ALBANY -The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has proposed changes to the State’s fishing regulations in an effort to simplify the rules. The DEC is seeking input from anglers before the February 6 deadline. Submission instructions can be found below.
According to the DEC, their proposal will significantly reduce the number of special regulations found in the annual Fishing Regulations Guide. “The changes are being proposed to make fishing easier and to break down potential barriers for newcomers to the sport, while still ensuring that our fisheries resources are managed in a sustainable manner,” according to a statement from the DEC.
Highlights of the changes include:
- Changing the statewide regulation for rainbow trout and brown trout in ponds to allow for year-round fishing.
- Aligning harvest limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout across streams and ponds at five fish per day no minimum size, only two of which can be over 12”.
- Changing the statewide regulations for Atlantic Salmon and lake trout to allow for year-round fishing.
- Normalizing season dates so all openers for sportfish begin on a hard date.
- Allow ice fishing statewide unless specifically prohibited in all but 9 Adirondack counties, where the existing regulation prohibiting ice fishing in waters inhabited by trout will remain.
The DEC says they are “eager to receive your opinion and comments on these regulation changes before the official comment period closes on February 6. We encourage you to find out more about the proposed changes by clicking on the following link, Fisheries Regulation Changes Information Packet. To read the official text as it would be presented in the New York Code of Rules & Regulations visit DEC’s website.“
Submit comments on the proposal via e-mail to regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov or via mail to the Inland Fisheries Section, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753; subject line “Fishing Regulations Proposal Comments.” Comments will be accepted through February 6, 2022.
