FishKillFlea Fishing without a valid NM fishing license carries penalties from NMDGF conservation officers.
| Violation | Fine Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No fishing license | $50 – $500 | Misdemeanor |
| No Habitat Stamp (fed lands) | $50 – $200 | Required on USFS/BLM |
| Over daily limit | $100 – $1,000 per fish | Per-fish penalty |
| San Juan Quality Water violations | $200 – $1,000 | Special regulations — catch-and-release sections |
Key Creel Limits
| Species | Daily Limit | Min Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout (general) | 5 | No min | Statewide — some waters differ |
| Trout (San Juan Quality) | 1 | 20″ | Catch-and-release focused — trophy water |
| Largemouth bass | 5 | 14″ | Elephant Butte, Navajo Lake |
| Walleye | 5 | 15″ | Elephant Butte, Conchas Lake |
| Channel catfish | 15 | No min | Rio Grande, Elephant Butte — generous |
| Gila trout | 0 (C&R only) | — | FREE permit required — total catch-and-release |
Call NMDGF: (888) 248-6866 — Operation Game Thief.
A new mexico fishing license is $25 base. Get yours. See costs.