An angler holds up his catch during the 2018 Bassmaster Tournament. Credit: David Sommerstein, NCPR
Apr 13, 2024 —
The DEC is considering a permitting system for bass fishing tournaments in New York.
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos says the goal of the proposed permitting system would be to help the state better manage its fisheries, by requiring a free permit for bass tournaments, and launching a reporting system to identify where and when black bass tournaments are happening.
New York is a major destination for bass fishing tournaments, and the North Country hosts dozens of them each year, from Ticonderoga to Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh to Waddington.
Bass are New York’s most sought-after freshwater sportfish. The DEC says the overall number of black bass fishing tournaments has increased significantly over the last few decades, but that without an official data system, the scale of bass tournaments across the state is currently anecdotal.
Commissioner Seggos…