Purchase a PA Saltwater Angler Registry Program (SARP) Permit

The Pennsylvania Saltwater Angler Registry Program (PA-SARP) permit is required for anglers who target or catch shad, striped bass and river herring* from the Delaware River below Trenton Falls or in the Delaware Estuary.

Anglers do NOT need to register if they meet one of the following exceptions:

  • Are under the age of 16.
  • Hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling Permit.
  • Fish commercially under a valid license.
  • Possess a valid registration with the National Saltwater Angler Registry.
  • Registry administered by NOAA or from another exempted state.

 

A PA-SARP permit is only available for purchase online and the customer must have a valid fishing license prior to purchase.

 

Complete the following required steps and any optional steps, as necessary, to purchase a PA-SARP permit:

  1. On your customer homepage, in the Licenses section, click Buy Licenses/Permits.

  2. On the Product Catalog page, click Fish.

  3. In the Products section, select the PA Saltwater Angler Registry Program (PA-SARP) product to add it to the cart.

  4. In the Required section, select the appropriate add-on product, if required.

  5. Click Add To Cart.

  6. Confirm Acknowledgements, click Continue

  7. In the Shopping Cart, review the details listed and perform one of the following actions:

    • Click Keep Shopping to continue shopping for more products.

    • Click Remove to remove an item from the shopping cart.

    • Click Checkout to continue to the checkout.

  8. Select your payment method and complete the checkout process.

 

*River Herring (also known as Alewife and Blueback Herring) are regulated with closed fishing seasons, year-round, in the Delaware River, its tributaries (upstream to the limit of tidal influence) and estuary. Hickory Shad (endangered species) has no open season. These species are not to be targeted. If caught, they are to be immediately released, unharmed.

Anglers may also register with the National Registry website with NOAA by clicking on the Angler Registry link. Please note that registered anglers must still possess a valid state fishing license.