Do we need fishing licenses?

Anglers age 12 and older need a fishing license on New Mexico public fishing waters.
Junior annual fishing for residents ages 12-17 is $5 plus a one dollar vender fee.
A $5 Habitat Improvement Stamp is required for anglers age 12 and older who fish on Forest Service and BLM lands.
A $5 Habitat Management & Access Stamp is required for anglers 18 and over.
Annual Fishing License is $25 for residents age 18 and older, plus the one dollar vender fee and $10 for the Habitat stamps. Non-resident license fees are more, see our Fishing Proclamation at http://wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/rib/2010/10-11_Fishing_RIB.pdf or get it free at any fishing license dealer including our NMDG&F offices in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Raton, Roswell and Las Cruces.

Kids age 11 and under do not need a fishing license on New Mexico public waters but must follow all other rules. Adults taking kids fishing do not need a fishing license if they are just helping kids to fish. Adults taking kids fishing DO need a fishing license if they are fishing.

A New Mexico State Fishing License is not valid nor required on Native American waters.
Tribal, Pueblo, Navajo nation waters all require a fishing license from that nation.

A group fishing license release is available for groups of developmentally disabled anglers.

Pick up the latest copy of the the New Mexico Fishing Rules & Information booklet and sporting goods stores throughout the state, from any NMDept Game & Fish office, or on the web at:
http://wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/rib/2010/10-11_Fishing_RIB.pdf .

Tell me about the fieldtrip.

A typical fieldtrip:

8am school starts. 8:30am load bus and ...

leave school on bus with lots of parents, lunch, snacks, notebooks, water, students, teachers and EAs.

arrive Lake Maloya, hold safety meeting.

unload all equipment, unpack microscopes and collection gear.

shoreline litter pickup and food chain scavenger hunt.

• interview Park Ranger (taking notes in field journals)
• collect aquatic invertebrates from shoreline.
• Identify critters using microscopes and ID sheets.
• Journal all data.
• Pre-trained groups hand out fishing gear, assemble bait, group assembles the fishing gear.
• Go Fish.
• Lunch.
• More Fishing.
• Put away all equipment except field journals.
• Write a story based on what we did that day, it can be fictional!
• Count noses, get on bus and back to school by 2pm.

how to apply for services

Contact me, Ti Piper, and we will discuss options for your school or group.
email tipiper@tipiper.com OR phone my home office at (505) 281-5647 or my cell phone number anyday before 7pm.

you may look at my calendar on this Blog and see which dates are open.

Program Description: Science Fishing Workshops

Workshops provided by the New Mexico Dept of Game & Fish, and delivered by Ti Piper are scheduled by teachers and youth leaders throughout New Mexico.

• Designed for third grade and up, the program usually features a classroom workshop followed by a fieldtrip to a local fishing water.
• The branching lesson plan allows each group to drive their own hands-on, engaging classroom workshop.
• Typically we map the closest large watershed, like the Pecos River or the Rio Grande, and then map the fieldtrip location's watershed, like Bluewater Lake or Eagle Nest Lake or Bill Evans Lake.
• We learn how to assemble hooks, sinkers, bobbers and fishing line.
• We identify aquatic invertebrates from samples using ID sheets. We identify the fish likely to be found at our field trip location, both native and non-native, and brain storm to draw a food chain that includes those fish.

There is no charge for the program. Geographic areas are scheduled together ie Shiprock area once a year, Clayton once a year and so on. Groups must pay all their own costs such as transport, food, entry fees, fishing licenses. Program provides all science and fishing gear.

Groups as small as fifteen or as large as two classes (for instance 60 youth and 12 adults) can be accommodated. We do not do childcare, all groups must be organized. Teachers or other group leaders may not leave the activity at any time. Parent/adult volunteers are required.