Freshwater Fishing, Fisheries Management, and Fishing Access News
In This Issue:
- It's Trout Time!
- Tune in to #TroutWeek
- 2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide Now Available
- Mooneye - Have you seen this fish?
- Highlight Hatchery - Oneida Fish Hatchery
It's Trout Time!
While catch and release opportunities for inland trout are now widely available year-round in New York, April 1st will always be a meaningful day for trout anglers across the state.
Check out the helpful resources below to plan your fishing trip:
Tune in to #TroutWeek
 You need it? We got it! We are getting ready to tout the trout! Tune in next week, April 3-7, for our first ever #TroutWeek. We will be covering all things trout including species info., stocking, places to fish, and more! Be sure to follow NYSDEC on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide Now Available
A PDF version of the new 2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide is now available to download from the DEC website. Hard copies of the guide should be available at all licensing issuing agents by April 1. Hard copies can also be requested by emailing fwfish@dec.ny.gov. (Be sure to provide your name and mailing address.)
2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide
Mooneye - Have you seen this fish?
Your help is needed for the conservation of the rare mooneye. Mooneye are listed as a threatened species in New York, which prohibits the importation, transportation, possession, or sale. However, accidental captures do occur and if caught should be released immediately.
DEC and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are tracking any catches or sightings to aid in mooneye conservation. Any reports of accidental catch or sightings can be made to DEC Fisheries via phone 518-402-8887 or email rarefish@dec.ny.gov.
Please include the following information in your report:
- Your name, phone number, and email address
- Date, time, and location of the catch or sighting
- Photograph of the fish (if possible)
Mooneye Identification:
The mooneye is a medium-sized fish, usually reaching 10-14 inches in length and 1-2 pounds in weight. It has a flattened body (like a sunfish) with very silver scales (like a shiner) and is often mistaken for members of the herring/shad family, and suckers.
Distinguishing characteristics include:
- Large, prominent eyes and a short snout
- Smooth, rather than saw-edged, silvery scales on the belly
- Teeth on the tongue and on the middle of the roof of the mouth
- Small stiff flap (called a pelvic axillary process) located at the base of the pelvic fin
- Dorsal fin even with or slightly ahead of anal fin; the river herring dorsal fin is much further forward than the anal fin
Highlight Hatchery - Oneida Fish Hatchery
With walleye spawning in creeks as we speak it's only fitting that we highlight our Oneida Fish Hatchery in this issue!
Location: Constantia, north shore of Oneida Lake
Visitor Hours: From April 1st - September 1st, open Sunday - Saturday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM; from September 2nd - March 31st, open Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM.
The annual walleye egg collection will take place the week of April 3rd. Parking at the hatchery during this time is extremely limited. Consider visiting on a weekday.
Species Raised: walleye (205 million), tiger muskellunge (100,000), lake sturgeon (4,000), cisco (15,000)
Where We Stock: Central NY to St. Lawrence River
Recent Research: Oneida Fish Hatchery staff conducted an experiment to determine if adding artificial tree structures to tiger muskie rearing tanks would aid in growth and survival. To see how it panned out, read "Assessing the Impact of 'Tiger Trees' on Tank-Raised Tiger Muskellunge at Oneida Hatchery, 2022 Interim Report" (PDF)
Fun fact: The lobby has a life-size painting of a record lake sturgeon caught in Oneida Lake. Come by to take a picture and see how you measure up!
Learn more:
Watch the Walleye Egg Take
DEC Fish Hatcheries
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