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Pennsylvania anglers will see a new size limit for trout in the 2027 season, but very few will notice a difference.
Most Pennsylvania anglers do not remember the last time the trout size limit was changed. That is because it was way back in 1983, when the limit was raised from a minimum size of 6 inches to 7 inches. Now, that minimum size limit was increased from 7 inches to 9 inches at the latest Board of Commissioners' meeting. The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, so it will not impact fall or early winter anglers.
But what does this mean for the average trout angler? Truth be told, not much. Many trout anglers only fish for stocked trout during either the main spring season or the smaller, but still popular, fall & winter seasons. According to Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission data, the average stocked trout is already greater than the new minimum of 9 inches. Whether raised at a state fish hatchery or cooperative nursery, the current average size is 11 inches. The commission already has a practice of removing sublegal trout from potential stocking when possible, and this will continue with the new minimum size being approved. Those fish that are removed are generally held for stocking later in the year.
So why change the minimum size?
The main reason for the minimum size increase is to further protect the brook trout. As a native species, the brook trout is found outside of stocked trout waters. Unfortunately, native brook trout grow at a much slower rate than other species and even their hatchery-raised cousins. This means that anglers exploring cold mountain or limestone streams are likely to catch a brook trout smaller than those stocked by the commission.
Studies conducted by the commission, including surveys of almost 3,000 stream sections and live capture of almost 200,000 wild brook trout, showed some interesting statistics that supported the minimum size increase. For example, 6.5% or 13,000 of the surveyed fish were greater than 7 inches. This means that an angler could legally harvest those fish and potentially deplete small, isolated populations.
On the other hand, less than 1% of surveyed brook trout reached 9 inches or more. This made increasing the minimum size limit a far greater level of protection to the wild brook trout while not reducing the ability to harvest stocked trout. A 2023 angler survey showed that 85% of respondents supported such a move, so it really was a no-brainer.
Commissioners also took another long-awaited step in terms of minimum size limits -- clearly establishing how fish are to be measured.
For years, the commission has included instructions on how to measure fish in the free annual Summary of Fishing Regulations, which is available to any angler when they purchase a license or via the website. However, there was no legal definition of how this measurement was to be taken. Until now.
Effective immediately upon publication, the legal method of measuring fish will now state that the total length is defined as the greatest straight line as measured when a fish is laid flat on its side with the mouth closed and the tail lobes compressed. This means that the easiest way to get an accurate measurement is to lay the fish on top of a ruler or similar measuring device, close the mouth, squeeze the tail lobes and measure from the forward tip of the jaw to the farthest extent of the tail.