New
Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 23 / December 9, 2025
This is an amendment to 19.31.10 NMAC,
Sections 14 and 17, effective 4/1/2026.
19.31.10.14 FISHING:
A. Angling: Game fish may be taken by angling in all
waters that are open for fishing.
B. Season and hours: It is unlawful to fish in any water during a
closed season or to fish in any water outside of the legal fishing hours as
prescribed in 19.31.4 NMAC.
C. Closed waters: It is unlawful to fish in any water
closed by state game commission rule.
D. Ice fishing: [It is unlawful to
take fish from or through the ice on the following waters: Santa Cruz lake,
Bonito lake, and Springer lake. Ice
fishing is legal on all other waters unless otherwise prohibited.] Ice fishing is permitted in all waters unless closed by any local,
state or federal agency due to safety concerns or unsafe ice conditions.
E. Hatchery waters: It is unlawful to take or attempt to take
fish from the waters of any fish hatchery or rearing ponds owned or operated by
state or federal agencies.
Exception: During open season,
angling shall be permitted in the Glenwood pond at the Glenwood state fish
hatchery, Red River hatchery pond at the Red River state fish hatchery, Brood
pond at Seven Springs state fish hatchery, Laguna del Campo at Los Ojos state
fish hatchery, and settling ponds at Rock Lake state fish hatchery. Additionally, the director may expressly
authorize other limited fishing at the state’s fish hatcheries based on
management needs.
F. Trotlines: Game fish may be taken by use of trotlines [
in any water except those listed below], however:
(1) It
is unlawful for any person to set more than one trotline at a time.
(2) It
is unlawful to tie or join together trotlines belonging to two or more persons.
(3) It
is unlawful for any trotline to have more than 25 angling hooks.
(4) It
is unlawful for a person who has set or maintained a trotline to not personally
visit and inspect it at least once every calendar day and remove or release all
game fish which are caught.
(5) It
is unlawful for anyone to check, pull up or otherwise tamper with another's
trotline.
(6) It
is unlawful for anyone to set, check or maintain a trotline which is not tagged
or marked as follows:
(a) A
person fishing with a trotline shall attach to it an identification tag that is
visible above the water line. The
identification tag shall bear the angler’s department issued customer
identification number (CIN).
(b) An
unlicensed angler 11 years of age and younger shall list their department
issued customer identification number (CIN) or their name and date of birth.
(7) It
is unlawful to set or use a trotline in any [public] water [with]
except the following [exceptions] areas or waters:
|
Drainage: |
Rivers: |
Lakes: |
|
Rio Grande
drainage |
Rio Grande
mainstem from its confluence with the Chama river downstream to New Mexico/Texas
state line and Chama river mainstem from the northern boundary of the
Monastery of Christ in the Desert downstream to Abiquiu lake |
Abiquiu lake,
Cochiti lake, Elephant Butte lake, and Caballo lake |
|
Pecos river
drainage |
Pecos river
mainstem downstream of I-25 (excluding Villanueva state park) to the New
Mexico/Texas state line and all tributaries within Chavez, De Baca, Eddy,
Guadalupe, and San Miguel (downstream of I-25) counties |
Santa Rosa lake,
Sumner lake, lake Avalon, Brantley lake, Six Mile lake, Ten Mile reservoir,
and Red Bluff reservoir |
|
Canadian river
drainage |
Canadian river
mainstem and all tributaries downstream and east of I-25 to the New
Mexico/Texas state line |
Stubblefield lake,
Laguna Madre, Maxwell lake 14, Springer lake, Conchas lake, and Ute lake |
|
San Juan river
drainage |
San Juan river
mainstem from U.S. 64 bridge at Blanco downstream to the Navajo Nation
boundary at the Hogback canal diversion |
Navajo lake |
|
Gila river and San
Francisco river drainage |
Gila river
mainstem from its confluence with the east fork downstream to the New
Mexico/Arizona state line and San Francisco river mainstem from U.S. 180
bridge at Alma downstream to the New Mexico/Arizona state line |
None |
|
[ |
[ |
Class A lakes and
[ |
(8) Any
officer authorized to enforce Chapter 17 NMSA 1978 and state game commission
rules may seize and destroy any trotlines not set or checked in accordance with
this subsection.
G. Spearfishing and bow fishing:
(1) Game
fish may be taken by spearfishing and bow fishing only in lakes and reservoirs
open to fishing. It is unlawful to spearfish
or bow fish in any special trout water as designated in 19.31.4 NMAC or in any
river or stream.
