HARRISBURG, Pa. (July 27) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting today by announcing recent changes to the Board of Commissioners. District 2 Commissioner and President John Mahn, Jr., welcomed Steve Ketterer of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, to the Board as a Boating at-Large commissioner. Ketterer replaces Richard Lewis of Gettysburg, Adams County, who served on the Board since July 2017.
“I’d like to thank Richard Lewis for his years of service to the Fish and Boat Commission, which included a term as President from 2020-2021,” said Mahn. “Richard has always been a thoughtful and engaged representative of the Commission, and his presence has left a lasting impact on the agency. Richard’s steady and decisive style of leadership was especially appreciated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when, as President, he was faced with some unprecedented and often difficult decisions. While Richard will be missed, we are thrilled to welcome Steve Ketterer back to the Board. Steve’s decades of experience in water rescue are especially relevant at a time when boating continues to grow in popularity across the Commonwealth. I’d like to express my appreciation to both Richard and Steve for their willingness to serve the anglers and boaters of Pennsylvania.”
Executive Director’s Report
In his report to the Board, PFBC Executive Director Tim Schaeffer encouraged anglers and boaters to continue to take advantage of the endless opportunities on waterways throughout the state while staying safe and being mindful of changing weather conditions.
“With plenty of summer left, I know everyone is excited to continue fishing and boating, and we all want to squeeze in as many more adventures as possible," said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Executive Director. "While you’re having a great time on the water, please remember to make safety a priority and keep an eye on changing weather conditions. Whether it’s extreme heat, heavy thunderstorms, or strong winds that can cause dangerous water conditions, preparing ahead of each boating trip can make a big difference. Most importantly, always wear a lifejacket.”
Schaeffer noted that throughout the recent Independence Day holiday weekend, 65 Waterways Conservation Officers (WCOs) and 23 deputy WCOs participated in Operation Dry Water. The special operation conducted from July 3-5, 2026, was held in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, U.S. Coast Guard, and other conservation law enforcement agencies across the country to prevent boating incidents and fatalities through education and enhanced Boating Under the Influence (BUI) enforcement. This special operation resulted in 10 BUI arrests across the Commonwealth, including the arrest of one boat operator who had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .224 percent, which is nearly three times (+280%) the legal limit for impairment. In addition to BUI violations, 362 general boating citations and 868 warnings were issued.
For more information on boating safety including proper use life jackets, visit the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com).
Schaeffer also congratulated eight members of the 27th Class of WCOs, who graduated on July 17 during a ceremony at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Following graduation, the new WCOs reported for full-time duty in their new districts across the Commonwealth.
Fisheries
Commissioners voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to the minimum size limit (MSL) for harvesting trout. Under this change, 58 Pa. Code § 61.1 (Commonwealth Inland Waters), 58 Pa. Code § 65.19 (Stocked Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing), 58 Pa. Code § 65.24 (Miscellaneous Special Regulations), and 58 Pa. Code § 65.26 (Extended Trout Season) will be amended to increase the MSL for trout from seven to nine inches.
The MSL for trout was last amended in 1983, when it was increased from six to seven inches, to provide additional protection to wild Brook Trout populations.
Based on analysis of Brook Trout data from electrofishing surveys over the past decade, PFBC staff determined that an increase in MSL from seven to nine inches for trout would prohibit the harvest of more than 99% of the state’s wild Brook Trout. Staff also evaluated angler opinion data that was collected through the PFBC’s 2023 Pennsylvania Trout Angler Survey (Trout Survey), which specifically asked anglers, “Would you support or oppose an increase of the minimum size to nine inches to provide protection of wild Brook Trout?” to which 85% of respondents expressed support. Harvesting trout, regardless of species or origin (i.e., stocked versus wild), was not ranked as one of the top three reasons anglers fish for trout in Pennsylvania.
It should be noted that the increase in MSL from seven to nine inches will have little or no impact on anglers’ ability to harvest stocked trout. The average size of a standard trout produced at a PFBC state fish hatchery and stocked into the waters of the Commonwealth is 11 inches, with most cooperative nurseries also producing similar sized trout for stocking in public waterways.
The amendments will go into effect on January 1, 2027.
The Board voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to General Fishing Regulations. Under this change, 58 Pa. Code Chapter 63 will be amended to establish a formal definition for how to measure fish length. The PFBC advises anglers how to measure fish in the Pennsylvania Fishing Summary book; however, no formal definition is present in Title 58. Per Addendum III to Amendment 7 of the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) requires that states define total length for the purposes of measuring Atlantic Striped Bass to determine compliance with size limits associated with both commercial and recreational fisheries. Adding a formal definition, as follows, will meet the ASMFC requirement while applying to all other species of fish across the Commonwealth:
“Total length is defined as the greatest straight-line length as measured on a fish while laid flat on its side with its mouth closed from the most forward tip of the jaw or snout to the farthest extent of the tail with the upper and lower tail lobes compressed or squeezed together.”
