Keith Lusher 06.16.26
fishermen are visiting Yosemite National Park They will now have the opportunity to fish year-round following a major update to the park’s fishing regulations announced in late May.
National Park Service Long-standing seasonal closures that previously restricted winter fishing in Yosemite Valley and the Hetch Hetchy region have officially been lifted, opening year-round access to more than 1,700 miles of streams and high-elevation lakes.
Park officials say the changes are intended to simplify rules and better align Yosemite’s rules with existing California fishing laws while protecting sensitive fish populations.
“These updates expand recreational opportunities while maintaining our responsibility to protect Yosemite’s natural resources,” Yosemite National Park Superintendent Ray McPadden said in a statement. “Visitors can now enjoy fishing year-round, including in areas like Hetch Hetchy, with rules that are easier to understand and more consistent with state guidelines.”
Under the updated rules, anglers can now fish year-round in parts of the Merced River and Tuolumne River systems that were previously subject to winter closures. Several conservation-focused regulations are in place, including mandatory artificial bait with barbless hooks in designated waters and catch-and-release requirements for rainbow trout in Yosemite Valley and the South Fork Merced River.
Brown and brook trout can still be harvested under the daily bag limit, and anyone 16 years of age or older must have a valid California fishing license.
The move comes amid a broader national effort to expand access to outdoor recreation on federal lands. In recent weeks, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding recreational access opportunities at federally managed properties. Around the same time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed expanding or opening more than 1,450 hunting and fishing opportunities on national wildlife refuges and hatcheries in 32 states.
Supporters of the Yosemite changes say the updated rules provide more flexibility to fishermen while making the rules easier to understand for visitors traveling from outside California.
For fishermen, however, the most noticeable change is simple: One of America’s most iconic national parks is now open to fishing 365 days a year.
keith lusher
Keith Lusher is an award-winning outdoor journalist who lives in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthShoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outdoors column for the Slidell Independent Newspaper. He also writes for the St. Tammany Parish Tourism Commission’s VisitTheNorthshree.com. He is the former host of The Northshore Fishing Report radio show and is on the board of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. Keith contributes to numerous publications both online and in print and is proud to promote the unique fisheries of South Louisiana. To contact Keith email: keithlusherjr@gmail.com
