Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

FISH AND BOAT CODE (TITLE 30)

PART II. FISH AND FISHING

CHAPTER 31. REGULATED FISHING LAKES

§ 3101. Licenses.
§ 3102. Fees.
§ 3103. Exemption from fishing regulations.
§ 3104. Receipts for fish caught.
§ 3105. Bills of sale for fish purchased for stocking.
§ 3106. Classification of lakes.
§ 3107. Transportation of fish.
§ 3108. Violations by owner or operator.
§ 3109. Violations by other persons.

§ 3101. Licenses.

Upon application accompanied by a license fee prescribed in this chapter, the commission shall issue an annual regulated fishing lake license to an applicant whose application meets the eligibility criteria specified in commission regulations. The license shall be effective until December 31 of the year in which it is issued. Each application for a license or a renewal thereof shall be signed by the owner or operator of the regulated fishing lake and shall state the approximate total area of fishing water on the premises to be licensed and whether the area consists of one body of water or more than one, together with any other information relative thereto as the commission may prescribe. The commission may promulgate regulations for the licensing and operation of regulated fishing lakes.

§ 3102. Fees.

[to be inserted]

§ 3103. Exemption from fishing regulations.

Fish may be taken from a regulated fishing lake without limitation on size, season or possession limit.

§ 3104. Receipts for fish caught.

The owner or person in charge of any regulated fishing lake shall issue consecutively numbered receipts to all anglers who catch or transport fish from a regulated fishing lake during the closed season for the species of fish, or in excess of the possession limit, or under the minimum size limit. The receipts shall be made in duplicate and one copy shall be kept on file by the issuer for inspection by the commission or any persons designated by it. Each angler, while in possession of the fish, shall have in his possession the receipt relative thereto and shall produce it upon demand by proper authority. All receipts shall contain the following information:

1. Name, location and license number of the regulated fishing lake.
2. Number and species of the fish caught.
3. Date of issue.

§ 3105. Bills of sale for fish purchased for stocking.

Any person owning or operating a regulated fishing lake shall keep on file for inspection by the commission, or any person designated by it, all bills of sale that he receives for purchases of fish made for the purpose of stocking the lake.

§ 3106. Classification of lakes.

[to be inserted]

§ 3107. Transportation of fish.

Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to authorize any person to transport, import or introduce any species of fish, bait fish or fish bait into this Commonwealth if the transportation, importation or introduction is prohibited by other laws or regulations.

§ 3108. Violations by owner or operator.

Any owner or operator of a regulated fishing lake who operates the lake without a regulated fishing lake license, who knowingly makes a false statement in his application for a license or who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, commits a summary offense of the first degree.

§ 3109. Violations by other persons.

No person shall fish, or trespass with intent to fish, in the waters or upon the bed or banks of any licensed regulated fishing lake without having paid the fee fixed by the owner or operator, or without having obtained permission from the owner or operator. No person shall willfully or maliciously destroy or damage any lake, property or appliances used in connection with the operation of a licensed regulated fishing lake. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section commits a summary offense of the first degree.

The complete Pennsylvania Statutes are not yet available on the web. However, selected portions have been made available and can be accessed by CLICKING HERE. These statutes, though available instantaneously over the web, may not be the current law. Court decisions overturning them, later statutes amending them, and a host of other factors come into play when interpreting them. They are provided here as a resource. They should provide some information about the state of the law. However, a competent lawyer, who from other sources will research the law to insure what is current, should always be employed in matters of importance.

Visit/Return to Home Page of Pennsylvania District Court 15-4-04.