Anglers banned from fishing in Pennsylvania over poaching steelhead

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Multiple anglers have been banned from getting their fishing license for the next five years after the Pennsylvania Fishing and Boat Commission (PFBC) quarterly meeting Tuesday.

The PFCB Law Enforcement Committee said that six anglers in two separate incidents won’t be allowed to fish in Pennsylvania after the alleged steelhead poaching in Erie County. The PFCB noted that the anglers, who will remain unnamed, are not residents of Pennsylvania.

According to a Waterways Conservation Officer, the first incident happened Sept. 24, 2023, around 2:45 a.m. at Trout Run in Erie, Pa. Four people with totes headed to the river where they filled one tote and took it back to one of two vehicles to put the steelheads in an even bigger tote. In all, the four were found with 25 steelheads.

The second incident took place Oct. 15, 2023, around 1:55 a.m. at Trout Run. Two people were seen on camera at the nursery getting out of a Dodge Caliber with a cooler and landing nets, according to a report. When law enforcement arrived, the duo was found with three steelheads on the ground and another 12 in the cooler.

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All six were cited and had their privilege to fish in Pennsylvania revoked. Each person was fined an average of $1,600, PFBC said.

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