58 Pa. Code § 65.9 – Big bass.

(a) The Executive Director, with the approval of the Commission, may designate waters as ‘‘big bass’’ waters. The designation shall be effective when the waters are so posted after publication of a notice of designation in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

(b) It is unlawful to take, catch, kill or possess a largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass on or in designated ‘‘big bass’’ waters except in compliance with the following seasons and size and creel limits. It is not a violation of this section if the bass is immediately returned unharmed to the waters from which it was taken.

Seasons	Size (in)	Creel Limit
Lakes: January 1 to midnight the day before the second Saturday in April and 12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in June to midnight December 31	15	4 (combined species)
12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in April to 12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in June	NO HARVEST—Catch and immediate release only
Rivers and Streams: January 1 to midnight the day before the second Saturday in April and October 1 to midnight December 31	18	2 (combined species)
12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in April to 12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in June	NO HARVEST—Catch and immediate release only
12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in June to midnight September 30	15	4 (combined species)

Note: For purposes of this section, power dam pools and recreational dam pools on the Susquehanna River and navigational dam pools in the Ohio drainage are ‘‘rivers.’’

(c) Other Commonwealth inland fishing regulations apply to designated ‘‘big bass’’ waters.
(d) Tournaments are permitted only during the designated harvest periods.

Authority

The provisions of this § 65.9 amended under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. § § 2102 and 2307; and section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 186).

Source

The provisions of this § 65.9 adopted December 14, 1990, effective December 15, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 6182; amended July 9, 1999, effective July 10, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3626; amended September 22, 2006, effective January 1, 2007, 36 Pa.B. 5872; amended September 25, 2015, effective January 1, 2016, 45 Pa.B. 5788; amended December 10, 2021, effective January 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 7697. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (378408) to (478409).