N.M. Code R. § 19.31.4.11 – Daily Bag, Possession Limits and Requirements or Conditions

A. Trout:
1. (1) Waters with reduced bag limit: No person shall fish waters regulated for reduced limits while having in excess of that limit in possession.
2. (2) Brown, rainbow, cutthroat, Gila, lake, brook trout and Kokanee salmon:
  1. (a) The daily bag limit shall be five trout and no more than 10 trout shall be in possession, unless otherwise specified in Paragraph (4) of Subsection A of 19.31.4.11 NMAC.
  2. (b) The daily bag limit for cutthroat trout shall be two trout and no more than two cutthroat trout may in possession. Cutthroat trout are included in the bag and possession limits for trout explained in Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (2) of Subsection A of 19.31.4.11 NMAC.
  3. (c) The daily bag limit for lake trout shall be two trout and no more than four lake trout shall be in possession. Lake trout are included in the bag and possession limits for trout explained in Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (2) of Subsection A of 19.31.4.11 NMAC.
3. (3) Special Kokanee salmon season: During the special Kokanee salmon season, the daily bag limit shall be 12 Kokanee salmon in addition to the daily bag limit for trout, and no more than 24 Kokanee salmon may be possessed in addition to the possession limit for trout. It shall be unlawful to possess Kokanee salmon at Heron lake during the closed Kokanee salmon season.
4. (4) On certain waters the following exceptions shall apply:
(a) Special trout waters - waters, hereafter referred to as “Special Trout Waters”, the following exceptions shall apply:
(i) No fish may be kept or held in possession while fishing in the portions of the following waters:
1. (ii) The daily bag limit shall be two trout and no more than two trout shall be in possession while fishing in the portions of the following waters. Anglers must stop fishing in those waters when the daily bag limit is reached.
  Water name Portion County Exception Gilita creek and tributaries From its confluence with Snow creek upstream to its headwaters including Willow and Little Turkey creek Catron bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Mineral creek From its confluence with San Francisco river to its headwaters Catron Whitewater creek From Catwalk National Recreation Trail parking area upstream to headwaters including all tributaries Catron Shuree lakes Within the Valle Vidal (Vermejo tract-Carson national forest) Colfax Vermejo river and its tributaries From the Vermejo Park ranch boundary upstream to its headwaters Colfax bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Rio Ruidoso From Fridenbloom drive upstream to the boundary between the Mescalero Apache reservation and the city of Ruidoso Lincoln All waters within or adjacent to the Edward Sargent wildlife area Including the Rio Chamita, Sexton creek, and Rio Chama, excluding Nabor creek and Nabor lake Rio Arriba Rio Chama Within the boundaries of the Rio Chama wildlife and fishing area from Heron reservoir outlet 2.9 miles upstream to Cottonwood Flats Rio Arriba Rio Chama From the river crossing bridge on U.S. 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7.0 miles to the base of Abiquiu dam Rio Arriba Rio de Los Pinos From FS road 284 and 87A, 2.5 miles upstream to the private property boundary Rio Arriba Pecos river From approximately 0.5 mile upstream of its confluence with the Mora river (Mora-Pecos) upstream to approximately 0.2 miles downstream of the bridge crossing at Cowles San Miguel All waters of the Valles Caldera national preserve Sandoval Rio Guadalupe From its confluence with Deer creek upstream 6.0 miles to Stable canyon Sandoval Rio San Antonio From the San Antonio hot springs pedestrian bridge upstream approximately 2.0 miles to the Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary Sandoval Red River From its confluence with Goose creek 1.1 miles upstream to the Carson national forest boundary Taos Red River From its confluence with the Rio Grande upstream to the lower walking bridge at Red River state fish hatchery Taos Rio Grande From the New Mexico/Colorado state line downstream to the Taos junction bridge at NM highway 567 Taos
  Water name
  Portion
  County
  Exception
  Gilita creek and tributaries
  From its confluence with Snow creek upstream to its headwaters including Willow and Little Turkey creek
  Catron
  bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
  Mineral creek
  From its confluence with San Francisco river to its headwaters
  Catron
  Whitewater creek
  From Catwalk National Recreation Trail parking area upstream to headwaters including all tributaries
  Catron
  Shuree lakes
  Within the Valle Vidal (Vermejo tract-Carson national forest)
  Colfax
  Vermejo river and its tributaries
  From the Vermejo Park ranch boundary upstream to its headwaters
  Colfax
  bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
  Rio Ruidoso
  From Fridenbloom drive upstream to the boundary between the Mescalero Apache reservation and the city of Ruidoso
  Lincoln
  All waters within or adjacent to the Edward Sargent wildlife area
  Including the Rio Chamita, Sexton creek, and Rio Chama, excluding Nabor creek and Nabor lake
  Rio Arriba
  Rio Chama
  Within the boundaries of the Rio Chama wildlife and fishing area from Heron reservoir outlet 2.9 miles upstream to Cottonwood Flats
  Rio Arriba
  Rio Chama
  From the river crossing bridge on U.S. 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7.0 miles to the base of Abiquiu dam
  Rio Arriba
  Rio de Los Pinos
  From FS road 284 and 87A, 2.5 miles upstream to the private property boundary
  Rio Arriba
  Pecos river
  From approximately 0.5 mile upstream of its confluence with the Mora river (Mora-Pecos) upstream to approximately 0.2 miles downstream of the bridge crossing at Cowles
  San Miguel
  All waters of the Valles Caldera national preserve
  Sandoval
  Rio Guadalupe
  From its confluence with Deer creek upstream 6.0 miles to Stable canyon
  Sandoval
  Rio San Antonio
  From the San Antonio hot springs pedestrian bridge upstream approximately 2.0 miles to the Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary
  Sandoval
  Red River
  From its confluence with Goose creek 1.1 miles upstream to the Carson national forest boundary
  Taos
  Red River
  From its confluence with the Rio Grande upstream to the lower walking bridge at Red River state fish hatchery
  Taos
  Rio Grande
  From the New Mexico/Colorado state line downstream to the Taos junction bridge at NM highway 567
  Taos
2. (b) In Sandoval county; brood pond at Seven Springs state fish hatchery, the daily bag limit shall be five cutthroat trout and no more than 10 cutthroat may be in possession.
