PFBC holds quarterly committee meeting | News, sports, jobs

On October 21, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission held its quarterly meeting at its headquarters in Harrisburg. For those unfamiliar with how the committee is organized, its daily operations are overseen by the Executive Director. A Board of Commissioners – volunteers appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate – selects the Executive Director and, through quarterly meetings, establishes commission rules, approves grants, property transfers, and similar actions, as prescribed by Pennsylvania CS Title 30 “The Fishing and Boating Code.”

During the Oct. 21 meeting, commissioners approved new regulations, regulatory changes and real estate purchases. These changes affect areas such as law enforcement, fishing and recreational boating.

FISHING

Fishermen using licensed fish cleaning stations, such as those found in Erie, may no longer be required to leave a 2-by-2-inch section of skin intact. After review and public comment, the proposed regulatory change will require fillets to remain intact. This is still only a proposed change, and further progress must be made in the review process before final rulemaking can occur. Public comments can be submitted through the Fish & Boat Commission website.

The commission approved the addition of 20 new waters to the list of Class A wild trout waters, 24 waters to the wild trout waters, and revisions to six waters already listed. This is essential to protect wild, reproducing trout populations, which are often adversely affected by stocking, stream disruption and other human activities, especially during the spawning season.

Tamarac Lake, Crawford County, was removed from the Catch & Release Lake program and added to the Big Bass program. The lake was originally listed on the Catch & Release Program to provide additional protection after it was drained for repairs and then replenished. It has now reached the point where it can support recreational fishing. Similar changes were approved for Pecks Pond in Pike County, which was moved to the general Commonwealth Inland Water regulations.

Changes were also approved for one of Clinton County’s most popular trout streams, Fishing Creek. Under the new regulations, sections 7 and 9 of Fishing Creek, an area commonly known as… “The Narrows,” were moved to the Catch & Release Artificial Lures Only program. This change, intended to protect wild brook and brook trout populations, was the result of intensive surveys of anglers, communications with area landowners and public comments. The change will take effect on January 1, 2025.

In Lycoming County, commissioners approved the rezoning of Section 5 of Muncy Creek. This section will now be split into three sections, creating new areas, Sections 6 and 7. Section 6 will be managed under the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only program. While this sounds more confusing than necessary, this was done to open a 1.1-mile section of a previously sited stream to the public after the landowner agreed to allow access as a certain regulated area was set. This change also takes effect on January 1, 2025.

BOATEN

Commissioners approved a long-awaited change to boating safety equipment requirements. Under the new regulations, operators of boats less than 26 feet in length will be required to use the emergency stop switch, if installed by the manufacturer. This change was made to meet current U.S. Coast Guard requirements and to address increased concerns about runaway boats due to the operator falling overboard.

Changes were also approved that will eliminate the commission’s rules on boat capacity plates, something already regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard, and strengthen requirements for boat decals or boat rentals in the Commonwealth. The stricter regulations will better ensure that liveries provide customers with proper safety instructions, maintain safety equipment as required, and protect customers from operating vessels that may not otherwise be in compliance with Pa.CS Title 30.

Elsewhere in the state, commissioners made the following changes:

Made the previous temporary creel limit for striped bass permanent. In addition, changes to striped bass fillet requirements were approved, allowing anglers to possess a maximum of two fillets per legal fish with the carcass in possession for identification and measurement purposes.

Clarified regulations for the use of circle hooks when baiting in the Delaware tidal estuary.

They approved the purchase of an easement along Little Juniata Creek, Perry County, which will include a public parking lot along this famous trout fishing water.