Island Spear Co.

Regulations Pennsylvania

Spearfishing Regulations in Pennsylvania

Checked against the primary source (PFBC) on July 5, 2026state

Governing agency: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). Last verified July 5, 2026 by independent primary-source check.

Summary

Pennsylvania is an inland state with no ocean coast, so all spearfishing is freshwater and governed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (s1, s3). Spears and gigs are legal but may take ONLY four nongame species: snakehead, carp, suckers and catfish 1. Game fish (bass, trout, walleye, pike, muskellunge, etc.) may NEVER be speared or gigged. Crucially, spears and gigs may NOT be mechanically propelled, which bans spearguns and Hawaiian slings; only hand-powered spears/gigs and bow-and-arrow are allowed; spears/gigs may not be used in stocked trout waters, and bow, spears and gigs are all banned in special-regulation trout waters (s1, s5). A regular Pennsylvania fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older and is actively issued and enforced 4.

License

What you need to be legal

LegalA license is required
License
Pennsylvania Fishing License (annual resident/nonresident, or short-term/tourist)
Who needs it
Any person age 16 or older who fishes, spears, gigs, or bowfishes in Pennsylvania waters must have a valid fishing license 4.
Resident cost
$27.97 annual resident (ages 16-64); senior annual $14.47; 1-day resident $14.47 (2026; verify current fees with PFBC) 4
Non-resident cost
$60.97 annual nonresident; tourist licenses $31.97 (1-day), $31.97 (3-day), $39.47 (7-day) (2026; verify with PFBC) 4
Where to buy
Online at HuntFish.pa.gov, via the FishBoatPA mobile app, or at roughly 700 retail issuing agents statewide 4

Exemptions

  • Persons under age 16 do not need a license; children may obtain a $2.97 Voluntary Youth License or use the free Mentored Youth program 4
  • Disabled veterans and certain disabled residents qualify for free or reduced ($2.97) licenses 4
  • Certain institutional-treatment residents and specified educational/therapeutic program participants 4
  • Landowners with public fishing access, per PFBC terms (confirm eligibility with PFBC) 4

The full story

The full story

There is no law-vs-practice gap on Pennsylvania's fishing license: it is a real, actively issued and enforced credential sold online at HuntFish.pa.gov, through the FishBoatPA app, and at roughly 700 retail agents, and anyone 16 or older needs it to spear, gig, or bowfish 4. The nuance a diver must understand is instead about method and species.

Pennsylvania is one of the more restrictive states for underwater spearfishing in a way that surprises visiting divers: Section 63.8 says spears and gigs 'may not be mechanically propelled.' A speargun and a Hawaiian sling both store and release mechanical/elastic energy, so both are illegal here. In practice that leaves only hand-thrust pole spears and gigs, plus bow-and-arrow (including compound bows and crossbows), as lawful spearing gear 1.

The species list is equally narrow. Regardless of gear, you may take ONLY snakehead, carp, suckers, and catfish by spear, gig, or bow. Every game fish - bass, trout, walleye, pike, muskellunge, striped bass - and every panfish is off-limits to these methods and may be taken by hook-and-line only. Snakehead is a special case: it is an invasive species the Commonwealth wants removed, so spearing/bowfishing it is encouraged, but a captured snakehead must be killed and may not be released alive or moved live (s1, s3).

Trout-water rules and the Lake Erie burbot provision round out the picture. Spears and gigs are banned in stocked trout waters, and in special-regulation trout waters ALL three methods - bow-and-arrow, spears and gigs - are banned outright (s1, s5). Separately, SCUBA divers who hold BOTH a valid fishing license and a Lake Erie stamp/permit may take burbot in Lake Erie only at 60 feet or deeper - a rare, species-and-depth-specific carve-out that is the one place formal SCUBA harvest is written into the rule (s1, s4).

Where it's legal

Saltwater & freshwater

Saltwater

Not permitted

Pennsylvania has no ocean coastline and no marine/saltwater. Its only Great Lakes shoreline is Lake Erie, which is freshwater and regulated by the PFBC as inland/boundary water. Marine spearfishing does not apply here.

