Fishing

Welcome to the Fisherman’s Paradise!

Anglers will find numerous opportunities for fishing at Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo Lake, Percha Dam, and the Rio Grande.

Local fishing guides Watercraft / Boat Rentals Fishing Supplies

Elephant Butte Lake, the largest body of water in New Mexico, is known for record-breaking bass, walleye, catfish, crappie, white and black bass, and stripers.

Caballo Lake is another excellent location for boat fishing, yielding bass, crappie, catfish, and walleye, while Percha Dam and the Rio Grande (which runs north-to-south through the center of the county) offer excellent shore fishing.

New Mexico Fishing Licenses

Fishing licenses can be renewed online annually starting April 1.

Buy a fishing license

Annual Fees

Fishing Tournaments

Fishing tournaments happen throughout the year. Annual tournaments include the Kayak Fishing Tournament, usually held in May, and the Father’s Day weekend Junior Open.

An ongoing tournament series is also available with the Elephant Butte Bass Anglers, a club made up mainly of locals and residents of the region. If fishing competitively with a group of nice guys sounds fun to you, contact Mike Kmatz: mnckmatz@windstream.net or 575-740-2261.

Recommended Fishing Spots

See the legends on the Caballo Lake Map, Percha Dam Map, and Elephant Butte Lake Map for fishing spots recommended by NM State Parks (as well as park entrances, marina and boat dock locations, picnic facilities, and more)…

Other popular spots include Rotary Park, Fish Hatchery Park, and anyplace else on the banks of the Rio Grande.

Whether you’re on a boat or shore-fishing, something is likely to be biting.

Fishing Reports / What’s Biting

– Butte General Store & Marine Fishing Reports
– New Mexico Fish and Game Department’s statistics on local fishing