Sunfish and Crappie Management in New York

Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, and redbreast sunfish) and crappie (black crappie and white crappie) are widespread and abundant throughout New York and are very popular with anglers. These species generally provide harvest-based fisheries and there is concern that current harvest regulations could result in overharvest and lead to less than ideal size structures and lower quality fishing.

Draft New York Sunfish and Crappie Management Plan Assessment of Public Comments

A draft New York Sunfish and Crappie Management Plan was released for public review in January 2021. The draft plan included proposals for statewide fishing regulation adjustments as well as experimental fishing regulations for both species groups to manage select waters for larger fish (i.e., the Big Panfish Initiative (BPI)). A total of 180 public comments were received. An Assessment of Public Comments (PDF) was developed and summarized as follows:

Based on the feedback received, the Bureau of Fisheries feels that the statewide proposals for both sunfish (daily limit 25) and crappie (10 inches minimum size and daily limit of 25) are acceptable to the angling public at large and, although some anglers disapproved of the proposals, no information was provided to justifiably refute a shift to a more conservative approach. The comments associated with the experimental BPI for sunfish were similar and there appears to be fairly wide acceptance of trying to create some special opportunities to catch larger sunfish in select waters across the state. Although the overall feedback on the BPI crappie proposal was also positive, it was viewed less favorably than the other elements of the plan. The primary concern was it would unacceptably restrict the opportunity to harvest desirable size crappie, effectively turning these fisheries into primarily catch and release or "trophy" fisheries.

Next steps

Based on feedback received during the Public Comment on the Draft NY Sunfish and Crappie Management Plan, the Department is rescinding both the draft New York Sunfish and Crappie Management Plan and the BPI crappie proposal (12 inches minimum size and daily limit of 10) and moving forward with the following:

• Statewide proposals for both sunfish (daily limit of 25) and crappie (10 inches minimum size and daily limit of 25). Justification Brief for Statewide Sunfish and Crappie Harvest Regulation Proposals
  
  
• The BPI proposal for sunfish (8 inches minimum size and daily limit of 15) on the following 11 waters: Blydenburgh Lake (DEC Region 1), Lake Welch (Region 3), Canadarago Lake and Goodyear Lake (Region 4), Saratoga Lake (Region 5), Sixtown Pond and Red Lake (Region 6), Cazenovia Lake and Otisco Lake (Region 7), Honeoye Lake (Region 8), and Silver Lake (Region 9).
  
  
  • This 5-year experimental program will be evaluated according to the Big Panfish Initiative Study Plan (PDF) if proposed regulations are adopted.

• An assessment of crappie population age and growth characteristics to determine the potential of more conservative regulations to yield larger fish in the following 10 waters: Blydenburgh Lake (Region 1), Muscoot Reservoir (Region 3), Saratoga Lake (Region 5), Delta Lake (Region 6), Cazenovia Lake and Otisco Lake (Region 7), Waneta/Lamoka lakes and Honeoye Lake (Region 8), and Bear Lake (Region 9).