1448 Amendments affecting the 1996 B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship Tournament

FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION

Amendments Affecting the 1996 B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship Tournament

[26 Pa.B. 4292]

   The Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, under the authority of 58 Pa. Code § 65.25 (relating to temporary changes to fishing regulations), is taking action to temporarily modify 58 Pa. Code § 63.40 (seasons for fishing tournaments) to cover fishing activities in connection with the 1996 B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship Tournament to be held on Raystown Lake during the period September 18--20, 1996. Although the Commission voted to amend 58 Pa. Code § 63.40 at its July 1996 meeting, these amendments will not go into effect until January 1, 1997. Because the new regulation will not go into effect until January 1, 1997, the tournament sponsors have requested that 58 Pa. Code § 63.40 be temporarily modified by applying certain of these new regulations (already approved by the Commission) to this event.

   The 1996 B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship Tournament was planned well in advance, and the tournament sponsors reasonably believed that the amendments to 58 Pa. Code § 63.40 would be in effect by the date of the tournament. The Commission's Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of Law Enforcement have reviewed this request and have determined that permitting the sponsors to follow the new regulations will have no substantial adverse impacts on the protection and management of fish. The rules of this tournament penalize the return of any dead or distressed bass to the water. The tournament has a daily limit of five bass, which is at least one fish less than the Statewide creel limit. The tournament requires use of recirculating or aerated temperature-controlled livewells, and the sponsors distribute to all contestants instructions on the proper maintenance and use of livewells. The tournament limits the fishing hours to no more than 9 hours per day. Accordingly, the 1996 B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship at Raystown Lake on September 18--20, 1996 meets all the conditions that would allow them to qualify for use of the following fishing practice:

   One or more uninjured largemouth bass, smallmouth bass or spotted bass that an angler is landing, measuring or in the process of releasing from a recirculated or aerated livewell will not be considered as part of the daily creel limit.

   The Fish and Boat Commission invites interested persons to submit comments, suggestions and objections with regard to the proposed special permit allowing the 1996 B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship to follow the fishing practice set forth above. All comments must be received by no later than September 10, 1996.

PETER A. COLANGELO,   
Executive Director

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-1448. Filed for public inspection August 30, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]