Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission The PFBC is an independent Commonwealth agency comprised of 10 Commissioners appointed by the Governor and approved by the Legislature.

​​The mission of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is: to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth's aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. The mission of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is: to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth's aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. Day to day operations are overseen by our Executive Director. Administrative offices are based at the Commission's headquarters in Harrisburg at 1601 Elmerton Avenue. Field operations are based at our Centre Region Office, 595 E. Rolling Ridge Dr., Bellefonte (Centre County). Region offices, hatcheries, fisheries management offices and other Commission facilities are spread throughout the commonwealth. See PFBC directory for specific locations and contact information: https://www.fishandboat.com/About-Us/Directory/Pages/default.aspx

Read the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's full Social Media Policy:https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/fishandboat/documents/about-us/socialmediapolicy.pdf

09/14/2026

Have you ever come across a turtle like this in the wild? Well, it's an Eastern Musk Turtle, the turtle formerly known as a Stinkpot Turtle.

Here's how to identify one!
They have a dome-shaped shell.

They have a reduced plastron.

They have a sharp beak to eat, clams, snails and mussels.

Females have a short tail.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold several virtual committee meetings this month. The Habitat Committee...
09/12/2026

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold several virtual committee meetings this month.
The Habitat Committee will meet on September 25, 2026 at 9 a.m.

The Law Enforcement Committee will meet on September 28, 2026 at 2 p.m.

The Fisheries Committee will meet on September 30, 2026 at 10 a.m.

To learn how to attend the meeting virtually and submit public comment visit this link https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/newsroom/pfbc-announces-upcoming-committee-meetings-sep2026

WCO David Raulfs was named Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association Officer of the Year!Raulfs, whose d...
09/10/2026

WCO David Raulfs was named Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association Officer of the Year!

Raulfs, whose district includes Wyoming and southwestern Susquehanna counties, investigated a significant pollution event on Roaring Brook in Lackawanna County that led to a significant settlement which will result in improved stream quality and fish habitat.

Additionally, Raulfs became a PFBC fi****ms instructor, participated in a pilot e-bike program and held a number of outreach and education programs for local anglers and boaters.

There's still plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of Pennsylvania from the water. It's easy to do from a water trail!Whet...
09/09/2026

There's still plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of Pennsylvania from the water. It's easy to do from a water trail!

Whether you only paddle a few miles or a hundred miles, it's always important to wear a properly fitting life jacket when you're on the water.

Check out some of the commonwealth's water trails and what they have to offer at this link https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/boating/where-to-boat/water-trails

Together with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, we drafted an updated Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan that is the Comm...
09/08/2026

Together with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, we drafted an updated Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan that is the Commonwealth's blueprint to conserve Pennsylvania's native fish and wildlife, maintain resilient habitat, and protect and enhance Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

The public has an opportunity to comment on the plan through September 19, 2026. So, if you have comments make sure to get them in!

You can submit your comments by visiting https://www.pa.gov/wildlife-action-plan

If you have been to our Walnut Creek Marina recently, you may have noticed something different.Thanks to the help from s...
09/07/2026

If you have been to our Walnut Creek Marina recently, you may have noticed something different.

Thanks to the help from several partners, we built three state-of-the-art fish cleaning stations at the marina for the public to use May through October.

Anglers can utilize sinks, cutting boards and electricity to process their catches into filets and then deposit the unwanted guts and remaining carcasses into a refrigerated depository.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Several times a week a vendor collects the bins of fish scraps and recycles the contents to be used as fertilizer.

PFBC also signed the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge. By signing the pledge, PFBC joins entities in the United States and Canada to promote the full use of each fish caught, raised or processed in or from the Great Lakes Region.

Taj went out fishing for trout but ended up catching this Muskellunge!He was fishing Yellow Creek when this musky took h...
09/04/2026

Taj went out fishing for trout but ended up catching this Muskellunge!

He was fishing Yellow Creek when this musky took his bait. It was the catch of his month!

Tight lines, Taj!

Summer might be over but that does not mean the fun and learning has to stop. We still have a lot of great programs comi...
09/03/2026

Summer might be over but that does not mean the fun and learning has to stop.
We still have a lot of great programs coming up:

A panfish kayak fishing meetup at Ricketts Glen State Park

An introduction to kayak fishing at Little Buffalo State Park

A women's coffee and cast meet-up at Gifford Pinchot State Park

A beginner fly fishing program at Cowans Gap State Park

To sign up for one of these programs or to find another program visit this link https://www.register-ed.com/programs/landing/schedule/agency:38/page:2?program_id=0

Northcentral Region WCO Derek Norman, whose district includes Clinton and western Lycoming counties, was recently presen...
09/03/2026

Northcentral Region WCO Derek Norman, whose district includes Clinton and western Lycoming counties, was recently presented with the Gerald L. Greiner Environmental Protection Award for exemplifying the protection, conservation and enhancement of the Commonwealth's aquatic resources.

In 2025, Norman investigated nine environmental incidents within his region resulting in significant settlements that will benefit local aquatic resources.

How you load your boat is very important. Especially if it is a smaller craft.Boats are designed with a center of gravit...
09/02/2026

How you load your boat is very important. Especially if it is a smaller craft.

Boats are designed with a center of gravity.

So, if you just toss your gear in, it can throw that balance off.

If your boat is under 16 feet in length and your weight isn’t properly distributed, it can have a big impact on how your boat performs.

Here are some tips to ensure maximum performance and safety:

Level your load

Try to center heavy gear. Encourage passengers to spread out and not sit on only one side of the boat. If you have an uneven number of passengers, consider sliding coolers and tackleboxes to the opposite side of the passengers.

Stop the squat

Fore-and-aft weight distribution is critical. If you stack too much weight in the stern of a small boat, your wake may breech the transom. The stern of the boat may also squat down in the water instead of jumping onto the plane when you hit the throttle.

Buttoning down the bow

Overloading the bow is common. This can hold the bow down as it hits waves and potentially swamp the boat.

Stow it low

A low center of gravity contributes to a boat’s stability and a high center of gravity reduces it. You want to keep as much weight as low as possible in the boat. Avoid stacking coolers on top of each other. If a boat has elevated stowage areas, use them for light items.

Address

1601 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA
17110

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+17177057800

Website

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