General Information New Mexico, the 47th state admitted to the Union in 1912, is a vast expanse of varying landscape and climate. Arid and sunny for the most part, New Mexico's 121,336-square-mile area is composed of flat range land as well as picturesque, snow-covered mountain ranges that reach heights of over 13,000 feet at some peaks. With a land area equal to that of roughly 10 northeastern states, of which over nine million acres are public domain, New Mexico offers some bonafide outdoor recreational opportunities for all, especially the hunter or angler. Capital City: Santa Fe Largest City: Albuquerque National Parks and Forests: Carson National Forest Cibola National Forest Gila National Forest Lincoln National Forest Santa Fe National Forest Sport Fishing With a wide range of climate conditions and landscape, New Mexico offers the same in angling opportunity. Mountain lakes and streams, wild rivers, reservoirs, and lower elevation watersheds hold populations of rainbow, brook, cutthroat and brown trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, carp, catfish, panfish, perch, white bass, bream and crappie. The Gila trout, found chiefly in the southwestern part of the state, is the only species indigenous to New Mexico. Popular destinations for trout anglers fishing in New Mexico include the Rio Grande, Chama, Red, and San Juan Rivers. Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo Lake, Willow Lake, and the Pecos River are important to the warmwater species angler. For registration and licensing information, please visit the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website.