2506 Temporary changes to fishing regulations; Shenango River, Mercer County and Youghiogheny River, Allegheny, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties?
FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION Temporary Changes to Fishing Regulations; Shenango River, Mercer County and Youghio- gheny River, Allegheny, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties [42 Pa.B. 7788]
[Saturday, December 22, 2012]The Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission (Commission), acting under the authority of 58 Pa. Code § 65.25 (relating to temporary changes to fishing regulations), has taken immediate action to amend 58 Pa. Code § 65.24 (relating to miscellaneous special regulations) to remove Early Season Stocked Trout Water restrictions on the Shenango River, Mercer County, and Youghiogheny River, Somerset, Fayette, Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties. Currently, the Shenango River from the dam downstream to SR 3025, a distance of 1.5 miles and the Youghiogheny River from the Reservoir downstream to the confluence with the Casselman River are subject to the following miscellaneous special regulations in 58 Pa. Code § 65.24:
Closed season on trout: April 1 until 8 a.m., first Saturday after April 11. Daily limit—First Saturday after April 11 until Labor Day: 5 trout per day; day after Labor Day to midnight, March 31 of the following year—3 trout per day. Inland regulations apply to warmwater/coolwater species.
The language of these miscellaneous special regulations is consistent with 58 Pa. Code § 65.10 (relating to Early Season Trout Stocked Waters Program), which allows fishing on designated waters from March 1 until 12 a.m., March 31, with a daily limit of three combined species during the period from the day after Labor Day until 12 a.m., March 31 of the following year. By notice published at 42 Pa.B. 6737 (October 20, 2012), the Commission previously removed the Shenango and Youghiogheny Rivers from the Early Season Trout Stocked Waters Program, effective January 1, 2013. Therefore, to be consistent with the Commission's prior action, the Executive Director is removing the miscellaneous special regulations on these waters.
The Executive Director will cause these temporary modifications to fishing regulations to be posted in the vicinity of the waters and the modified regulations will be fully effective and enforceable. The Executive Director has found that this action is necessary and appropriate for the management of fish and to conserve and preserve fishing opportunities.
The temporary modifications will go into effect on January 1, 2013, and will remain in effect until the Commission, by appropriate action, amends 58 Pa. Code § 65.24.
JOHN A. ARWAY,
Executive Director[Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-2506. Filed for public inspection December 21, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]
