SANTA FE – Anglers can fish for free in New Mexico on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, as the state observes National Boating and Fishing Week.
Anyone can fish for free in public fishing waters throughout the state on both days, but everyone must observe bag limits and all other rules and regulations. For more information, please visit the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s website.
“Free Fishing Weekend is a great opportunity for families to come together and take part in an activity that they can enjoy for a lifetime,” Department director Mike Sloane said.
The Department is excited to take part in several events across the state as part of Free Fishing Weekend, with staff and Department volunteers helping to introduce New Mexico youth to fishing.
The Fifth Annual Outdoor Adventure Day, co-hosted by the Department and Corrales Parks and Recreation, will take place Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Liam Knight Pond in Corrales. The event will feature prizes for anglers age 17 and under for the largest fish, smallest fish and catching a tagged fish.
There will also be an archery range and a pellet gun range. Registration begins at 7 a.m.
The Department will also be taking part in the Fish with a Cop event Saturday at Young Park in Las Cruces, hosted by the Las Cruces Police Department. Department staff will be on hand to teach casting skills, as well as to loan out fishing gear, bait hooks and help untangle lines.
There will also be prizes and giveaways, as well as food and music. The event runs from 8 a.m.-noon.
Department volunteers will also take part in the Route 66 Children’s Fishing Derby from 7 a.m.-noon at Monastery Lake in Pecos. The event is sponsored by the Village of Pecos, the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division and the New Mexico Tourism Department.
There will be prizes for kids and plenty of family-friendly activities, with local vendors and food trucks also on hand.
For information on additional places to fish and what to use, consult the Department’s Weekly Fishing and Stocking Report and the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner. Maps of public fishing waters, lists of where to find family-friendly fishing and tips on how to fish also can be found on the Department’s website.
The Department would like to remind all boaters to Clean, Drain and Dry their boats to avoid introducing Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) such as quagga mussels and zebra mussels into New Mexico’s waters. Check out the latest episode of the New Mexico Wildlife Podcast or the Department’s website for more information about AIS and boater safety.
The Department also reminds anglers and outdoor recreationists to “know before you go” and to contact land-management agencies regarding additional regulations or restrictions on specific properties of interest before heading afield.
Helpful links for planning your trip include: