AZGFD Auto-Renewal

The Arizona Game And Fish Department (AZGFD) has introduced a new option that allows fishing and hunting license holders to have their licenses automatically renewed upon expiration. The feature is currently only available for the following licenses: Resident Hunt, Resident Fish, Resident Hunt/Fish Combo, Nonresident Fish, Nonresident Hunt/Fish Combo.

To opt-in for license auto-renewal, customers must have an AZGFD portal account. Customers who have an existing portal account should use that account. Do not create a new portal account if one already exists. If assistance is needed to fix an existing portal account, email customer service at customer@azgfd.gov.

Selecting license auto-renewal is a three-step process: (1) Purchase a license, or use a valid license; (2) Add a credit card to be used to auto-renew a license; (3) Select the license(s) to be auto-renewed.

Update On Golden Algae Situation At Salt River Lakes

AZGFD personnel have been taking water quality samples twice a month on Saguaro, Canyon and Apache Lakes to monitor golden algae densities. Since the first reports of a fish kill in March, water quality samples have indicated a decrease in golden algae densities in all of the lake samples. Blue green algae has become the dominant species, with many samples containing less than 1% golden algae.

From what biologists are seeing, it appears the fish kills are over. Throughout the last two months it appeared a majority of the fish killed were threadfin shad, with a handful of other species including largemouth bass. As of right now, the outlook is good for Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes with minimal effects to the largemouth bass population. Fish surveys will be conducted in spring 2023 to evaluate the largemouth bass populations.

White Mountain Lakes

The Arizona Game And Fish Department advises anglers that it will discontinue fish stockings in a number of White Mountains lakes in 2022 due to low water levels or poor water quality that will limit the survival of stocked trout.

The following waters will be affected:

• Black Canyon Lake - Stockings discontinued after April 2022

• Carnero Lake - No stockings in 2022

• Concho Lake - No stockings in 2022

• Crescent Lake - No stockings in 2022

• Lee Valley Reservoir - No stockings in 2022

• Pratt Lake - Stockings discontinued after April 2022

• Scotts Reservoir - No stockings in 2022

For more information on stockings, please check out the spring stocking schedule.

Update On Boat Launch Situation At Big Lake

Due to current low water levels at Big Lake, the South Cove ramp is the only ramp out of three where launching a boat is even possible. Unfortunately, due to low water and ice damage, launching boats at the South Cove ramp will be very difficult, if not impossible, for larger boats this spring. AZGFD is working on a solution, but anyone planning to use the ramp should be aware of the situation before making the long trip to Big Lake.