Page 9 - Fishing Report | 3-28-18

Impact of new Pymatuning Crappie Regulations on Anglers who “Stockpile” Fish

New regulations on crappies were enacted at Pymatuning Lake in 2017 with a 9 inch minimum
size and a 20 crappie per day creel. Last season was considered an “education” year by Law En-
forcement since the regulation was not passed in time to appear in the 2017 Pennsylvania Fish-
ing Summary. However, this season expect fines to be levied for violations.

Recently I spoke with Captain Tom Edwards, at Fish Commission NW Region Law Enforcement
Office regarding creel limit regulations as they applied to anglers’ who previously possessed
large number of crappies. Before the creel limit regulation, some anglers would depart the
Pymatuning with perhaps hundreds of crappie following a several day stay at an area
campground or rental cabin/cottage. However, with a daily creel limit now imposed on crap-
pies, the possession limit regulation kicks in. This has always been in effect for any fish species
with a daily creel limit.

Many anglers may not have taken time to read the applicable section on page 9 of the Fishing
Summary issued with each license.

“It is unlawful…to catch, kill or possess more than one day’s limit of any fish, except: (a) at your
residence and (b) you may possess two days’ limit while traveling to your residence from an
overnight fishing trip of two or more consecutive days.”

Edwards indicated this is a accurate summary of the detailed regulation found in the Fish Code
and it means regardless how many nights an angler stays temporarily at a campground, cottage
or cabin, each angler can only have in their possession a two-day limit (total 40) crappies. A
temporarily vacation rental or campsite is not considered their place of residence.

Someday Isle Tackle photo

Photo from Duck-n-Drake
Joshua Myers