This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to Miscellaneous Special Regulations for catfish within the Ohio River Basin. Under this change, which will apply to multiple counties, 58 Pa. Code § 65.24 will be amended to implement catch-and-release regulations for **Blue Catfish. Additionally, a four fish per day creel limit for Flathead Catfish will be implemented with only one of the four flatheads being greater than or equal to 35 inches in length. For all other species of catfish, and in lakes within the Ohio River Basin, Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations will apply. These amended regulations will replace the current 50-fish-per-day limit on catfish with no minimum size, in which catfish are included among panfish. The goal of this change is to enhance protections for Blue Catfish, which are the focus of a historic reintroduction plan by the PFBC within the Three Rivers, prevent the potential overexploitation of Flathead Catfish, and conserve trophy-sized fish. This amendment will go into effect January 1, 2027.
**Note that while Blue Catfish are a native species within the Ohio River Basin, they are not native to the Atlantic Slope basins in Pennsylvania including the Delaware River, Potomac River, Susquehanna River, and Lake Erie, and are considered highly invasive outside of their native range. Adverse impacts have affected fisheries where non-native Blue Catfish have been introduced including predation on threatened or endangered native species and commercially or recreationally valuable species. It is illegal for individuals to stock Blue Catfish into any water of Commonwealth.
The Board voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to Limitations on Gear. Under this change, 58 Pa. Code § 69.24 will be amended to increase the number of licensed trap netters that are permitted to operate from the same boat at the same time, from two to three. In 2025, PFBC staff consulted the three licensed commercial trap netters, all of which operate on Lake Erie for the purpose of harvesting Yellow Perch and determined that this change is warranted. This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners voted to remove Yellow Breeches, Section 03, Cumberland County, from the Catch-and-Release Artificial Lures Only (CR-ALO) Program (58 Pa. Code § 65.5). Section 03 extends 1.0 miles downstream from the mouth of Boiling Springs Run and was stocked historically by the PFBC during the preseason and in-season stocking periods. In 2026, Section 03 was stocked during the preseason; however, the in-season stocking was cancelled following consultation with the landowner. This section previously provided unrestricted angler access; however, the landowner now requires anglers to obtain a permit to fish, which can be limited and restricted to certain periods of the day. In addition to requiring a permit, the landowner has also imposed their own fishing regulations (i.e., barbless flies only) on the section. Waters included in the Stocked Trout Waters (STW) Program must be open and accessible to free public angling. Given the current angler access issues and landowner self-regulation, Section 03 was removed from the STW Program in April 2026. Since the section was removed from the STW Program, it must also be removed from the CR-ALO Program since this regulation is only applied to Class A wild trout streams or sections included in the STW Program. Sections 2 and 4, which total 43.7 miles in length, will continue to be included in the STW Program and managed under Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations. This designation will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to approve the addition of 12 new waters to the PFBC's list of Class A wild trout streams, 56 waters to the PFBC’s list of wild trout streams, the revision of the section limits of four water currently listed, and an amendment to the name of one water that is currently listed. A list of waters proposed for Class A wild trout and wild trout stream designation can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. These additions and revisions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Boating
Commissioners voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to Definitions. Under the change, 58 Pa. Code § 91.2 will be amended to provide a definition to the term “public property” as used throughout Chapter 57 as well as in corresponding regulations in 58 Pa. Code § 93 (Boat Registration and Numbering). To facilitate implementation of the Abandoned and Derelict Vessels law and regulations, “public property” in 58 Pa. Code § 91 (General Provisions) relating to boats and boating will be defined as follows:
“The term “public property” means lands, buildings and spaces owned or controlled by the Commonwealth, state agencies, municipalities, authorities, political subdivisions, public schools and universities.”
