The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) Board of Commissioners have given preliminary approval to a list of proposed fee adjustments for various fishing licenses and permits for the 2024 license year. 

Under the proposal, which can be found online, the price of the most common fishing license and permits would increase by $2.50 each in 2024. 

The most common fishing license and permits include: Resident Annual Fishing License, Trout Permit, and Combination Trout/Lake Erie Permit. 

"It is the first increase that we've seen on fishing licenses since 2005," Anthony Campanella, owner of Poor Richard's Bait and Tackle in Fairview, said. "Kind of due for an increase." 

Additionally, separate increases would be applied to other license and permit categories for non-residents, seniors, and tourists. 

If the proposal is approved, however, the revenue from the fee increases are expected to generate an estimated $2.9 million annually for the PFBC's Fish Fund to support fishing-related programs. 

"The money's going to a lot of good things," Campanella said. "[It's] going into salaries for the Fish Commission officers and benefits, helping maintain the trout stocking, the hatcheries, the cost of food to feed the trout."

More information on the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission can be found here.