NEW YORK Freshwater FISHING2015–16 OFFICIAL REGULATIONS GUIDE VOLUME 7, ISSUE NO. 1, APRIL 2015 Fishing for Muskie www.dec.ny.gov Most regulations are in effect April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR New York: A State of Angling Opportunity When it comes to freshwater fishing, no state in the nation can compare to New York. Our Great Lakes consistently deliver outstanding fishing for salmon and steelhead and it doesn’t stop there. In fact, New York is home to four of the Bassmaster’s top 50 bass lakes, drawing anglers from around the globe to come and experience great smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing. The crystal clear lakes and streams of the Adirondack and Catskill parks make New York home to the very best fly fishing east of the Rockies. Add abundant walleye, panfish, trout and trophy muskellunge and northern pike to the mix, and New York is clearly a state of angling opportunity. Fishing is a wonderful way to reconnect with the outdoors. Here in New York, we are working hard to make the sport more accessible and affordable to all. Over the past five years, we have invested more than $6 million, renovating existing boat launches and developing new ones across the state. This is in addition to the 50 new projects begun in 2014 that will make it easier for all outdoors enthusiasts to access the woods and waters of New York. Our 12 DEC fish hatcheries produce 900,000 pounds of fish each year to increase fish populations and expand and improve angling opportunities. Last year alone, we budgeted $4 million to repair and upgrade these facilities, as well as purchase 16 new stocking trucks. Fishing and hunting are now more affordable in New York, too. We have simplified license types and reduced costs for both residents and non-residents alike. We also made fishing licenses valid for a full year from their purchase date, allowing anglers to fully enjoy all four seasons of fishing regardless of when they purchased their license. To promote fishing, we have quadrupled the number of allowable statewide free fishing days from two to eight, established special Adventure Licenses and Adventure License Plates, and launched the New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App for smartphone users. Coming this year, new anglers can look forward to an introductory fishing guide from DEC. There’s nothing like fishing a Catskill Mountain stream for trout, the Finger Lakes for bass, or Lake Ontario for salmon. Surrounded by natural beauty, and an incred- ible range of fishing opportunities, New York has something to offer anglers of all skill levels. Your reward is the excitement of the catch and sharing these wonderful experiences with friends and family. Wherever you fish in New York, I’m sure you’ll want to return to our Empire State—the state of fishing opportunity. Wishing you all an enjoyable and successful 2015 season. See you on the water! Andrew M. Cuomo Governor, State of New York CONTENTS USING THIS GUIDE 1. Review the Statewide Angling Regulations. — page 14 2. Review the Special Regulations section, which begins on page STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES 2 15 and includes regulations for specific waters (i.e., Lake Champlain) or group of waters (i.e., Great Lakes). IF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF CHANGES 4 WATER YOU INTEND TO FISH IS NOT LISTED IN THIS LICENSE INFORMATION 6 SECTION, STATEWIDE ANGLING REGULATIONS APPLY. 3. Review: NYS ENVIRONMENTAL • General Regulations — page 52 CONSERVATION POLICE Q&A 8 • Baitfish Regulations — page 57 FEATURE: MUSKELLUNGE IN NEW YORK STATE 10 • Definitions — page 60 4. Consult the License Information section to determine if you STATEWIDE ANGLING REGULATIONS 14 need a fishing license. — page 6 SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 1 16 5. Review the NYS Environmental Conservation Police Q&A SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 2 18 section, which provides answers to some of the more frequently asked questions concerning the information in this SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 3 19 guide. — pages 8, 16, 31 and 33 SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 4 21 6. Review Health Advisories. — page 71 NEW YORK CITY RESERVOIR REGULATIONS 23 If you have any questions or are unsure of any regulations, call or e-mail the nearest DEC regional office. Contact information TIDAL HUDSON RIVER REGULATIONS 24 can be found in the Special Regulations section of the guide. — pages 15–47 BORDER WATERS REGULATIONS 25 FEATURE: MUSKIE 101 26 SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 5 30 This guide is a summary that is intended for convenience only. LAKE CHAMPLAIN REGULATIONS 35 For a complete reference, consult New York State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and Volume 6 of the Codes, Rules and SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 6 36 Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR). Copies can be SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 7 40 reviewed at the nearest library with a State Supreme Court refer- ence section, on-line at www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/ for ECL and SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 8 43 www.dec.ny.gov/regs/2494.html