03-23-2010, 11:16 AM
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced proposed changes to the current freshwater fishing regulations to better enhance fishing opportunities and protect the State's freshwater fisheries resources. DEC will be accepting public comments on the proposals until November 2, 2009.
"New York provides some of the best fishing in the nation, and every two years DEC modifies existing freshwater sportfishing regulations and proposes new regulations to help ensure that this remains the case," said Grannis. "I encourage anglers to review these proposed changes and provide us with their comments."
The proposed regulations are the result of careful assessment of the status of existing fish populations and the desires of anglers for enhanced fishing opportunities. The opportunity for public review follows discussions held with angling interest groups over the past year.
In order to receive input early in the process, changes under consideration for this proposal were available on the DEC website prior to today's announcement. The feedback received was integral to developing the regulation changes that are now being formally proposed.
Several of the regulations being considered are for the purposes of removing special regulations that are no longer warranted.
The following are highlights of the proposed changes:
Eliminate catch and release only regulations in Hempstead Lake (Nassau County) as this warmwater fish community has rebuilt since the restriction was instituted in 2004.
Eliminate the 15 inch minimum size limit for black bass at Fort Pond (Suffolk County) and at Lake Ronkonkoma (Suffolk Co.) as recent surveys have shown stable bass populations at these waters.
Apply the statewide regulation for pickerel, eliminating the "no size" limit regulation in: Essex, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington County waters.
"New York provides some of the best fishing in the nation, and every two years DEC modifies existing freshwater sportfishing regulations and proposes new regulations to help ensure that this remains the case," said Grannis. "I encourage anglers to review these proposed changes and provide us with their comments."
The proposed regulations are the result of careful assessment of the status of existing fish populations and the desires of anglers for enhanced fishing opportunities. The opportunity for public review follows discussions held with angling interest groups over the past year.
In order to receive input early in the process, changes under consideration for this proposal were available on the DEC website prior to today's announcement. The feedback received was integral to developing the regulation changes that are now being formally proposed.
Several of the regulations being considered are for the purposes of removing special regulations that are no longer warranted.
The following are highlights of the proposed changes:
Eliminate catch and release only regulations in Hempstead Lake (Nassau County) as this warmwater fish community has rebuilt since the restriction was instituted in 2004.
Eliminate the 15 inch minimum size limit for black bass at Fort Pond (Suffolk County) and at Lake Ronkonkoma (Suffolk Co.) as recent surveys have shown stable bass populations at these waters.
Apply the statewide regulation for pickerel, eliminating the "no size" limit regulation in: Essex, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington County waters.