Summary of Pennsylvania Fishing Laws and Regulations

Regulations by Location

DELAWARE RIVER AND ESTUARY

Seasons, sizes and creel limits -- The following seasons, sizes and creel limits apply to the Delaware River, its estuary and select tributaries up to their tidal influence, that portion of the Lehigh River from its confluence with the Delaware River upstream to the base of the Easton Dam, and the Delaware River estuary waters listed below. Delaware River Blue Crab regulations are also listed on this page, below.

Species	Seasons	Minimum Size	Daily Limit
Trout	April 17 at 8 a.m. through Oct. 15	North of I-84: 14 inches	1 (combined species)
		South of I-84: No minimum	5 (combined species)
		West Branch Delaware River* 12 inches	2 (combined species)
Bass Largemouth Smallmouth	Jan. 1 through April 16 and June 12 through Dec. 31	12 inches	5 (combined species)
Bass Largemouth Smallmouth	April 17 through June 11	NO HARVEST - catch and immediate release only
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge (Hybrids)	Open year-round	40 inches	1
Northern Pike	Open year-round	24 inches	2
Pickerel	Open year-round	12 inches	5
Walleye	The portion of the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania - open year-round The portion of the Delaware River between New York and Pennsylvania - Jan. 1 through March 14 and May 1 through Dec. 31	18 inches	3
American Shad**	Open year-round	No minimum	6–From the PA state line upstream to the Commodore Barry Bridge
American Shad**	Open year-round	No minimum	3–From the Commodore Barry Bridge upstream
River Herring (Alewife & Blueback Herring)	Open year-round	No minimum	35–From the PA state line upstream to the Commodore Barry Bridge
River Herring (Alewife & Blueback Herring)	Open year-round	No minimum	10–From the Commodore Barry Bridge upstream
American Eel	Open year-round	8 inches	50
American Eel (as Baitfish)	Open year-round	6 inches to 8 inches	50
Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass	From the Pennsylvania state line upstream to Calhoun Street Bridge - Jan. 1 through March 31 and June 1 through Dec. 31	28 inches	2
	From the Pennsylvania state line upstream to Calhoun Street Bridge - April 1 through May 31	20 to 26 inches	2
	From Calhoun Street Bridge upstream - Open year-round	28 inches	2
Hickory Shad	Closed year-round	ENDANGERED SPECIES	0
Sturgeon	No open season	ENDANGERED SPECIES	0
Other Species	Inland seasons, size and creel limits apply except for waters under special regulations.

* A special no-kill season with the use of artificial lures only has been established on the West Branch of the Delaware River.
** American shad daily creel limit is one fish in the Schuylkill River from I-95 upstream, including all tributaries.

DELAWARE RIVER ESTUARY

(including tributaries to limits of tidal influence)

The Delaware River estuary consists of the water areas listed below to their upper tidal limits:

Water Area	Upper Tidal Limit
Chester Creek	Kerlin Street (Chester city)
Crum Creek	U.S. Route 13 (Eddystone)
Darby Creek	Pine Street (Darby borough)
Delaware River	From the PA state line upstream to the U.S. Route 1 bridge
Frankford Creek	U.S. Route 13 (Frankford Avenue)
Marcus Hook Creek	U.S. Route 13 (Marcus Hook borough)
Neshaminy Creek	Hulmeville Falls
Pennypack Creek	U.S. Route 13 (Frankford Avenue)
Poquessing Creek	State Road
Ridley Creek	MacDade Boulevard (Chester city)
Schuylkill River	Fairmount Dam

DELAWARE RIVER BLUE CRABS

Harvesting blue crabs from the Delaware River and its estuary waters is permitted pursuant to the regulations below.

Seasons	Minimum Size	Daily Limit
Open year-round	4 inches* (hard shell) 3.5 inches* (soft shell)	One (1) bushel (combined - hard shell and soft shell)
* measured point to point

FEMALE BLUE CRABS bearing eggs or from which the egg pouch or bunion has been removed may not be possessed.

CRAB POTS are limited to no more than two pots per person when taking crabs. In addition, two handlines may be used.

UNATTENDED CRAB POTS must be labeled with the name and address of the owner or user.

DISTURBING UNATTENDED CRAB POTS is unlawful, except by the owner, user or members of the immediate family, and officers or representatives of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

HORSESHOE CRABS are unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or purchase any horseshoe crabs. It is unlawful to import into or transport in this Commonwealth horseshoe crabs for the purpose of sale.

Summary Book Index