IN trying to get more anglers on its rivers and streams for close to a year-round basis, New York State has lengthened the seasons for many of its freshwater species allowing for more catch-‘n’-release.
New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) just announced proposed freshwater fishing regulations for 2006-2008 and is also looking for comments from anglers, although these regs are pretty much set in stone.
The following are some highlights of the proposed changes:
The DEC has opened up the black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) season by establishing a catch-and-release, artificial lures only season from Dec. 1 through the Friday preceding the third Saturday in June. The existing third Saturday in June through Nov. 30 season (with a 12-inch minimum length and daily limit of 5 fish) would remain the same.
There would be several exceptions where there will be no changes and these will affect the tidal portions of the Hudson River and its tributaries, and all waters on Long Island and in New York City as well as Hamilton, Franklin, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.
For Lake Erie, there will be an increase in the black bass minimum size limit from 15-20 inches during the first Saturday in May through the Friday preceding the third Saturday in June; and an increase in size limit from 12-15 inches on black bass in the Hudson River from the Troy Dam downstream.
The state is also opening up trout fishing to more catch and release during the closed seasons and it will affect many river and streams through New York, including: the West Branch of the Delaware River from Sept. 30-Oct. 15 and Skaneateles Creek to all year; allow year-round trout fishing on Blue Lake (Orange County), and Loch Sheldrake (Sullivan County).
Extend the trout season from Sept. 30 to Oct. 15 on sections of the Big Delaware and the East Branch of the Delaware.
Size and possession limits are being reduced for trout and lake trout in Sterling Lake (Orange County) and the Kensico Reservoir (Westchester County).
There are waters throughout New York that are affected by changes to fishing regulations and if you don’t want to wait until October when the Fishing Regulations Guide comes out you can get copies of the proposals and submit comments by mail. Write to, NYSDEC Attn: Shaun Keeler, 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-4753, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Final regulations, reflecting public comments, will go into effect Oct. 1.
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The 101st New York National Boat Show starts tomorrow and runs through Jan. 8 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Show hours are as follows: tomorrow 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday and Jan. 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday-Friday, noon-8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults. Children 12 years and under are free. [email protected]