Pennsylvania regulations
Muskie (Muskellunge) Regulations in Pennsylvania 2026
Pennsylvania muskie 2026 open seasons vary by 28 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 2/day. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from Fish & Boat Commission.
Rules (59)
Pennsylvania statewide
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Pymatuning Reservoir (Combined With Tiger Muskellunge) Commonwealth Inland Waters (Combined With Muskellunge)
Commonwealth Inland WatersOpen
- Status
- Open
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 40"
- Min size
- 40"
Open year-round combined species
Commonwealth Inland Waters, Combined With Tiger Muskellunge
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Conneaut LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
From April 1 through May 31, fishing for these species is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take or possess any Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike and pickerel from these lakes during this period. When caught, these fish species shall be immediately returned unharmed.
Conowingo Reservoir Up To Holtwood DamOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1
- Min size
- 36"
Conowingo Reservoir, Combined With Striped Bass/White Bass Hybrids
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
Delaware RiverOpen
- Status
- Open
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 40"
- Min size
- 40"
Open year-round
Delaware River And EstuaryOpen
- Status
- Open
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 40"
- Min size
- 40"
Open year-round
Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River And Delaware River Tributaries, From The Mouths Of The Tributaries Upstream To The Limit Of The Tidal Influence And The Lehigh River From Its Mouth Upstream To The First Dam In Easton, PennsylvaniaOpen
- Status
- Open
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 40"
- Min size
- 40"
Open year-round
Edinboro LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
From April 1 through May 31, fishing for these species is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take or possess any Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike and pickerel from these lakes during this period. When caught, these fish species shall be immediately returned unharmed.
Howard Eaton ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
From April 1 through May 31, fishing for these species is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take or possess any Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike and pickerel from these lakes during this period. When caught, these fish species shall be immediately returned unharmed.
Hunters Lake — Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day combined
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day combined
Lake CanadohtaCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
From April 1 through May 31, fishing for these species is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take or possess any Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike and pickerel from these lakes during this period. When caught, these fish species shall be immediately returned unharmed.
Lake ErieOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 40"
- Min size
- 40"
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.
Lake WilhelmCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
From April 1 through May 31, fishing for these species is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take or possess any Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike and pickerel from these lakes during this period. When caught, these fish species shall be immediately returned unharmed.
Lily Lake (Commonwealth Inland Waters)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day combined
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day combined
Mauch Chunk Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
(combined with Tiger Muskellunge)
Pymatuning ReservoirOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 2
- Min size
- 30"
- Min size
- 30"
combined species
Rose Valley Lake (Commonwealth Inland Waters, Combined With Tiger Muskellunge)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Virgin Run Lake – Commonwealth Inland Waters
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
(combined with Tiger Muskellunge)
Woodcock Creek LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
From April 1 through May 31, fishing for these species is permitted on a catch and release/no harvest basis. It is unlawful to take or possess any Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge (hybrids), Northern Pike and pickerel from these lakes during this period. When caught, these fish species shall be immediately returned unharmed.
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
- Bluegill (Sunfish)48 rules
- Northern Pike38 rules
- Yellow Perch33 rules
- Walleye30 rules
- Channel Catfish12 rules
- Lake Trout3 rules
Also known as
Muskie is also called Muskie (Muskellunge), Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge, Tiger Muskie, musky, muskellunge. 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 Muskie season in Pennsylvania?
Muskie season in Pennsylvania runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31 per Fish & Boat Commission.
What is the size limit for Muskie in Pennsylvania?
Minimum size for Muskie in Pennsylvania is 40 inches in Commonwealth Inland Waters, per Fish & Boat Commission. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Muskie in Pennsylvania?
Daily bag limit for Muskie in Pennsylvania is 1 fish/day in Commonwealth Inland Waters, per Fish & Boat Commission.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25PAFW_LR.pdf
- https://www.fishandboat.com
- 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.