NMDGF Fishing News
Welcome to the fishing news page. Department-wide news can be found under Home → NMDGF News.
Noticias y temas importantes (2022-23 NM Pesca Reglas e Informacion)
What’s New
Baitfish
Shad added as approved baitfish species in the Pecos River drainage.
Trout Daily Bag Limits
Trout bag limit increased to statewide limit (5 trout per day) at Tingley, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery Ponds, Goose Lake, and Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Lake. Cutthroat trout limit increased at Seven Springs Kid’s Pond.
Kokanee Salmon Snagging
New kokanee snagging season dates at Heron Lake and Willow Creek, November 11 — December 31. Abiquiu Lake closed to kokanee snagging.
Trotlines
Waters open to trotlines defined by river drainage.
New Special Summer Catfish Waters
Harris Pond and Trees Lake added as Summer Catfish Waters.
Age Restricted Waters
Age restricted waters categorized into three new categories. Estancia Pond now open to all anglers. New youth fishing opportunity at Rock Lake Hatchery Ponds and Alto Kid’s Pond.
Important Reminders
It’s Illegal To Possess, Transport and Stock Live Game Fish
It is illegal to possess, transport or stock live game fish into any water (except in the water where legally caught) without a permit from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF).
Baitfish Rules
Baitfish species approved by drainage. Processed and packaged fish are not considered baitfish and may be used statewide where bait use is legal. Bullfrogs, dead or alive, cannot be used as bait.
New Mexico Trout and Bass Challenge
Catch the five species of trout to complete the New Mexico Trout Challenge and four species of bass to complete the New Mexico Bass Challenge. For more information go to http://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/fishing-challenges/
Buy a License Online, by Telephone or at License Vendors
Licenses and stamps can be purchased online: www.wildlife.state.nm.us beginning March 21, 2022. The NMDGF Information Center is open Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., except holidays, to answer questions and sell licenses: 1-888-248-6866. Licenses and stamps also may be purchased at local vendors or any NMDGF office.
50% Discounts for Resident Military and Veterans
Residents of New Mexico who are active duty military or veterans can receive 50% discounts on licenses, permits and stamps.
Boating Regulations and Registration
Basic boating regulations: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/spd/ or call: 1-888-667-2757. Boater registration information: www.mvd.newmexico.gov or call: 1-888-683-4636.
Special Trout Waters: Red, Green or Xmas
Designations for Special Trout Waters are easy to identify. Signs are posted at each location with bag limits and tackle restrictions for Red Chile Water, Green Chile Water and Xmas Chile Water. See Special Trout Waters.
Dates to Remember
Recordatorios importantes
Noticias
Peces para cebo:
se agregó sábalo molleja como especie aprobada de peces para cebo en el drenado del río Pecos.
Límites diarios de piezas pescadas para trucha:
el límite de piezas pescadas para trucha aumentó al límite estatal (5 truchas por día) en Tingley, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery Ponds, Goose Lake and Rio Grande hacia Elephant Butte Lake. El límite de la trucha degollada aumentó en Seven Springs Kids’ Pond.
Pesca con garfio de salmón rojo (Kokanee):
nuevas fechas de temporada de pesca con garfio de salmón rojo (kokanee) en el lago Heron y el riachuelo Willow , del 11 de noviembre al 31 de diciembre. Abiquiu Lake cerrado para la pesca con garfio de salmón rojo (kokanee).
Trotlines
Waters open to trotlines defined by river drainage.
Líneas de anzuelos:
se abren aguas para líneas de anzuelos definidas por el drenado de los ríos
Límites de longitud del Lucioperca y la lobina de boca pequeña:
no hay límite de longitud para Lucioperca en todo el estado. No hay límite de longitud para la lobina de boca pequeña en la parte superior del río principal del Río Grande dentro de los condados de Río Arriba y Taos.
Nuevas aguas especiales de chato de verano:
Harris Pond y Trees Lake se agregaron como aguas de chato de verano.
Aguas con restricción de edad:
las aguas con restricción de edad se clasificaron en tres categorías nuevas. Estancia Pond ya está abierto para todos los pescadores de caña. Nueva oportunidad de pesca para menores de edad en Rock Lake Hatchery Ponds y Alto Kids’ Pond.
Recordatorios importantes
En marzo de 2022, la Corte Suprema de Nuevo México dictaminó que la Certificación de Propietario de la Regla de Agua No Navegable (19.31.22 NMAC) era inconstitucional. Mediante esta orden judicial, todos los cursos de agua en el estado, a los que se puede acceder legalmente, quedan abiertos para uso público recreativo. Se recuerda a los recreacionistas públicos que el daño a la propiedad privada sigue siendo ilegal.
Es ilegal poseer, transportar y introducir peces de pesca deportiva vivos:
es ilegal poseer, transportar o introducir peces de pesca deportiva vivos en cualquier agua (excepto en el agua donde se capturaron legalmente) sin un permiso del Departamento de Caza y Pesca de Nuevo México (NMDGF).
Reglas de peces para cebo:
especies de peces para cebo aprobadas mediante drenado. Los peces procesados y envasados no se consideran peces para cebo y pueden usarse en todo el estado donde el uso de cebo sea legal. Las ranas toro, muertas o vivas, no pueden usarse como cebo.
