New Mexico Fishing Regulations
Not legal advice. Compiled from official government summaries. Regulations change each year — always check the official source before relying.
General Rules (barbless hooks are the #1 cause of fines)
- ⚠ Free Gila Trout Fishing Permit required for Black Canyon, Gilita, Mineral, Mogollon, Sapillo creeks, West Fork Gila River, Whitewater and Willow creeks.
- ⚠ Trotlines limited to 25 hooks, one per angler, and only in listed river reaches/lakes.
- ⚠ Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for warmwater species.
- ⚠ Any trout with red slash marks below the jaw is considered a cutthroat.
Species Limits
| Species | Limit | Size / Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout (brown, brook, rainbow, Gila) & kokanee salmon | 5 per day / 10 possession (max 2 lake trout and/or 2 cutthroat in limit) | |
| Lake trout | 2 per day / 4 possession | |
| Cutthroat trout | 2 per day / 4 possession | |
| Black bass (largemouth, spotted, smallmouth) | 5 per day | Largemouth/spotted min 14 in; smallmouth min 12 in (Conchas/Ute 14 in) |
| Catfish (all except bullheads) | 15 per day | No limit in Animas & San Juan rivers |
| Crappie | 20 per day | |
| Striped bass | 1 per day | No limit in Animas & San Juan rivers |
| Northern pike | 10 per day | No limit at Eagle Nest Lake |
| Tiger muskie | 1 per day | Min 40 in (Bluewater & Quemado lakes only) |
| Walleye | 5 per day | |
| White bass & hybrid striped bass | 25 per day | |
| Yellow perch | 30 per day | |
| Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) | 20 per day |
Waterbody-Specific Rules
Laguna del Campo
- Trout bag 3 per day.
Eagle Nest Lake
- Northern pike: no bag or possession limit; may not be returned intentionally to the lake.
Conchas & Ute reservoirs
- Smallmouth bass min 14 in.
Rio Grande (Taos & Rio Arriba counties)
- Smallmouth bass: no minimum size.
Alto Lake
- Shore fishing hours: 5 a.m.–11 p.m.; Boat hours: Sunrise to sundown;
Alumni Pond
- Winter Trout Water; Special Summer Catfish Water; No trotlines.
Animas River (San Juan Co.)
- No bag or possession limit for channel catfish or
Bataan Lake
- Special Summer Catfish Water; Winter Trout Water; No trotlines.
Bear Canyon Lake
- Winter Trout Water; No trotlines; Boats restricted to oars or
Big Dry Creek (Catron Co.)
- Closed to fishing from Golden Link Cabin upstream
Bill Evans Lake
- Trophy Bass Water; Winter Trout Water; No trotlines; Boats
Black Canyon Creek (Grant Co.)
- Closed to fishing Nov. 1–June 30 from Forest
Black River
- Winter Trout Water.
Blue Hole Park Pond (Santa Rosa)
- Open only to anglers 11 years of age or
Bluewater Reservoir
- One tiger muskie, 40 inches or longer.
Bonito Lake
- Open to fishing during daylight hours 30 minutes before sunrise to
Bottomless Lakes State Park
- Winter Trout Water; No trotlines; Fishing with
Cabresto Creek
- (Cabresto Canyon to the headwaters, not including Lake Fork or
Capulin Creek
- (Bandelier/Dome Wilderness, Sandoval Co.) Special Trout Water.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake
- Winter Trout Water; No trotlines.
Carrizozo Lake
- Special Summer Catfish Water; Winter Trout Water; No trotlines.
Chaparral Lake
- Special Summer Catfish Water; Winter Trout Water; No trotlines.
Charette Lakes (upper and lower)
- Open to fishing from noon March 1–noon
Cimarron River
- Special Trout Water.
Clayton Lake
- Trophy Bass Water; Open to fishing from noon March 1–noon Oct.
Seasons
Most warmwater species open year-round. Kokanee closed Oct 1 - Nov 10 at Heron Lake/Willow Creek. Winter trout waters stocked Nov 1 - Mar 31.
Licence Fees
NM fishing license required; Second Rod Validation for a second pole; fees per NMDOW.
Edition: 2026-2027 New Mexico Fishing Rules & Info (NMDOW) · Effective: Apr 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027 · Source: New Mexico Dept. of Game & Fish (wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing)
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