ALBANY, NY (05/03/2012)(readMedia)-- The fishing season for many popular warmwater sportfish, including walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskellunge, opens Saturday, May 5 and with this, most of New York's sportfish seasons will be open, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. This includes catch and release fishing for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass) in many waters across the state and the special trophy black bass season on Lake Erie where anglers can take one 20-inch or longer fish per day.
Bass anglers should check the New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html) to ensure that the water they desire to fish is open to catch and release angling. Muskellunge fishing season and the regular (harvest) season for black bass open on the 3rd Saturday in June (June 16).
"New York provides exceptional warmwater fishing opportunities," said Commissioner Martens. "In fact, the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society recently ranked three of New York's lakes in the top 14 on their list of the 100 best bass lakes in the country. We hope all anglers find the time to enjoy these outstanding fishing opportunities in 2012 and encourage them to share their experience by introducing someone new to the sport."
Walleye are very popular springtime targets, and fishing opportunities now exist in more than 100 waters throughout the state. As part of ongoing management and research programs, DEC has stocked 56 waters with walleye fry or fingerlings over the last five years in almost all regions of the state. Spring also provides outstanding fishing opportunities for yellow perch, sunfish and crappie. These species are common throughout the state and provide easy fishing for even novice anglers. A popular sportfish in southern and Midwestern states, channel catfish also flourish in many of New York's larger lakes and rivers, provide a very tasty meal, and are state underutilized by anglers. Tips and locations for catching big channel catfish are available online at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/77432.html. A complete listing of 2012 warmwater fishing hotspots recommended by DEC biologists can be found on the DEC website.
DEC will continue a number of bass studies in 2012. These studies include an effort to assess black bass populations statewide, the investigation of black bass movements following bass tournaments on Lake Champlain and a tournament monitoring program on Oneida Lake. Participation from bass anglers will be requested for both tournament studies.
Use Baitfish Wisely
Anglers using fish for bait are reminded to be careful with how these fish are used and disposed of. Careless use of baitfish is one of the primary means by which non-native species and fish diseases are spread from water to water. Unused baitfish should be discarded in an appropriate location on dry land. A "Green List" of commercially available baitfish species that are approved for use in New York State has now been established in regulation. In most cases, these fish must also be certified as disease free. Personal collection and use of baitfish other than those on the "Green List" is permitted, but only on the water from which they were collected, and they may not be transported overland by motorized vehicle except within one of three defined overland transportation corridors. Please review the baitfish regulations webpage for details at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/47282.html.
Preventing Invasive Species and Fish Diseases
Anglers are also reminded to be sure to dry or disinfect their fishing and boating equipment, including waders and boots, before entering a new body of water. This is the only way to prevent the spread of potentially damaging invasive plant and animal species (didymo and zebra mussels) and fish diseases (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia and whirling disease). Methods to clean and disinfect fishing gear can be found on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/50121.html.
License requirements
Anglers 16 years of age and older must have a New York State fishing license available on line at www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html or by calling 1-86-NY-DECALS. Fishing licenses can also be purchased from the 1,500 license issuing agents located throughout the state (town and county clerks, some major discount stores and many tackle and sporting goods stores). By law, every dollar spent on a fishing license helps fund programs conducted by the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, including the fish stocking program.
DEM said approximately 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of 1.5 pounds have been stocked by division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day. A complete list of stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can be found on DEM’s website, www.dem.ri.gov.Freshwater fishing licensesYou need a freshwater fishing license to fish in Rhode Island. According to DEM regulations, “A fishing license is required of any person 15 years of age or older wishing to catch or take fish in any freshwater stream or pond in the state.” Exceptions include blind persons, landowners and their family members fishing from their property. Residents over 65 can obtain a special permanent license for free. This year resident licenses are $18 and non-resident licenses are $35; a non-resident, three-day license is $16.If you’re interested in fishing for trout, you’ll need a trout conservation stamp as well; that costs $5.50.Freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased from city and town clerk offices, authorized agents such as bait and tackle shops and other retail stores that sell tackle. For a list of license vendors, visit the DEM website, where you may also purchase a license online.Anglers to host fluke seminarYours truly will talk about what fluke experts have to say on summer flounder fishing tactics, gear and ideal fishing locations at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Warwick FOP Lounge, 95 Tanner Ave., Warwick. The event is free and open to all, although attendance is limited to 100 people on fist-come, first-served basis. Call 401/463-7532 for more information. Bluefin tuna quota specsComments are due by Monday, April 16, on proposed 2012 quota specifications for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov to view the proposed 2012 quota specifications. You may submit comments through April 16 at www.regulations.gov; by faxing Sarah McLaughlin at 978/281-9340; or by mailing her at: Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Saltwater fishing regs now officialBlack sea bass, summer flounder and scup all have liberalized regulations for the 2012 season. In the case of summer flounder and scup, this is due to good stock status and under-harvest by the recreational fishery in 2011. The black sea bass fishery, while currently constrained at a low quota level, was also under-harvested last year. All of the other important recreational species are meeting their current rebuilding targets or have a stable stock status, and therefore regulations will remain at status quo for 2012. No species is being restricted from its 2011 recreational harvest regulations.All nonexempt fishers and spear-fishers must have a R.I. recreational saltwater license (or equivalent license or registration issued by another state or federal government) in order to fish legally in marine waters. Fishing licenses are required, but free, for Rhode Island residents over 65 and for active military personnel stationed in the state. For all others, the fee is $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents. Visit www.saltwater.ri.gov for more information or to purchase and print a license online.Where’s the bite?Freshwater fishing is heating up with bass being caught at many local ponds. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in East Providence said opening day Saturday promises to be a good one with area residents gearing up to fish Willett Avenue Pond and a host of others. “Bass fishing at Echo Lake, Barrington has been good,” said Mr. Littlefield.“Customers are catching bass at Gorton Pond in Warwick and Worden Pond, Wakefield,” said Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick.Striped bass fishing is starting to heat up. Last week, Matthew Boliver reported catching his first half-dozen school bass off Middletown, and Mike Shepard caught his first school bass off Newport. Mr. Littlefield at Archie’s Bait & Tackle said customer Dave Paterson caught his first bass in the 14-16-inch range using light-colored plastic shad lures. Blog reports from New Jersey related an excellent striped bass bite last week; let’s hope they’re coming our way. Reports of striped bass in Greenwich Bay have been spotty but consistent. “Anglers are catching striped bass in Greenwich Bay with soft plastics, but they are working for them,” said Mr. Castro or Erickson’s Bait & Tackle. Capt. Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing on Narragansett Bay for more than 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing photos in jpeg form, stories, comments and questions are welcome. Visit Capt. Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him at dmontifish@verizon.net.