Fishing Responsibly in New York State

Continued from Page 9 an absence of natural mechanisms such as predators or diseases to control these new organisms and so their numbers can skyrocket out of control. The new invading species may rapidly displace native species by outcompeting them for resources such as food and growing space. As a result, the entire natural balance and species composition of the aquatic system can be seriously disrupted, including the fisheries.

Anglers can help maintain the state’s great fishing by carefully following a few simple guidelines to prevent the spread of unwanted aquatic species.

To Stop Aquatic Invaders:

Remove all mud and aquatic plants from all gear, boats, motors and trailers before departing from an access site.

Drain all water including bilges, live wells and bait tanks before departing from an access site. Dry boat and equipment thoroughly after use, or flush bilges and clean boat with very hot water or steam clean.

Do not transport fish from one body of water to another.

Do not release unused bait into any body of water. Do not dispose of fish carcasses or by-products in any body of water.

Do not assume that a body of water is already contaminated and ignore protective measures.

Fish as Bait

As previously mentioned, the introduction of nonnative fish species into a body of water disrupts the established delicate balance of nature, and can have disastrous affects on local fisheries. As an example, many of New York’s lakes and ponds that once supported outstanding brook trout fisheries have become heavily populated with baitfish or small panfish that outcompete the native trout for food and living space. Round whitefish, an Adirondack native species, has become endangered in New York State, largely from aggressive competition from non-native species.

In many instances, it was anglers that unknowingly introduced these non-native species by emptying their bait buckets into the water at the end of the day. To guard against such unwanted introductions, as well as the spread of other undesirable aquatic organisms such as zebra mussels and the parasite that causes whirling disease that can be present in the water in a bait bucket, DEC places some restrictions on the use of baitfish on certain waters in the state. Before using baitfish, anglers should make sure it is okay to use them on the waters they plan to fish, and remember:

Never use baitfish in waters where their use is prohibited. Never release live bait from your bait bucket into any of New York’s waters.

Never stock any species of fish in any water without first obtaining a free Fish Stocking Permit from your Regional Fisheries Manager. Always dispose of water from your baitbucket on land, never pour it into a lake, pond or stream. Always encourage others to follow these guidelines to help New York’s native fish populations to remain healthy and keep fishing productive.