Desafío de trucha y lobina de Nuevo México:
atrape las cinco especies de trucha para completar el New Mexico Trout Challenge y cuatro especies de lobina para completar el New Mexico Bass Challenge. Para obtener más información, visite http://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/fishing-challenges/
Compre una licencia en línea, por teléfono o con proveedores de licencias:
las licencias y los sellos se pueden comprar en línea: www.wildlife.state.nm.us a partir del 21 de marzo de 2022. El Centro informativo del NMDGF está abierto de lunes a viernes de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m., excepto los días festivos, para responder preguntas y vender licencias: 1-888-248-6866. Las licencias y los sellos también pueden comprarse con proveedores locales o en cualquier oficina del NMDGF.
50% de descuento para militares y veteranos residentes:
los residentes de Nuevo México que sean militares en servicio activo o veteranos pueden recibir un descuento del 50 % en licencias, permisos y sellos.
Regulaciones para la navegación en bote y registro
Regulaciones básicas para la navegación en bote: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/spd/ o llame al: 1-888-667-2757. Información de registro del navegante del bote: www.mvd.newmexico.gov o llame al: 1-888-683-4636.
Días de pesca gratuita
4 de junio: día de pesca gratuita en Nuevo México. No se requiere licencia (se aplican todas las demás reglas de pesca).
24 de septiembre: día nacional de la caza y la pesca. No se requiere licencia (se aplican todas las demás reglas de pesca).
Aguas especiales de trucha: rojo, verde o verde-rojo
Las designaciones para las aguas especiales de trucha son fáciles de identificar. Hay carteles colocados en cada ubicación con límites de piezas pescadas y restricciones de equipo para el agua de chile rojo, el agua de chile verde y el agua de chile verde-rojo.
Today’s Fishing News
Department surveys hunters, anglers about State Trust Land access
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 dan.williams@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCT. 8, 2015: DEPARTMENT SURVEYS HUNTERS, ANGLERS ABOUT STATE TRUST LAND ACCESS SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish is conducting an email survey this week asking hunters and anglers their views about the value of access to State Trust Lands for hunting, fishing and trapping. The survey asks license holders about how they use and how much they value access to State Trust Lands. It also reminds license holders of the State Land Office proposal to increase the current $200,000 annual lease fee to $1 million next year – a five-fold increase. Hunters and anglers pay for the lease with their license fees. Approximately 78,000 hunting and fishing license holders began receiving the survey by email Wednesday. Surveys were sent several thousand at a time, and [...]
Eagle Rock Lake in Questa restocked with trout and ready for fishing
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 30, 2015: EAGLE ROCK LAKE IN QUESTA RESTOCKED WITH TROUT AND READY FOR FISHING QUESTA – Eagle Rock Lake in Questa will reopen to fishing Saturday, Oct. 3, following a reopening ceremony and celebration of angling improvements to the lake and adjoining river. “We’ve created an incredible aquatic park that anglers will really enjoy,” said Eric Frey, sport fish program manager for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. “This should really put Questa on the map as one of the top fishing destinations in the state.” Before the reopening, the lake will be restocked with rainbow trout, including plenty of big ones raised at the nearby Red River Fish Hatchery. The lake has been closed for the past year while Chevron Mining drained, dredged and relined [...]
Navajo Lake boat ramp closed to snagging in October
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contacts: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007, karl.moffatt@state.nm.us Christina Cordova, 505-476-3363; christina.cordova@state.nm.us Beth Wojahn, 505-476-3226; beth.wojahn@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 23, 2015: NAVAJO LAKE BOAT RAMP CLOSED TO SNAGGING IN OCTOBER NAVAJO DAM –The Pine Main boat ramp at Navajo Lake State Park and surrounding no-wake zone will be closed to anglers this October during kokanee salmon snagging season to allow the Department of Game and Fish to harvest salmon eggs and sperm. The rest of Navajo Lake will remain open to snagging, including the spillway to the far corner of the dam. The kokanee salmon-snagging season at Navajo Lake runs from October 1 through December 31; the closed area will reopen to anglers on November 1. “Low water years have hindered our egg take from Heron Reservoir, requiring the use of Navajo Lake as an alternative source of salmon eggs this year,” said [...]
Public comment sought on new statewide fisheries management plan
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: Kirk Patten 505-476-8055 DGF-StatewideFishPlan@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT.17,2015: PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT ON NEW STATEWIDE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN SANTA FE –The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment on the draft of a new fisheries management plan that will help guide the department’s efforts into the future. The new plan includes management direction for specific waters, primary fish species and project priorities. The last comprehensive, statewide, fisheries management plan was adopted in 1987 and only covered sportfish. The new draft plan includes sportfish as well native and non-game fish. The draft plan also includes information about hatchery operations, habitat restoration projects, specific watershed areas, angler survey data, fishery management priorities, funding and more. The plan can be found on the department’s website at http://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/commission/proposals-under-consideration. The department is also conducting public meetings [...]
Statelifts catch and release recommendation for Animas and San Juan Rivers
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 4, 2015: STATE LIFTS CATCH AND RELEASE RECOMMENDATION FOR ANIMAS AND SAN JUAN RIVERS SANTA FE – New Mexico Department of Game and Fish biologists have determined fish caught in sections of the Animas and San Juan rivers affected by last month’s Gold King Mine wastewater spill in Colorado are safe to eat. A laboratory in Colorado tested the organs and tissue for lead, mercury, selenium, copper, arsenic and cadmium in 17 fish, five catfish, and 12 trout that were taken from the affected areas of the rivers. “Tissue samples from fish tested revealed trace amounts of metals that are within acceptable levels for human consumption,” said Mike Sloane, chief of fisheries for the Department. “After consulting with the Environment Department and the Department of Health, we have [...]