(2) It
is unlawful to take any largemouth bass by spearfishing or bow fishing in the
following waters: Bill Evans lake, Clayton lake, and lake Roberts.
H. Noodling or hand fishing: It is unlawful to catch any game fish by hand
without the use of angling equipment.
I. Use of nets: It is unlawful to use cast
nets, dip nets, seines or gill nets to capture and retain any protected species
of fish from any water unless specifically allowed by permit or state game
commission rule. Dip nets may be used to
assist in landing fish taken by legal angling methods.
J. Illegal device or substance: It is unlawful to use any device or substance
capable of catching, stupefying or killing fish except as permitted by state
game commission rule.
K. Bait:
(1) It
is unlawful to use protected game fish or the parts thereof as live or dead
bait, except the genus Lepomis (sunfish), taken by legal means may be used as
live or dead bait in the water from which they were taken, and the roe, viscera
and eyes of any legally taken game fish may be used.
(2) It
is unlawful to use bullfrogs or bullfrog tadpoles as bait, or to possess any
live bullfrogs or live bullfrog tadpoles while fishing.
L. Use of bait fish: It is unlawful to use or possess any baitfish
while angling except as follows:
(1) The
following baitfish species can be used live or dead unless otherwise
prohibited:
|
Water: |
Approved bait fish species: |
|
Rio Grande
drainage |
Fathead minnow,
red shiner and shad |
|
Elephant Butte and
Caballo reservoirs |
Fathead minnow,
red shiner, shad and golden shiner |
|
Pecos river drainage
except for Bitter lake national wildlife refuge, [ |
Fathead minnow red shiner, and shad |
|
Canadian river
drainage |
Fathead minnow,
red shiner, white sucker and shad |
|
San Juan river
drainage |
Fathead minnow and
red shiner |
|
Gila river and San
Francisco river drainages |
Fathead minnow |
(2) The
following bait fish species can only be used as dead bait unless otherwise
prohibited:
|
Water: |
Approved dead baitfish species: |
|
Statewide |
Common carp |
|
Heron reservoir |
White sucker |
(3) Commercially
packaged and processed species of fish which are dead or products thereof are
not considered bait fish and are legal in all regular waters.
M. Methods for taking bait fish for personal
use: Licensed anglers and children
11 years of age and younger may take bait fish for personal use only in waters
containing game fish by angling, nets, traps, spears, arrows and seines. All protected species of fish taken in
seines, nets and traps shall be immediately returned to the water.
N. Illegal taking of bait fish:
(1) It
is unlawful for any person, except children 11 years of age and younger, to
take bait fish from any water without having a valid fishing license.
(2) It
is unlawful for any person to take bait fish from any water for commercial use
without a permit issued from the department.
(3) It
is unlawful for licensed minnow dealers to violate any of the provisions of
their license or permit.
O. Permits for taking bait fish: The director may issue permits for the use of
nets, seines, traps or cast nets in taking bait fish in waters containing
protected species of fish. The permit
shall specify methods of taking, places for taking and duration of the
permit. The permittee shall report monthly, to the department, the species, numbers and
poundage of bait fish taken during the preceding month.
P. Limit on angling hooks: It is unlawful
to angle with more than two barbless lures or flies with single point angling
hooks on a single line when fishing the special trout water on the San Juan
river designated in Subsection A of 19.31.4.11 NMAC.
Q. [Eradication of fish] Suspension
of fish daily and possession limits:
In waters where fish are being eradicated, [or] where water
shortage warrants reduction of fish numbers, or where removal of a protected
fish species serves an urgent management purpose the director may permit
licensed anglers and children 11 years of age and younger to take and possess
game fish in numbers exceeding current bag limits, [and]
possession limits, and size limits.
In granting such permission the director may specify bag limits,
[and] possession limits, size limits and manner and method of
taking for such waters for up to six months.
R. Emergency closure of angling: The director may
restrict angling including current bag limits, possession limits, and size
limits in waters where water shortage or fish population decline warrants
additional protection of a fish species. The director may specify bag limits,
possession limits, size limits, and manner and method of taking for such waters
for up to six months.
[R.] S. Possession and release of
live game fish:
(1) It
is unlawful to release any live game fish into any water in the state, except
for fish which were legally caught from that water, without a permit issued by
the department.
(2) It
is unlawful to possess or transport any live game fish away from the water from
which they were caught without a permit issued by the department.
