New Mexico Fish Hatcheries
The Department of Game and Fish operates six fish hatcheries around the state. For a brief history read: New Mexico builds its hatcheries (Roy E. Barker, 1912-1962 Golden Anniversary Issue, New Mexico Wildlife, Jan/Feb 1962). Some hatcheries recently have undergone renovations to address whirling disease and to upgrade facilities: Revitalized NM Hatcheries See Bright Future.
Fish hatchery visitors are welcome during business hours. See also Contact Us: Area Operations for google maps and additional fish hatchery contact information.
Glenwood Fish Hatchery
Location: About 45 miles north of Silver City and 35 miles south of Reserve.
History: Built in 1938.
Production: Raises only female triploid (sterile) rainbow trout, to be stocked in waters where interbreeding with native fish is not desired. The fish hatchery eventually will be New Mexico’s rearing facility for native Gila trout.
Information: (575) 539-2461, DGF-GlenwoodHatchery@state.nm.us.
Lisboa Springs Fish Hatchery
Location: About 25 miles east of Santa Fe and one mile north of Pecos.
History: Built in 1921, it is the state’s oldest fish hatchery.
Production: About 136,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout a year.
Information: (505) 757-6360, DGF-LisboaSpringsHatchery@state.nm.us.
Los Ojos Fish Hatchery
Location: Village of Los Ojos, about 15 miles south of Chama.
History: Formerly called Parkview Hatchery, it was built in 1932.
Production: Catchable-sized rainbow trout, but may be converted to a fingerling rearing facility. Capable of raising three million trout fingerlings per year to be stocked in waters statewide.
Information: (575) 588-7307, DGF-LosOjosHatchery@state.nm.us.
Red River Fish Hatchery
Location: About 20 miles north of Taos.
History: Built in 1941.
Production: About 1.7 million rainbow trout a year, including more than 500,000 catchable 9- 10-inch fish for stocking statewide. It is the state’s largest production hatchery and currently is being converted to raising triploid (sterile) trout to be stocked in waters where interbreeding with native fish is not desired.
Information: (575) 586-0222, DGF-RedRiverHatchery@state.nm.us.
Rock Lake Fish Hatchery
Location: About 2 miles south of Santa Rosa.
History: Built in 1964.
Production: The state’s primary catchable trout-rearing station produces 300,000 trout a year for stocking statewide. The warm-water fish hatchery component also raises bass, walleye, catfish, bluegills and tiger muskies.
Information: (575) 472-3690, DGF-RockLakeHatchery@state.nm.us.
Seven Springs Fish Hatchery
Location: About 22 miles north of Jemez Springs and 4 miles north of Fenton Lake in the Jemez Mountains.
History: Built in 1936.
Production: Responsible for production and distribution of native Rio Grande cutthroat trout, New Mexico’s State Fish. The fish hatchery has raised more than 72,000 trout for stocking since 2002.
Information: (575) 829-3740, DGF-SevenSpringsHatchery@state.nm.us.
See also Contact Us: Area Operations for google maps and additional fish hatchery contact information.
Sport Fish Restoration Act
A 10-percent federal excise tax on your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuel helps states individually promote sport fisheries. This includes acquiring easements or leases for public fishing, funding hatchery and stocking programs, supporting aquatic education programs, and improving boating facilities for anglers.