3. (c) On the following waters the daily bag limit shall be three trout and no more than three trout shall be in possession; In Rio Arriba county: Laguna del Campo at Los Ojos state fish hatchery.
Water name Portion County Exception Tingley beach south pond Within the Albuquerque conservancy park Bernalillo Mogollon creek Upstream from waterfall barrier near intersection of FS trail 153 to confluence of Trail canyon Catron and Grant Cimarron river From the lower end of Tolby campground downstream approximately 1.4 miles to the first bridge of N.M. 64 Colfax Leandro creek Within the Valle Vidal (Vermejo tract-Carson national forest Colfax bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Any stream on the Valle Vidal Vermejo tract-Carson national forest Colfax and Taos Black canyon From the forest road 150 (North Star Mesa road) crossing upstream to its headwaters Grant bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Pecos river In the Pecos wilderness, above Pecos falls Mora Rio Valdez In the Pecos wilderness from the waterfall barrier 0.8 miles below FS trail 239 upstream to its headwaters Mora Rito del Padre From fish migration barrier located about 0.3 miles upstream of the confluence with the Rito Sebadilloses upstream to its headwaters including Rito de los Chimayosos Mora bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited West fork Luna creek From the Carson national forest property boundary upstream to its headwaters Mora bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Jack’s creek From the water falls located 0.25 mile downstream of NM highway 63 crossing upstream to its headwaters Mora and San Miguel Canada Tio Grande Within the Carson national forest excluding private land Rio Arriba bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Nabor creek and Nabor lake Within the Edward Sargent wildlife area Rio Arriba Rio Chama From the United States geological survey gaging station located 1.3 miles downstream of El Vado lake dam downstream approximately 3 miles to its confluence with the Rio Nutrias Rio Arriba Rio de Las Vacas From fish migration barrier located about 0.2 miles upstream of FS road 70 crossing to its headwaters Rio Arriba bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Tanques creek From FS road 93 crossing upstream to its headwaters Rio Arriba bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Rio Cebolla From the Seven Springs day use area upstream to the headwaters including McKinney pond Rio Arriba and Sandoval bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Rio Santa Barbara From the west fork and middle fork confluence upstream to its headwaters including the east fork Rio Arriba and Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited San Juan river From Navajo dam downstream approximately 3.75 miles to the Crusher Hole day use are (east side of section 16) San Juan Capulin creek From its confluence with the Rio Grande to its headwaters Sandoval Rio las Animas Within the Gila national forest, Black range ranger district excluding private land Sierra Cabresto creek From Cabresto canyon upstream to its headwaters not including lake fork and Cabresto lake Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Columbine creek From its confluence with the Red river upstream to its headwaters Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Frijoles creek From its confluence with Rito de la Olla upstream to its headwaters Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Gavilan creek From its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream to its headwaters Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Italianos creek From its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream its headwaters Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Palociento creek From its confluence with Rito de la Olla upstream to its headwaters Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Rio Costilla From its confluence with Latir creek upstream approximately 2.4 miles to the Valle Vidal tract of the Carson national forest Taos South fork Rio Hondo From its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream to its headwaters Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited Yerba creek From the its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream to its headwaters Taos bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Water name
Portion
County
Exception
Tingley beach south pond
Within the Albuquerque conservancy park
Bernalillo
Mogollon creek
Upstream from waterfall barrier near intersection of FS trail 153 to confluence of Trail canyon
Catron and Grant
Cimarron river
From the lower end of Tolby campground downstream approximately 1.4 miles to the first bridge of N.M. 64
Colfax
Leandro creek
Within the Valle Vidal (Vermejo tract-Carson national forest
Colfax
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Any stream on the Valle Vidal
Vermejo tract-Carson national forest
Colfax and Taos
Black canyon
From the forest road 150 (North Star Mesa road) crossing upstream to its headwaters
Grant
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Pecos river
In the Pecos wilderness, above Pecos falls
Mora
Rio Valdez
In the Pecos wilderness from the waterfall barrier 0.8 miles below FS trail 239 upstream to its headwaters
Mora
Rito del Padre
From fish migration barrier located about 0.3 miles upstream of the confluence with the Rito Sebadilloses upstream to its headwaters including Rito de los Chimayosos
Mora
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