(3) Exception: Department employees or federal employees
while performing their official duties or those individuals working on behalf
of the department when directed by a department employee.
[S.] T. Possession of undersized
fish: It is unlawful for any person
to have game fish in their possession which do not meet the minimum length
requirements as specified in 19.31.4 NMAC.
[T.] U. Number of fishing poles or
lines: It is unlawful to angle with more
than one pole or line without having purchased a current two rod validation
during the current license year. It is
unlawful under any circumstance to angle with more than two poles or lines. A trotline shall not count toward an anglers
limit on fishing poles or lines.
[U.] V. Exceeding daily bag limit: It is unlawful to exceed the daily bag limit
of any protected fish species, as specified in 19.31.4 NMAC.
[V.] W. Exceeding possession limit: It is unlawful to exceed the possession limit
of any protected fish species, as specified in 19.31.4 NMAC.
[W.] X. Exceeding daily bag limit or
possession limit - Penalty Assessment:
Any person exceeding the daily bag limit or the possession limit by two
fish or less shall be offered a penalty assessment.
[X.] Y. Snagging game fish: It is unlawful to snag game fish or to keep
any snagged game fish except Kokanee salmon during the special Kokanee salmon
season as specified in 19.31.4 NMAC.
[Y.] Z. Special trout waters: Only barbless lures or flies may be used in
the special trout waters designated in 19.31.4 NMAC, except in the following
waters any legal angling gear and legal bait may be used: the Vermejo river
system within Vermejo Park ranch boundaries, Gilita,
Little Turkey, and Willow creeks, Mineral creek, Red River from its confluence
with the Rio Grande upstream to the lower walking bridge at Red River state
fish hatchery, Rio Chama from the river crossing bridge on U.S. 84 at Abiquiu
upstream 7.0 miles to the base of Abiquiu dam, Rio Grande, Rio Ruidoso, and
Whitewater creek from Catwalk National Recreation Trail parking area upstream
to headwaters. It is unlawful to use
tackle which does not meet these restrictions in the designated special trout
waters.
[Z.] AA. Attracting or concentrating fish:
(1) Artificial lights: Use of artificial lights is permitted for
attracting game fish.
(2) Disturbing the bottom: It is unlawful in all special trout waters defined
in Subsection A of 19.31.4.11 NMAC, to disturb or dislodge aquatic plant
growth, sediment, or rocks for the purpose of attracting or concentrating
fish. It shall also be unlawful to angle
in the immediate vicinity where such disturbance has occurred.
(3) Chumming: Chumming is legal in all waters which have no
tackle restrictions.
[AA.] AB. Violation of age or disability restrictions: It is unlawful for any person to fish in any
water with age or disability restrictions when that person does not meet the
requirements as specified in 19.31.4 NMAC.
[19.31.10.14 NMAC -
Rp, 19.31.10.14 NMAC, 4/1/2023; A, 4/1/2026]
19.31.10.17 BOATS,
OTHER FLOATING DEVICES, AND MOTORS: It is unlawful to operate, control or ride in
any boat or other floating device contrary to sections A-D below.
A. Electric or gas motors allowed: On the following lakes controlled by the
department, boats and other floating devices with electric or gas motors shall
be permitted only during the season and hours when fishing is permitted. Boats or floating devices on these lakes
shall not be operated at greater than normal trolling speed: Clayton
lake WMA, and McAllister lakeWMA
B. Electric motors
only: On the following lakes
controlled by the department, only boats and other floating devices using
electric motors or with gas motors that are not in use shall be permitted: Bear canyon lake WMA, Bill Evans lake WMA,
Green Meadow, Fenton lake WMA, Hopewell, Jackson lake WMA, Lake Roberts
WMA, Morphy, Quemado, Snow, Conoco lakes and Tucumcari lake WMA.
C. No motors allowed: On the following lakes controlled by the
department, only boats and other floating devices using no motors shall be
permitted: Bernardo WMA, La Joya WMA, [Jackson
lake WMA,] McGaffey, San Gregorio, Shuree ponds and Wagon Mound WMA.
D. No boats or
floating devices allowed: On the
following lakes controlled by the department, no boats or other floating
devices shall be permitted: Bonito lake,
Monastery lake, and Red River hatchery pond.
E. Department personnel or persons authorized by the director
may use gasoline powered motors on all waters in the state while performing
official duties.
[19.31.10.17 NMAC -
Rp, 19.31.10.17 NMAC, 4/1/2023; A, 4/1/2026]