30 Pa.C.S. Ch. 31

in effect

30 Pa.C.S. § 3101 Licenses.

Upon application accompanied by a license fee as 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. (Dec. 22, 1989, P.L.735, No.102, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; July 10, 2020, P.L.604, No.56, eff. imd.)

30 Pa.C.S. § 3102 Fees.

(a) Class A lakes.--The annual license fee for a Class A regulated fishing lake (except temporary fishing ponds operated as regulated fishing lakes) shall be based on the total area of fishing water on the premises to be licensed, whether the area consists of one body of water or more than one. (1) Where the total area of water is less than 20 acres, the fee shall be $100. (2) Where the total water area is 20 acres or more but less than 40 acres, the fee shall be $250. (3) Where the area is 40 acres or more, the fee shall be $500. (b) Class B lakes.--The annual license fee for a Class B regulated fishing lake (except temporary fishing ponds operated as regulated fishing lakes) shall be based on the total area of fishing water on the premises to be licensed, whether the area consists of one body of water or more than one. (1) Where the total area of water is less than 30 acres, the fee shall be $50. (2) Where the total area of water is 30 acres or more, the fee shall be $100. (c) Temporary fishing ponds.-- (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), the annual license fee for a temporary fishing pond which the operator seeks to operate as a Class A regulated fishing lake shall be $200. (2) The annual license fee for a temporary fishing pond which the operator seeks to operate as a Class B regulated fishing lake shall be $50. (3) The annual license fee for a temporary fishing pond which is operated as a Class A regulated fishing lake exclusively by or on behalf of a nonprofit sportsmen's, conservation or charitable organization shall be $25. (d) Changes to fees.--The fees listed under this section may be changed by the commission in accordance with section 322.1 (relating to power to set fees). (Dec. 22, 1989, P.L.735, No.102, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Nov. 1, 2012, P.L.1716, No.211, eff. 60 days; July 10, 2020, P.L.604, No.56, eff. imd.) 2020 Amendment. Act 56 added subsec. (d). Cross References. Section 3102 is referred to in sections 322.1, 3106 of this title.

30 Pa.C.S. § 3103 Exemption from fishing regulations.

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

30 Pa.C.S. § 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.

30 Pa.C.S. § 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.

30 Pa.C.S. § 3106 Classification of lakes.

(a) Class A.--The commission may issue Class A regulated fishing lake licenses upon payment of the fee specified in section 3102 (relating to fees) to lakes in the following categories: (1) Lakes wholly opened to the general public for fishing and operated solely as commercial ventures. (2) Lakes situated wholly within the grounds of a privately owned campground provided that the campground is open to the general public and operated as a commercial venture regardless of whether the campground operator sells admissions to fish at the lake to members of the public who are not camping at the campground. (3) Lakes with a total water area of less than 20 acres situated wholly within the grounds of a private fishing and boating, rod and gun or sportsmen's club or organization when fishing in the lake is limited to members of the club or organization and the sponsoring club or organization operates a cooperative nursery recognized by the commission, provided that fish raised by the cooperative nursery shall be stocked in waters of this Commonwealth open for free public fishing and not in the regulated fishing lake licensed hereunder. Persons patronizing a Class A regulated fishing lake may catch, kill and possess fish without regard to any size, season or possession limit and need not possess a Pennsylvania fishing license. All other provisions of this title are applicable. (b) Class B.--Lakes that meet all other requirements of this section but are not open to the general public or operated as a commercial venture may be issued a Class B regulated fishing lake license. Persons patronizing a Class B lake may catch, kill and possess fish taken therefrom without regard to size, season or possession limitation. A fishing license is required to fish in a Class B lake. (Dec. 22, 1989, P.L.735, No.102, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Jan. 29, 1998, P.L.31, No.7, eff. imd.) 1998 Amendment. Act 7 amended subsec. (a).

30 Pa.C.S. § 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.

30 Pa.C.S. § 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 or who knowingly makes a false statement in his application for a license commits a summary offense of the first degree. Any owner or operator of a regulated fishing lake who violates any other provision of this chapter, regulations promulgated hereunder or terms and conditions of his permit commits a summary offense of the second degree. (Nov. 3, 1999, P.L.447, No.41, eff. Jan. 1, 2000)

30 Pa.C.S. § 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.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=30Fetched: 10/16/2026