This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to Issuing Agents. Under this change, 58 Pa. Code § 93.13 will be amended to increase efficiency and reduce costs for applicants interested in becoming a temporary boat registration issuing agent. Currently, applicants must submit an application, a one-time fee, and a bond in favor of the PFBC. This amendment will allow applicants to provide other forms of security, besides a bond, such as a letter of credit from a bank. This amendment will bring 58 Pa. Code § 93.13 into alignment with 58 Pa. Code § 51.35, which provides the same flexibility enjoyed by fishing license agents. This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Administrative
Commissioners voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to public comments at committee meetings. Under this change, 58 Pa. Code § 51.7 will be amended to indicate that public comments for virtual committee meetings will be accepted on a date prior to the meeting via telephonic message or other appropriate format determined by the presiding officer. This amendment also ensures that the meeting agenda is published prior to the public comment period. While this form of public comment has become the standard for virtual meetings in recent years, this amendment will memorialize the format in Title 58. This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted to give final approval to a rulemaking pertaining to Petitions or Requests for Regulations. Under this change, 58 Pa. Code § 51.6 will be amended to provide further instruction on returned proposals and to direct that the initial staff review will be the final administrative adjudication of the PFBC for proposals that do not meet the threshold substantive requirements set forth in 58 Pa. Code § 51.6 (b)(1). This amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners voted to authorize the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to Administrative Provisions. Under this proposal, 58 Pa. § Code 51 would be amended to provide a clear, streamlined process (General Appeals Provisions) tailored to the needs of the PFBC and to better serve the needs of those who wish to appeal an adverse action that is not otherwise addressed by PFBC regulations. Current PFBC regulations provide specific appeal provisions for certain matters, but do not provide a general internal appeals process for parties otherwise aggrieved by an adverse action of the PFBC. Without such regulations in place, the default appeal process for a party aggrieved by the action of a Commonwealth agency is set forth in the General Rules of Administrative Practice and Procedure (GRAPP) at Title 1 Pa. Code Part II. E. The GRAPP appeal provisions are overly complicated and difficult to navigate for parties without legal counsel. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Public Access
Commissioners voted to authorize three easement acquisitions along Walnut Creek, Erie County, using funds from the Lake Erie restricted account. The descriptions of each easement are below:
The PFBC will pay $14,000 to Asbury Woods Partnership (AWP) for a public access and aquatic resource management easement on both sides of a 730-foot section of Walnut Creek in Fairview Township, Erie County. This area of the creek is accessible through an established trail network that begins at AWP’s main parking area. AWP recently acquired this property and intends to restore the site, establish additional parking, and improve the trail connectivity. While public access already exists in this area, acquiring an easement on this site will provide additional access and security that this area will remain open to the public.
The PFBC will pay $5,750 to Judith M. Schroeck for a public access and aquatic resource management easement on the west side of a 312-foot section of Walnut Creek in Fairview Township, Erie County. Although this easement does not include parking and does not provide easy access, the location is important because the property is just north of the “tubes” area of Dutch Road. Acquisition of this easement is part of a strategic plan to allow for future fish movement upstream. Securing long term access to upstream properties on Walnut Creek is critical for potential future projects, which will lead to increased fishing access for anglers.
Under the terms of a previously awarded Erie Access Improvement Grant from the PFBC to Millcreek Township, Erie County, the Township is providing the PFBC with an easement on an approximately 3,600-foot section of Walnut Creek. In May 2013, the Township received an Erie Access Improvement grant in the amount of $97,000 to assist in the development of public fishing access at Bridger Park along Walnut Creek. The project, which included stream habitat improvements, a paved access road, ADA compliant parking area, fishing pier, and trail from the parking area to the fishing pier, has now been completed. The agreement includes easements for public access, aquatic resource management, parking, and a footpath to access Walnut Creek. The cost of the easement was included in the original grant, so no additional funds will be exchanged.
Board Elects New Officers
The Board elected Donald K. Anderson of Meyersdale, Somerset County, as President. Anderson, who serves as District 4 Commissioner, replaces John Mahn, Jr., of Charleroi, Washington County, as President.
"It’s an honor to be selected by my fellow Commissioners to serve in this role,” said Anderson. “I look forward to working closely with the rest of the Board and agency staff during the upcoming year to make the best decisions on behalf of every angler and boater in Pennsylvania. As President, one of my biggest goals is to strengthen our partnerships with the many volunteer groups that we work with every day, including cooperative nurseries, water rescue organizations, and education providers. I’m sure we’ll face some new challenges we didn’t expect along the way, but I’ll do my best to keep the Board focused on our mission.”
William Gibney was elected as Vice President. Gibney, who serves as District 7 Commissioner, replaces Anderson as Vice President. Both Anderson and Gibney will serve one-year terms through July 2027. Mahn will remain on the Board and continue to serve as District 2 Commissioner.
Special Announcements
The PFBC's remaining quarterly business meeting in 2026 is scheduled for the following date at the PFBC headquarters located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110:
- October 26, 2026
The meeting time will be announced at a later date.