West fork Luna creek
From the Carson national forest property boundary upstream to its headwaters
Mora
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Jack’s creek
From the water falls located 0.25 mile downstream of NM highway 63 crossing upstream to its headwaters
Mora and San Miguel
Canada Tio Grande
Within the Carson national forest excluding private land
Rio Arriba
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Nabor creek and Nabor lake
Within the Edward Sargent wildlife area
Rio Arriba
Rio Chama
From the United States geological survey gaging station located 1.3 miles downstream of El Vado lake dam downstream approximately 3 miles to its confluence with the Rio Nutrias
Rio Arriba
Rio de Las Vacas
From fish migration barrier located about 0.2 miles upstream of FS road 70 crossing to its headwaters
Rio Arriba
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Tanques creek
From FS road 93 crossing upstream to its headwaters
Rio Arriba
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Rio Cebolla
From the Seven Springs day use area upstream to the headwaters including McKinney pond
Rio Arriba and Sandoval
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Rio Santa Barbara
From the west fork and middle fork confluence upstream to its headwaters including the east fork
Rio Arriba and Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
San Juan river
From Navajo dam downstream approximately 3.75 miles to the Crusher Hole day use are (east side of section 16)
San Juan
Capulin creek
From its confluence with the Rio Grande to its headwaters
Sandoval
Rio las Animas
Within the Gila national forest, Black range ranger district excluding private land
Sierra
Cabresto creek
From Cabresto canyon upstream to its headwaters not including lake fork and Cabresto lake
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Columbine creek
From its confluence with the Red river upstream to its headwaters
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Frijoles creek
From its confluence with Rito de la Olla upstream to its headwaters
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Gavilan creek
From its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream to its headwaters
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Italianos creek
From its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream its headwaters
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Palociento creek
From its confluence with Rito de la Olla upstream to its headwaters
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Rio Costilla
From its confluence with Latir creek upstream approximately 2.4 miles to the Valle Vidal tract of the Carson national forest
Taos
South fork Rio Hondo
From its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream to its headwaters
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
Yerba creek
From the its confluence with the Rio Hondo upstream to its headwaters
Taos
bag and possession limits for rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout are unlimited
B. Warm-water fishes: The daily bag limit for game fish other than trout shall be as listed below and the possession limit shall be twice the daily bag limit.
1. (1) striped bass one fish;
2. (2) largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass five fish;
3. (3) walleye five fish;
4. (4) crappie 20 fish;
5. (5) white bass and white bass x striped bass hybrid 25 fish;
6. (6) northern pike 10 fish;
7. (7) catfish (all species, except bullheads) 15 fish;
8. (8) yellow perch 30 fish;
9. (9) tiger muskie (Esox lucius x E. masquinongy) one fish
10. (10) all other warm-water game species 20 fish.
C. The following exception shall apply:
1. (1) At Alto lake (Lincoln county); Alumni pond (Dona Ana county); Bataan lake (Eddy county); Blue Hole park pond (Guadalupe county); Bosque Redondo (De Baca county); Burn lake (Dona Ana county); Carrizozo lake (Lincoln county); Chaparral lake (Lea county); Conoco lake (Lea county); Conservancy park/Tingley beach (Bernalillo county); Corona lake (Lincoln county); Dennis Chavez pond (Curry county); Escondida lake (Socorro county); Estancia Park lake (Torrance county); Eunice lake (Lea county); Grants city pond (Cibola county); Green Meadow lake (Lea county); Greene Acres lake (Curry county); Harris Pond (San Miguel county); Jal lake (Lea county); lake Van (Chaves county); Liam Knight pond (Sandoval county); McGaffey lake (McKinley county); Ned Houk lakes (Curry county); Oasis state park (Roosevelt county); Pecos River within the Villanueva state park (San Miguel county); Perch lake (Guadalupe county); Rancho Grande ponds (Catron county); Roswell kids pond (Chavez county); Timberon ponds (Otero county); Trees lake (Luna county); and Young pond (Dona Ana county): the daily bag limit for channel catfish will be two fish and the possession limit shall be twice the daily bag limit.
2. (2) In San Juan county, in the San Juan and Animas rivers, not including Navajo lake, there is no daily bag limit or possession limit for channel catfish and striped bass.
3. (3) In Colfax county, Eagle Nest lake there is no bag or possession limit for northern pike. All northern pike caught at Eagle Nest lake must be kept in possession. No northern pike shall be intentionally returned to Eagle Nest lake.
4. (4) In Union county: Clayton Lake; In Grant county: Bill Evans lake; In Grant county: lake Roberts the daily bag limit for largemouth bass shall be two fish and no more than two shall be in possession.

[19.31.4.11 NMAC - N, 4/1/2022]