LaValle Announces NY State Fishing Contest, Amends License Transfers

Senator Ken LaValle has announced a new statewide fishing contest for anglers. The contest, #IFISHNY, challenges both saltwater and fresh water anglers throughout New York State to show off their prize largemouth bass and striped bass catches through the New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife phone app.

“The East End of Long Island is home to the best fishermen in New York. I’m hopeful that our anglers enter and are successful in the #IFISHNY Challenge,” LaValle, of Port Jefferson, said in a statement released from his office.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will award free lifetime fishing licenses to whoever catches the longest largemouth bass and striped bass.

Runners-up in each of the DEC’s seven “Watchable Wildlife Regions” throughout the state (Long Island, New York City, Catskills, Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Central New York and Western New York) will be awarded other prizes, including a B.A.S.S. gift basket with a year’s subscription to Bassmaster Magazine, Taste NY gift baskets, and DEC Watchable Wildlife Guides and Conservationist magazine subscriptions, among other goodies.

In other state fishing news, a new bill amending the DEC’s ability to transfer fishing licenses was signed into law Tuesday.

The bill, proposed by LaValle, allows the DEC to transfer certain commercial fishing licenses to immediate family members in cases where a license holder dies prior to transferring his or her license.

Prior to LaValle’s bill, the state’s definition of “immediate family” only allowed licenses to be transferred to immediate family members who lived in the same house as the license holder. Now, family members will be eligible to receive a transferred license even if they don’t currently live in the same household.

“I sponsored this legislation to enable the great traditions of the East End fishing industry to continue from generation to generation,” LaValle said. “We must do all we can to help ensure the survival of the fishing industry.”

The free New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife app provides up-to-date information on fishing, hunting, wildlife watching and other outdoor adventure opportunities in New York State. The app is available for use on iOS and Android devices, and can be downloaded from the state’s mobile app site: dec.ny.gov/outdoor/98107.html