Delaware River
The rule for this water, with the receipt.
Special regulations for Delaware River, as the state words them
Pike County · River · PA
Today's rule hereParsed
- Season
- Not captured yet - consult the statewide regulations
- Gear
- There is no restriction on the number of hooks used on each fishing line. All rods, lines and hooks shall be under the immediate control of the person using them.Statewide
- Bait
- Legally taken gamefish may be used as bait. It is unlawful to use or possess goldfish, comets, koi and Common Carp as baitfish while fishing.Statewide
- Poles
- An angler may use a maximum of three lines fished either by rod or hand when fishing for gamefish, baitfish or both.Statewide
| Species | Daily limit | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
ALL SPECIES OF TROUT | 5-streams, lakes and ponds (combined species) | min. 7 inches | Statewide |
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass | 5 (combined species) | min. 12 inches | Statewide |
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge (Hybrids) | 1 | min. 40 inches | Statewide |
Northern Pike | 2 | min. 24 inches | Statewide |
Pickerel | 5 | min. 12 inches | Statewide |
American Shad | 2 | min. No minimum | Statewide |
American Eel | 25 | min. 9 inches | Statewide |
Baitfish/Fishbait | 50 (combined species) | min. No minimum | Statewide |
Trout Varies by water: 18 inches, caught on, or in possession on, the waters under these regulations from 8 a.m. on the opening day of the regular trout season through Labor Day, limit one trout - except for the period from the day after Labor Day to 8 a.m. of the first Saturday in April of the following year, when no trout may be killed or had in possession (All Tackle Trophy Trout); at least 7 inches but less than 12 inches in length to be killed or possessed, limit From 8 a.m. on the opening day of the regular season for trout through Labor Day, the daily creel limit of trout is two (combined species). From the day after Labor Day until 8 a.m. on the opening day of the regular season for trout, no trout may be killed or possessed. (All Tackle Trout Slot Limit); 9 inches, caught on or in possession on, the waters under these regulations from June 15 through Labor Day, limit three trout (combined species) from June 15 through Labor Day, caught on or in possession on the waters under these regulations. From the day after Labor Day until June 15, the daily creel limit is zero. (Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only) | Slot Limit | - | Statewide |
American Bullfrog | 10 (combined species) | - | Statewide |
Green Frog | 10 (combined species) | - | Statewide |
Snapping Turtle | 15 | - | Statewide |
Amphibian Eggs and Tadpoles | 15 (combined species) | - | Statewide |
Timber Rattlesnake | 1 annual limit | min. must be at least 42 inches in length, measured lengthwise along the dorsal surface from the snout to the tail, excluding the rattle, and must possess 21 or more subcaudal scales | Statewide |
Eastern Copperhead | 1 annual limit | - | Statewide |
Walleye | 3 | min. 18 inches | This water |
The official text, verbatimOfficial text
Straight from PA's official regulations. Rules in force today lead; out-of-season rows are dimmed. Nothing is paraphrased. Not legal advice: verify the posted rules at the water.
- Walleyeopen year-roundDaily limit 3Size 18 inches
- WalleyeJan. 1 until midnight, March 14 and May 3 until midnight, Dec. 31 (dates as written)Daily limit 3Size 18 inches
- All fishA Pennsylvania fishing license is required to fish in all other waters identified below as being part of the Delaware Estuary.
- All fishGear Non-offset (inline) circle hooks required when fishing with baitThe definition of a non-offset (inline) circle hook is a non-offset hook where the point is pointed perpendicularly back towards the shank. The term 'non-offset' means the point and the barb are in the same plane as the shank.
- Blue Crab
- All fishGear Crab Pots are limited to no more than two pots per person when taking crabs. In addition, two handlines may be used.
- All fishGear Unattended Crab Pots must be labeled with the name and address of the owner or user.Disturbing Unattended Crab Pots is unlawful except by the owner, user or members of the immediate family and officers or representatives of the PFBC.
- All fishOpen year-roundDaily limit One (1) bushel (combined - hard shell and soft shell)Size 4 inches * (hard shell)* Measured point to point
- All fishOpen year-roundDaily limit One (1) bushel (combined - hard shell and soft shell)Size 3.5 inches * (soft shell)* Measured point to point
- All fishExceptions: under age 16; hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling Permit; fish commercially under a valid license; possess a valid registration with the National Saltwater Angler Registry administered by NOAA or from another exempted state.
How this answer was assembled
- StatewideStatewide river rules are the base layer: default season, gear, bait, and limits.
- This waterSpecial rules written for this exact water replace the statewide defaults where they speak.
- Emergency orderEmergency orders in effect today override everything else. They sync quietly when the phone has coverage and never lock you out of the app.
Where this section begins and ends
The drawn shape is the named water, matched from the official list against OpenStreetMap and accepted only because the name resolved to a single feature in this water's county.
Different sections of this water can have different rules. The exact section boundaries are not marked on the map yet; each rule above describes in plain words where it starts and ends, and that written description is the authoritative boundary. Map boundaries come water by water, never as a guess.
Season at a glanceDerived
Sampled mid-month from the dated rows; short windows can slip between samples. The rows above are authoritative.
At the water nowContext
Streamflow: 689 cfs at east branch delaware river at hancock ny (2026-10-13 05:15)
Forecast: National Weather Service. Flow: nearest active USGS gauge in this water's area, which may sit on a different reach. Conditions are context, not rules.
What are you fishing for here?Advice
Pick from the species named in Delaware River's rules. Setups are checked against the gear rules in force today, and your picks are remembered on this device only. These are rule-aware suggestions, not a claim about what is biting; advice, not law, and the rules above govern.
You also need (Pennsylvania)
Receipts
Local services near Delaware River
Tackle shops, guides, and boat launches that serve this water will appear here - a separate lane below the rules, so a local business can reach you without ever getting between you and the regulation.
Run a shop or guide service on Delaware River? Get listed.