NMDGF Fishing News
Welcome to the fishing news page. Department-wide news can be found under Home → NMDGF News.
Reference (2022-23 NM Fishing Rules & Info)
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 https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/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
These fishing clinics are for pre-Kindergarten students. The fishing clinic will consist of fishing safety, knots, equipment, casting and fish identification. Students and Department staff will be fishing. This event is closed to the public.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Aquatic Education program will be fishing with middle school students from Aldo Leopold Charter School from Silver City at Bill Evans Lake on April 26.
Registration Details:
This event is closed to the public.
This clinic is open to women of all ages living in northern New Mexico interested in learning the basics of fly fishing. Participants will learn the basic knowledge and skills needed to get them started on the water.
Part I of the class students will learn about the equipment used for fly fishing, how to set up a fly rod and reel with leader, tippet and fly. The class will cover the different types of flies used for trout fishing, what they represent, knots to attach them, and some strategies and tactics to know when and how to fish them effectively.
Part II will cover the basics of fly casting on the water, covering the two most important casts, overhead and roll.
This class will be offered by volunteers from the Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Registration Details:
Registration opens April 1, 2024 on the following link, https://forms.office.com/g/Ge92GBamXW. Slots will be filled on a first-come basis.
These fishing clinics are for the Cub Scouts in Pack 990. The fishing clinic will consist of fishing safety, knots, equipment, casting and fish identification. Scouts and Department staff will be fishing. This event is closed to the public.
The workshops and fishing clinic will consist of fishing safety, knots, equipment, fish identification and fishing at Oasis State Park. After the fishing, we will also have a dissection lesson.
N/A. Closed to the public
These workshops and fishing clinics are for the fourth-graders. The fishing workshops will consist of fishing safety, knots, equipment, casting and fish identification. Students and Department staff will be fishing. This event is closed to the public.
A fishing day will be held for The Nature Niños “Investigating the Outdoors” (ITO) class. Youth ages nine through 17 will learn, explore, and connect with our local natural spaces and grow their outdoor passions. Today’s class will cover basic fishing skills (casting, catch-and-release, and ethical fish harvesting). The Department will help with the angling essentials, such as fish species/anatomy, habitat, diet, understanding fishing gear, tying knots, safety and so on. This will also include hands-on practice casting, rod-and-reel assembly, and patience with fishing.
Registration Details:
Additional details for ITO can be found at https://www.natureninos.org/investigating-the-outdoors/
NMWF Nature Niños reached out to retain assistance from NMDGF – Aquatic Educator Contractor, Matty Gonzales
These workshops and fishing clinics are for the fourth-graders. The fishing workshops will consist of fishing safety, knots, equipment, casting and fish identification. Students and Department staff will be fishing. This event is closed to the public.
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 https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/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.