Freshwater

Legal

Spearing and gigging are legal statewide but restricted to four nongame species only: snakehead, carp, suckers and catfish (s1, s5). Spears/gigs must be hand-powered (not mechanically propelled), may have no more than five barbed points, and may not be used in stocked trout waters 1. Bow and arrow (including compound bows and crossbows) may take the same four species. In special-regulation trout waters ALL three methods - bow-and-arrow, spears and gigs - are prohibited (s1, s5). A separate provision allows SCUBA divers who hold a valid fishing license AND a Lake Erie stamp/permit to take burbot in Lake Erie at depths of 60 feet or greater 1.

Gear

What you can carry

Speargun
Prohibited. Section 63.8 states spears or gigs 'may not be mechanically propelled,' and a speargun is a mechanically propelled spear, so spearguns are not lawful in Pennsylvania 1.
Pole spear
A hand-held/hand-thrust pole spear (not mechanically propelled) falls within the allowed 'spears or gigs' for taking snakehead, carp, suckers and catfish only, subject to the five-barbed-point limit and the stocked-trout-waters ban 1. Pole spears that use band/sling propulsion would be 'mechanically propelled' and are not allowed.
Hawaiian sling
Prohibited. A Hawaiian sling propels the spear with elastic/mechanical energy, which is 'mechanically propelled' and therefore barred by Section 63.8 1.
Spearfishing on SCUBA
SCUBA is not the method of take for the four spear/gig species and diving is not specifically authorized for general spearing; however, Section 63.8 expressly permits SCUBA divers who possess a valid fishing license AND a Lake Erie stamp/permit to take burbot in Lake Erie at depths of 60 feet or more (s1, s4). Follow all boating/dive-flag safety rules for the specific water.

Gear restrictions

  • Spears and gigs may not be mechanically propelled (bans spearguns and Hawaiian slings) 1
  • Spears and gigs may not have more than five barbed points 1
  • Spears and gigs may not be used in stocked trout waters; and bow-and-arrow, spears, and gigs are ALL prohibited in special-regulation trout waters (s1, s5)
  • Only snakehead, carp, suckers and catfish may be taken by spear, gig, or bow-and-arrow (s1, s5)
  • It is unlawful to cast direct rays of a spotlight, mounted headlight, or any artificial light from a watercraft upon any occupied building or another watercraft (s1, s5)
  • Generators on board a watercraft engaged in bowfishing may not exceed 90 dB(a) (s1, s5)

Do not spear

Prohibited species

  • All game fish may NOT be speared, gigged, or taken by bow-and-arrow; only snakehead, carp, suckers, and catfish are legal for these methods (s1, s5)
  • Bass (largemouth, smallmouth) - game fish, angling only (s1, s5)
  • Trout and salmon - game fish; spears/gigs also banned outright in stocked and special-regulation trout waters (s1, s5)
  • Walleye and sauger - game fish, angling only (s1, s5)
  • Muskellunge, northern pike, and pickerel - game fish, angling only (s1, s5)
  • Striped bass and hybrid striped bass - game fish, angling only (s1, s5)
  • Panfish (sunfish, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass) and all other species not on the snakehead/carp/sucker/catfish list may not be speared or gigged (s1, s5)

Where you can't

Area restrictions

  • Spears and gigs may not be used in stocked trout waters; and bow-and-arrow, spears, and gigs are ALL prohibited in special-regulation trout waters (s1, s5)
  • Some waters carry special/site-specific regulations (Delayed Harvest, catch-and-release, Lake Erie tributary rules, etc.); confirm the specific water's rules before fishing 3
  • Fishing in state park and state forest waters must also comply with DCNR park rules layered on top of PFBC regulations; check the specific park 3

Worth knowing

Notable rules, seasons & limits

  • Only four species are legal for spear/gig/bow: snakehead, carp, suckers and catfish (s1, s5)
  • Spears and gigs must be hand-powered - mechanically propelled devices (spearguns, Hawaiian slings) are illegal 1
  • No more than five barbed points on a spear or gig 1
  • Snakehead is an invasive species that MUST be killed if caught in Pennsylvania and may never be released alive or transported live; spear/bow methods are expressly allowed for it (s1, s3)
  • SCUBA divers holding a valid fishing license AND a Lake Erie stamp/permit may take burbot in Lake Erie only at depths of 60 feet or greater - an unusual species-and-depth-specific dive provision (s1, s4)
  • PFBC amended its bowfishing rules (effective 2022) to add the artificial-light and 90 dB(a) generator-noise limits from watercraft 5

What divers here typically use

Gear up for Pennsylvania spearfishing

Where spearfishing is allowed in Pennsylvania, this is the core kit divers assemble before their first day in the water. Our honest guide to the Beginner Spearfishing Gear List walks through what to look for — curated from published specs and community consensus, not paid placement.

