to Penns Creek, Section 03, will change, the regulation itself will remain the same. This change will go into effect on January 1, 2023.
The Board approved the addition of nine stream sections to the list of Class A wild trout streams, and the addition of 19 new waters to the PFBC's list of wild trout streams. A list of waters proposed for wild trout stream and Class A wild trout stream designation can be found on the PFBC website. The Board also approved the addition of 19 new waters to the list of wilderness trout streams. All of these additions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.