Freshwater Fishing Regulation Guide
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NEW YORK STATE FRESHWATER FISHING REGULATIONS GUIDE Regulations in efect April 1, 2021 Department of Environmental Conservation New York State has about 300 Complaints are forwarded to an ECO Environmental Conservation Ofcers for investigation. The more detailed (ECOs) and Investigators (ECIs) who work information you provide, the more likely throughout the state, including New the violator will be apprehended. Try to York City. ECOs spend most of their time remember the “who, what, where, when, patrolling within their assigned county. and how" of the event. The assistance of the public is essential • Keep a distance from the violator. Do to the efective enforcement of state not approach or attempt to confront environmental laws and regulations. If you suspects. They may be dangerous, observe someone violating Environmental destroy evidence, or simply evade Conservation Law or see the results of ofcers if forewarned. a violation, REPORT IT! Poachers and • Who did it? Provide names, ages, sex, polluters are thieves, stealing from you, height, weight, clothing or vehicle our fellow anglers, and future generations. descriptions, and other details. Those who pollute our air or water, destroy • What occurred? What exactly do you our environment, or ignore fsh and wildlife think is the nature of the violation? laws are criminals. Examples — taking over limit of fsh, Contact an Environmental snagging, illegal netting, fshing out of season, trespassing. Conservation Police Ofcer • When did it occur? Provide dates and (ECO) times. Is it still in progress, ongoing, or For general questions, call 1-877-457-5680. something yet to happen? Examples— You will speak with a dispatcher who will happening right now, happens every Fri assist you or connect you to an ECO. For night. best service, let them know the area you • Where did it occur? Provide street are calling from or the area your question addresses, town/county, name of is about. stream, river or pond, GPS location. Many fshing violations occur on large Report All Poachers and waterways, so specifc locations are Polluters valuable. Examples — at the north end of the spillway on Smith Creek Dam, near Call 1-844-DEC-ECOS (844-332-3267). You red buoy 32 on Reynolds Channel. will speak to a dispatcher who will assist • How did it occur? What methods or you in fling a complaint. You may ask circumstances were used to commit the to have your name kept confdential, or violations? Provide any other information you may ask to fle the complaint without the ECO may fnd useful. leaving a name (anonymously). Complaints may also be reported online at Environmental Conservation www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/67751.html. Ofcer Rosters For the current listing of Environmental Conservation Ofcers by Region, please visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/about/28461.html 2 New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide 2021 Department of Environmental Conservation STATE OF NEW YORK CONTENTS Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor Environmental Conservation Police Ofcers .................................................2 NYS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Using This Guide ................................5 Basil Seggos, Commissioner Highlights of Changes .......................5 Katherine Petronis, Deputy Commissioner, Statewide Species Seasons Natural Resources and Limits ............................................6 Tony Wilkinson, Director, Division of Fish Special Regulations and Wildlife Region 1 Special Regulations ................... 9 Stephen Hurst, Chief, Bureau of Fisheries Region 2 Special Regulations ..................11 How to contact us: Region 3 Special Regulations .................12 Region 4 Special Regulations .................19 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Tidal Hudson River Regulations ............24 Bureau of Fisheries Region 5 Special Regulations ................25 625 Broadway Region 6 Special Regulations .................41 Albany, NY 12233-4753 Region 7 Special Regulations ................48 [email protected] Region 8 Special Regulations ................53 Website: www.dec.ny.gov Region 9 Special Regulations ................56 Finger Lakes and Tributaries Regulations .................................................59 ABOUT THIS GUIDE Great Lakes and Tributaries This guide is a summary that is intended Regulations .................................................62 for convenience only. For a complete General Regulations reference, consult New York State Defnitions ...................................................70 Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Taking and Possession of Fish ...............71 and Volume 6 of the Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York Methods of Taking Fish ...........................73 (NYCRR). Copies can be reviewed online at: Regulations for Harvested Fish .............76 • public.leginfo.state.ny.us/lawssrch. Purchase and Sale of Fish ...................... 77 cgi?NVLWO: Natural Baits Other Than Baitfsh .........78 for ECL Baitfsh Regulations .........................79 • www.dec.ny.gov/regs/2494.html for NYCRR License Information ......................... 88 Freshwater Fish ID .......................... 89 About the Cover: Angler Achievement Awards ......... 92 Jessie Hollenbeck and his daughter Emma NYS Health Advice on Eating with a nice Oatka Creek brown trout. Jessie was a member of an angler focus Fish You Catch ................................. 95 group that provided DEC with valuable FAQ/Resources Page .....................100 information and insight toward the development of the new New York Inland New York’s Trout Stream Trout Stream Management Plan. Management Plan ..........................100 2021 New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide 3 Department of Environmental Conservation GOVERNOR’S COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE MESSAGE No matter what region of New York State The Department of Environmental you call home or plan to visit, there is an Conservation (DEC) is here to help make exciting fshing adventure awaiting you fshing an enjoyable and rewarding nearby. Even during the unprecedented activity for everyone, and we’ve taken challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, several actions recently to help make outdoor activities such as fshing the that possible. This new format for the state’s abundant waters remained critical 2021 Fishing Regulations Guide is part to helping hundreds of thousands of of an ongoing efort to make our rules anglers fnd a safe and fun activity close to and regulations easier to access and home. understand. It complements other eforts, including the new interactive trout stream Whether you choose to ice fsh with family fshing map that will be expanded in the and friends or seek socially distanced future to include all DEC-managed waters. solitude along a back-country stream reach, New York State’s fsheries provide DEC is also taking this straightforward every type of experience for anglers. approach to fsheries management, with We continue to work hard to provide improvements on the horizon on the heels resident and visiting anglers with the of fnalizing the Trout Stream Management best fshing experience possible. This Plan last year. After listening to anglers year, the Department of Environmental across the state, DEC developed a plan Conservation is developing a new that embraces simplicity, recognizes a interactive trout stream fshing map I diverse range of needs, encourages proposed in the 2021 State of the State to angler participation, and recognizes the provide anglers ‘one-stop-shopping’ for value of managing trout streams for self- trout stream fshing opportunities. The map sustaining populations of wild trout. We will include easy to use information about are prioritizing habitat management for the access points, applicable regulations, and continuous improvement of trout fsheries, stocking schedules. improving the quality of our stocked fsh, and streamlining fshing rules to make sure As we recover from the COVID-19 fshing is accessible to all New Yorkers. pandemic’s far-reaching impacts, New York will continue to invest in the health and Our state is home to many of the nation’s success of our fsheries, and the countless greatest fshing opportunities and we are environmental and economic benefts committed to taking bold action to attract they provide. Working with the angling and retain anglers who enjoy and care for community, we will continue to enhance our resources. the experiences New York has to ofer and endeavor to protect our fsheries for future Basil Seggos, Commissioner generations. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor 4 New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide 2021 Department of Environmental Conservation USING THIS GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS OF CHANGES This guide contains: A new look • Statewide Species Regulations The Fishing Regulations Guide has been • General Regulations (Defnitions, Taking revised for simpler use. The size of the and Possessing of Fish, Methods of guide has been reduced so it can easily Taking Fish, Regulations for Harvested ft into a tackle box. Additionally, special Fish, Purchase and Sale of Fish) regulations are now listed alphabetically • Baitfsh Regulations by individual waters by Region for easier • Special Regulations look-up. • Fish Health Advisories Feedback on the format of the Regulations Guide is always welcome. If you have any To fnd regulations for the suggestions, please send an email to water/species you are fshing: [email protected]. • Review the Special Regulations frst Regulation changes