for NYCRR, or by contacting a Regional DEC Division of Law Enforcement Office. FINGER LAKES AND TRIBUTARY REGULATIONS 45 SPECIAL REGULATIONS: REGION 9 46 STATE OF NEW YORK GREAT LAKES AND TRIBUTARY REGULATIONS 48 Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor GENERAL REGULATIONS 52 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Joe Martens, Commissioner BAITFISH REGULATIONS 57 Kathy Moser, Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources DEFINITIONS 60 Patricia Riexinger, Director, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources Phil Hulbert, Chief, Bureau of Fisheries FRESHWATER FISH IDENTIFICATION 62 How to contact us: NEW YORK STATE ANGLER NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Fisheries ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 64 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233-4753 WEIGH YOUR FISH WITH A RULER 65 [email protected] PUBLIC FISHING RIGHTS 69 Website: www.dec.ny.gov Main cover photo: Chautauqua Lake Muskie (Chautauqua County), CATCH & RELEASE GUIDELINES 70 Justin Brewer HEALTH ADVISORIES 71 Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources’ Mission: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OFFICERS 76 The mission of DEC’s Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources is DEC FISH HATCHERIES 78 to serve the interests of current and future generations of New Yorkers by using our collective skills, in partnership with the public, to describe, FUNDING FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 80 understand, manage and perpetuate a healthy and diverse assemblage of fish, wildlife and ecosystems. 2015–16 NEW YORK FRESHWATER FISHING GUIDE 1 NEW YORK reshwater FFISHING Anglers and Boaters 2015–16 OFFICIAL REGULATIONS GUIDE VOLUME 7, ISSUE NO. 1, APRIL 2015 Help STOP the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species and Fish Diseases Fishing for Fish diseases such as viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and invasive species such as Muskie the zebra mussel and Eurasian water milfoil can be spread through the use of boating and fishing equipment that has not been properly cleaned, dried or disinfected prior to its use in another waterbody. Help stop the spread of these noxious species and diseases by adhering to the following simple guidelines. Effective June 4, 2014, you are now required www.dec.ny.gov to remove all visible plant and animal material from your boat, trailer and associated Most regulations are in effect April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016 equipment and drain your boat’s bilge, livewell, baitwell, and other water holding com- partments when launching or leaving DEC boat launch facilities. INSPECT your boat, trailer and other About this Guide fishing and boating equipment, and remove all mud, plants and other organisms that This high-quality regulation guide is offered to you might be clinging to it. Never release plants, by the New York State Department of Environmental fish or animals into a body of water, unless Conservation through its unique partnership with they came out of that body of water. J.F. Griffin Publishing, LLC. 1 J.F. Griffin is an award winning publishing house that specializes in producing state fish and wildlife regulation books. J.F. Griffin supports the DEC’s staff in the design, layout and editing of the guides. They also manage the marketing and sales of advertising DRAIN AND DRY everything that came to appropriate businesses within the book. into contact with water. Many aquatic invasive The revenue generated through ad sales significantly species and fish diseases are microscopic and lowers production costs and generates savings. can be transported in as little as a drop of water. These savings translate into additional funds for Dry boats for at least 5 days and other equip- other important fisheries and habitat programs. ment for at least 48 hrs before use in another 2 waterbody. Difficult-to-dry gear may require If you have any feedback or are interested in adver- even longer drying times. Recommended dry- tising, please contact us at 413.884.1001 or online ing times for each month of the year can be at www.JFGriffin.com calculated at 100thmeridian.org/emersion.asp. Be sure to completely drain your boat, includ- Graphic Design: ing baitwells and livewells. Jon Gulley, Erin Murphy, Evelyn Haddad, Chris Sobolowski and Dane Fay DISINFECT the boat’s bilge, water holding compartments and equipment if you cannot dry it prior to use in another waterbody. Effec- tive disinfectants include water at 430 Main St. Suite 5 | Williamstown, MA 01267 least 140° F (hot tap water is usually 3 J.F. Griffin Publishing, LLC is proud to print the 120°–130°F), steam, or 2% bleach official New York Freshwater Fishing Regulations solution (3 ounces of household Guide on post-consumer recycled paper. bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water). Maintain a contact time of 30 seconds if using hot water and 10 minutes if using a bleach solution. If you cannot disinfect your boat or equipment, flush it thoroughly (par- available online ticularly the boat's bilge, livewells in a new Digital Edition! and baitwells) with water at a loca- tion that does not drain into the Fully searchable Email pages water body you will be boating on.