The opening day of the bass fishing season used to be a big deal. Anglers could hardly wait for the third Saturday in June to go bass fishing. But since the NY DEC now allows anglers to fish for bass year-round, opening day is not that exciting. 

In New York, the bass season used to be from the third Saturday in June until November 30th, and then it was closed until the next year in June. Anglers could still fish for bass from November 30th to the opener in June but they must release the bass they catch immediately. The previous regulation on bass was the correct way to protect bass during their spawning ritual when they are laying their eggs. Anglers were not allowed to pull the bass off their nest and disturb the bass at this critical time of the year. 

Although fishermen have to release the bass they catch immediately, the bass when hooked is fighting for his life and desperately tries to get unhooked. Even though the bass is released, he is exhausted and in no shape to guard and protect the eggs in the nest against predation of other fish just waiting for an easy meal. 

The bass opener in June is when anglers can keep the bass according to the legal size and daily creel limit. Some anglers look forward for the bass opener but not with the same enthusiasm since they can fish for bass all year-round.

The NY DEC protects all other wildlife while they are bearing and having young by not allowing hunting when this is taking place, why then did the DEC take the protection off of bass and they did the same to trout? 

The only reason I can think of is they would prefer to sell another fishing license than protecting these species of fish.

Leave Young Wildlife Alone!

It’s that time of the year when wildlife is giving birth, so when encountering young wildlife, be it deer fawns, birds, raccoons or other animals, the best thing you can do is leave them alone. 

People might step in to help a young animal that appears to be alone, not realizing its mother is nearby and it’s not in need of help. That’s one reason why leaving young wildlife undisturbed in the wild is the best solution when encountering them. 

People are urged not to interfere with young wildlife or remove them from its natural setting. Such contact can be harmful to both people and wildlife. Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans, making it difficult, even impossible, for them to ever again live normally in the wild. And anytime Wildlife is handled, there’s always a risk people could contact diseases or parasites such as fleas, ticks and lice, and the animal can even have rabies.  

Only wildlife license rehabilitators are permitted to care for injured or orphan wildlife for the purposes of eventual release back into the wild. For those who find wildlife that truly is in need of assistance, call the DEC for a wildlife rehabilitator that is in your area.