Pennsylvania regulations
Bluegill (Sunfish) Regulations in Pennsylvania 2026
Pennsylvania bluegill 2026 open seasons vary by 24 management regions. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from Fish & Boat Commission.
Rules (48)
Bridgeport Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Chambers Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Colyer Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Commonwealth Inland WatersOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
Open year-round combined species
Commonwealth Inland Waters, Combined Panfish Species
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
Conowingo Reservoir Up To Holtwood DamOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
combined species
Conowingo Reservoir, Combined With Bluegill And Rock Bass
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
Cross Creek Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Gouldsboro Lake (State Park)
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Hinckston Run Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Indian Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 50 fish
Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries. Applies to Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and peninsular waters, all Lake Erie tributaries in their entirety, which include Cascade Creek, Conneaut Creek, Crooked Creek, East Branch Conneaut Creek, Eightmile Creek, Elk Creek, Fourmile Creek, Middle Branch Conneaut Creek, Marsh Run, Mill Creek, Mud Run, Raccoon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Sixteenmile Creek, Stone Run, Temple Run, Turkey Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Twentymile Creek, Walnut Creek, West Branch Conneaut Creek and all waters that flow into these tributaries.; (combined species)
Lake Nessmuk
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Lake Perez
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Lower Lake (Lower Promised Land Lake) (State Park)
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Northmoreland Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Panfish Enhancement
- Daily bag
- 20 fish
creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined
Promised Land Lake (Upper Promised Land Lake) (State Park)
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Quemahoning Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Tamarack Lake
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Tamarack Lake – Panfish Enhancement Program
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
Wilmore Dam
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
When Panfish Enhancement Regulations apply to more than one species in the same waterway, the creel limit is 20 for each species with the total creel not to exceed 50 panfish combined.
Other Pennsylvania fish regulations
Other regulated species in Pennsylvania with current rule pages — same Fish & Boat Commission source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)501 rules
- Largemouth Bass259 rules
- Smallmouth Bass259 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)61 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)59 rules
- Northern Pike38 rules
- Yellow Perch33 rules
- Walleye30 rules
- Channel Catfish12 rules
- Lake Trout3 rules
Also known as
Bluegill is also called Bluegill (Sunfish), Pumpkinseed, Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, sunfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Pennsylvania.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bluegill season in Pennsylvania?
Bluegill season in Pennsylvania runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31 per Fish & Boat Commission.
What is the size limit for Bluegill in Pennsylvania?
Minimum size for Bluegill in Pennsylvania is 7 inches in Bridgeport Reservoir, per Fish & Boat Commission. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Bluegill in Pennsylvania?
Daily bag limit for Bluegill in Pennsylvania is 20 fish/day in Bridgeport Reservoir, per Fish & Boat Commission.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25PAFW_LR.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/pennsylvania/fishing/panfish-enhancement-special-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/PA/25PAFW_LR.pdf
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with Fish & Boat Commission before keeping a catch.