FishKillFlea New Mexico is an unexpected trout paradise — the San Juan River averages 15,000+ trout per mile in its Quality Waters, the Rio Grande Gorge offers wild trout in an 800-foot canyon near Taos, Elephant Butte Lake is NM's bass capital at 36,000 acres, and the Gila trout (found nowhere else!) can be caught on a free permit. Whether you hold a new Mexico fishing license or a new Mexico out of state fishing license, the Land of Enchantment delivers surprising quality.
Elite Trout Waters
| Water | Region | Species | Limit | Why Famous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan River (Quality) | Farmington (NW NM) | Rainbow, brown | 1 fish (20″+) | 15,000+ trout/mile — world-class! |
| Rio Grande Gorge | Taos | Brown, rainbow, Rio Grande cutthroat | 5 | 800-ft gorge — wild trout + scenery |
| Pecos River | Santa Fe area | Brown, rainbow | 5 | Mountain stream — accessible from Santa Fe |
| Gila River (Gila Forest) | Silver City | Gila trout (C&R!) | 0 — C&R | Rarest trout in America — free permit! |
Warmwater Lakes
| Lake | Size | Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant Butte Lake | 36,000 acres | Bass, walleye, catfish, striper | NM's largest lake — striped bass to 30 lbs |
| Navajo Lake | 15,600 acres | Bass, pike, kokanee, trout | Above San Juan R. — kokanee salmon! |
| Conchas Lake | 9,600 acres | Walleye, bass, catfish, crappie | E NM — excellent walleye |
| Caballo Lake | Variable | Bass, crappie, catfish | South of Elephant Butte — less crowded |
Seasonal Guide
| Season | Best Targets | Prime Spots | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | San Juan midges, bass pre-spawn | San Juan, Elephant Butte | April San Juan = best dry fly fishing! |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Mountain trout, Elephant Butte bass | Pecos, Rio Grande, Butte | High-altitude streams stay cool |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Brown trout spawn, kokanee run | San Juan, Navajo Lake | Oct San Juan streamers — trophy browns |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | San Juan year-round, Gila steams | San Juan, low-elevation rivers | San Juan fishes well all winter — 42°F tailwater |
Fishing in Neighboring States
Colorado for Gold Medal waters and Rocky Mountain trout, Arizona for Lake Powell and Apache trout, Texas for coastal redfish and trophy bass, or Oklahoma for Broken Bow bass.
A new mexico fishing license is $25 base. See full costs or buy yours.