If you break them

Penalties

Using an unlawful method or device, taking game fish by spear/gig/bow, fishing without a required license, or violating trout-water/light/noise restrictions are summary offenses under Title 30 (Fish and Boat Code) and 58 Pa. Code, enforced by PFBC Waterways Conservation Officers. Penalties include fines, replacement costs for fish taken illegally, and possible license suspension and equipment forfeiture; specific amounts are set by statute and the court. Verify current penalty schedules with the PFBC (s1, s3).

Not yet independently confirmed — verify directly

  • Exact 2026 license fee cents ($27.97 resident / $60.97 nonresident, etc.) are from the PFBC 'Buy a Fishing License' page as summarized; confirm precise current amounts and any transaction/issuing-agent fees at HuntFish.pa.gov.
  • The specific enumerated list of Pennsylvania 'game fish' vs. nongame species is summarized from PFBC classification; the regulation's own control is the affirmative list (snakehead, carp, suckers, catfish) of what MAY be speared - anything not on that list is off-limits. Verify a borderline species with PFBC before targeting it.
  • Exact dollar penalties and fish-replacement costs were not read from a primary penalty schedule and are described generally.
  • The precise scope of the landowner and disability license exemptions was summarized, not read line-by-line from statute; confirm eligibility terms with PFBC.

Confirm these points directly with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) before you rely on them.

Primary sources

Sources

Every fact above is drawn from these official sources. Each was retrieved on the date shown; regulations can change after that date.

  1. Source 1: 58 Pa. Code Section 63.8 - Long bows, crossbows, spears and gigs (Pennsylvania Code, primary regulation)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/058/chapter63/s63.8.html

  2. Source 2: 58 Pa. Code Chapter 63 - General Fishing Regulations, table of contents (Pennsylvania Code)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F058%2Fchapter63%2Fchap63toc.html&d=reduce

  3. Source 3: Fishing Regulations - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (pa.gov)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/fishing/regulations

  4. Source 4: Buy a Fishing License/Permit - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (pa.gov)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/fishing/buy-fishing-license-permit

  5. Source 5: Pennsylvania General Fishing Regulations - eRegulations (official PFBC-authored digest)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.eregulations.com/pennsylvania/fishing/general-fishing-regulations

  6. Source 6: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (agency home)

    Retrieved July 5, 2026https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is spearfishing legal in Pennsylvania?
Saltwater spearfishing is restricted in Pennsylvania, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Pennsylvania has no ocean coastline and no marine/saltwater. Its only Great Lakes shoreline is Lake Erie, which is freshwater and regulated by the PFBC as inland/boundary water.…
Do you need a license to spearfish in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania requires the Pennsylvania Fishing License (annual resident/nonresident, or short-term/tourist). Resident cost: $27.97 annual resident (ages 16-64); senior annual $14.47; 1-day resident $14.47 (2026; verify current fees with PFBC) Non-resident cost: $60.97 annual nonresident; tourist licenses $31.97 (1-day), $31.97 (3-day), $39.47 (7-day) (2026; verify with PFBC)
Can you spearfish on scuba in Pennsylvania?
SCUBA is not the method of take for the four spear/gig species and diving is not specifically authorized for general spearing; however, Section 63.8 expressly permits SCUBA divers who possess a valid fishing license AND a Lake Erie stamp/permit to take burbot in Lake Erie at…
What can't you spear in Pennsylvania?
Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Pennsylvania include: All game fish may NOT be speared, gigged, or taken by bow-and-arrow; only snakehead, carp, suckers, and catfish are legal for these methods, Bass, Trout and salmon, Walleye and sauger, Muskellunge, northern pike, and pickerel, Striped bass and hybrid striped bass, Panfish. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).

Stay current

Get an email when Pennsylvania's size & bag limits change

Regulations shift between seasons. We re-check Pennsylvania's rules against the primary source and send a short note when the limits, seasons, or licensing move — nothing else.

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Last verified July 5, 2026. Regulations change — always confirm the current rules with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) before you dive.

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