Schykill River gets fishy

As the weather gets warmer, more and more fish will populate the Schuylkill River and wherever the fish go, the people are sure to follow.

"I think people in Philadelphia are surprised when they hear how many fish are here and the comeback we've been seeing," Joseph Perillo of the Philadelphia Water Department said.

The fish population has made a big comeback in the Schuylkill River through Philadelphia. The water is a lot cleaner than even just twenty years ago and, a fish ladder near boathouse row gives migratory fish a chance to spawn as the environment improved, fish returned to the city.

"We're starting to see a response from the aquatic community with more fish coming back,"

Local fishers are taking advantage for many of them, it's a fairly new discovery.

"I've been coming here the past 5 years before that I never would've though to come here," Joe Wescott of Drexel Hill said.

People who fish along the Schuylkill have discovered a great variety of fish. In fact, at last count, Philadelphia boasted 45 species of fish in the Schuylkill. Several species have been captured on the Fairmount Waterworks' camera.

This camera acts as a window to the activity in the fish ladder near boathouse row.

"It's a great place to bring the kids. There's a variety of panfish, perch, carp. I've seen a guy catch a 30lb. carp out here," Wescott said.

You do need a fishing license if you want to fish down here and it's important to know what type of fish you're catching, because some species are endangered, or out of season.

Pennsylvania fish and boat commission's website: