Proposed law would require permit to hold bass fishing tournament in NY

Nobody knows exactly how many bass fishing tournaments are held in New York each year, only that there’s more than ever.

That’s the main reason why the state Department of Environmental Conservation is now proposing a new regulation that would implement a statewide bass fishing permit and reporting system. If it goes forward, the regulation would take effect Jan. 1, 2025.

“If you were to ask me how many tournaments there are per year in New York, I couldn’t tell you,” said Steve Hurst, DEC’s Bureau of Fisheries chief. “We weren’t really concerned up until a few years ago about this. Fishing’s been good, but the number of tournaments has ballooned quite a bit.”

Information derived from the proposed permit system would help tournament directors avoid scheduling conflicts, Hurst said. “The smaller kayak tournaments may not want to be on the water when a pro bass tournament is there,” he said.

Likewise, a recreational angler accessing DEC’s tournament website will…