New York Fishing News

With the onset of winter, the thoughts of many anglers often turn to ice fishing and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today reminds ice anglers about a recent change to the Environmental Conservation Law.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has set new recreational and commercial fishing rules for blackfish (tautog) beginning immediately. These emergency changes are necessary to comply with interstate management measures to assist in rebuilding blackfish populations.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that anglers and boat captains who plunked down money for a saltwater fishing license in 2011 prior to the license repeal in March will be refunded in full.

At a morning press conference at the Freeport Boatmen's Association in Freeport on Long Island, Governor Cuomo said he has directed the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue refunds to recreational fishermen and charter boat operators who purchased a recreational marine fishing license in addition to refunding license fees to New Yorkers who purchased lifetime licenses.

According to sources inside the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the state could lose upwards of $20 million in federal aid from federal Pittman-Robinson, Dingell-Johnson and Wallop-Breaux funding programs.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announces that a recreational marine fishing license is no longer required to fish in the marine district of New York, including fishing for migratory fish from the sea (e.g. striped bass) on the Hudson River below the Troy Dam.

New York's saltwater anglers are officially off the hook with regard to paying a fee to fish!

Governor Andrew Cuomo's new $132.5 billion budget passed before the April 1 deadline immediately repeals the saltwater fishing license and replaces it with a free registry coordinated through the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Swapping out a fee-based saltwater fishing license with a free registry should allow New York to retain its federal registry exemption, thereby allowing state anglers to avoid having to pay a $15 federal fee to fish. As part of the Environmental Conservation budget bill, the registry will be no cost to anglers for at least the next two years.

New York's saltwater fishing license is being repealed!

According to the Associated Press, New York lawmakers and the Cuomo administration have just reached an agreement to end the state's $10 annual saltwater fishing license and replace it with a free registry for the state's coastal waters. Legislators announcing the change yesterday say it will cover two years.

ALTMAR, NY - The Tug Hill/Black River Chapter of Trout Unlimited in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will sponsor a two-day fly fishing seminar for women May 14 and 15 on the Salmon River in Altmar.

The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame proudly announces that it will induct eight new members at the Annual Banquet, April 30, 2011 in Canastota, NY. The eight individuals represent a cross section of interests and achievements from various regions of New York State. What they do have in common is a lifetime of dedication to conservation and improving participation in outdoor sports.

Citing the positive results of sanitary surveys, water quality monitoring and shellfish tissue testing, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced proposed regulations to reopen shellfish harvesting areas in approximately 3,200 acres in several bays and harbors around Long Island in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.