Fishing in New Mexico public spots, conditions & reports
1 of 3worth the trip today
Mostly rainbow trout today. Each spot is scored for whatever is in season and biting best there.
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Every New Mexico spot
3 public spots, best first. Each is scored for whatever is in season and biting best there.
The state report
New Mexico Game & Fish hasn’t published one we can date.
Licenses and rules
Rules for what people fish for here
- Largemouth bass14" minimum · 5 a dayNew Mexico: 5 black bass a day combined, 10 in possession; largemouth and spotted bass 14" minimum.Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Smallmouth bass12" minimum · 5 a dayNew Mexico: 5 black bass a day combined, 10 in possession; smallmouth 12" minimum (14" at Conchas and Ute).Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Common carpno daily limitNew Mexico sets bag limits only for game fish. Common carp are a nongame species with no bag or size limit, and dead carp are approved cut bait statewide.Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 18, 2026 · source
- Rainbow trout5 a dayNew Mexico: 5 trout and kokanee a day combined, 10 in possession; no more than 2 lake trout or 2 cutthroat.Catch and release · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Brown trout5 a dayNew Mexico: 5 trout and kokanee a day combined, 10 in possession; no more than 2 lake trout or 2 cutthroat.Catch and release · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Channel catfish15 a dayNew Mexico: 15 catfish a day, all species except bullheads, 30 in possession. Special Summer Catfish Waters allow 2; the Animas and San Juan in San Juan County have no limit.Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Crappie20 a dayNew Mexico: 20 crappie a day, 40 in possession.Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Northern pike10 a dayNew Mexico: 10 northern pike a day, 20 in possession. Eagle Nest Lake alone has no limit, and pike there may not be released.Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Walleye5 a dayNew Mexico: 5 walleye a day, 10 in possession.Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
- Kokanee salmon5 a dayNew Mexico: kokanee count in the 5 trout-and-salmon daily bag (10 in possession). During the Oct 1–Dec 31 snagging season on listed waters the kokanee bag is 12 a day, 24 in possession.Open · New Mexico non-tidal · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
Limits differ by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water.
What’s biting in New Mexico
Species people fish for at New Mexico spots, and how many of those spots are worth the trip for them today.
Rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss1 of 1 spot worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at San Juan River below Navajo Dam, NM78
Bites in 45–68° water
Brown troutSalmo trutta1 of 1 spot worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at San Juan River below Navajo Dam, NM70
Bites in 45–68° water
Largemouth bassMicropterus salmoides0 of 2 spots worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at Navajo Lake, NM68
Bites in 55–85° water
Smallmouth bassMicropterus dolomieu0 of 2 spots worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at Navajo Lake, NM68
Bites in 55–78° water
Common carpCyprinus carpio0 of 2 spots worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at Navajo Lake, NM68
Bites in 52–86° water
Channel catfishIctalurus punctatus0 of 1 spot worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at Elephant Butte Reservoir, NM63
Bites in 60–85° water
CrappiePomoxis spp.0 of 1 spot worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at Elephant Butte Reservoir, NM63
Bites in 50–80° water
Northern pikeEsox lucius0 of 1 spot worth the trip in New Mexico
Best now at Navajo Lake, NM68
Bites in 50–70° water
About fishing in New Mexico
New Mexico's 3 public access points span reservoirs and rivers and streams, across 2 counties. Across them, the species anglers most often target are Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp, and Rainbow Trout. Each is scored live on water temperature, river flow, moon phase, barometric pressure, and weather. Always confirm current size, creel, and season limits with the New Mexico state fishery agency before keeping fish — we flag any species whose regulations we haven't yet verified.
3 public access points across 0 water bodies. Data from NOAA, NWS, USGS, and New Mexico Game & Fish.