Beginning April 1, St. Lawrence River anglers will have to catch a muskie that’s at least 54 inches long if they want to keep it.

That’s one of many changes to fishing regulations announced recently by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The new regulations establish a special trout daily creel limit of five fish with no more than two fish longer than 12 inches, for some waters in Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as for Little River and Oswegatchie Rivers in St. Lawrence County.

The change also extends the current special trout regulation for Pine, Boottree, Town Line, Deer and Horseshoe ponds in St. Lawrence County to the entire set of waters that are a part of the Massawepie Easement

Trout and salmon regulations for Star Lake and Trout Lake in St. Lawrence County will be modified by increasing the minimum size limit for trout to 12 inches and reducing the daily creel limit to three. Landlocked salmon will be added to species with an open year-round season for Star Lake.

The regulations establish an open year-round trout season for Sylvia Lake in St. Lawrence County, with a 12-inch minimum size limit and three fish daily creel limit, with ice fishing permitted.

The new rules eliminate the special regulations for trout, landlocked salmon and/or lake trout, at several waters including Cold Brook and West Branch of the St. Regis River in St. Lawrence County.

Lake Ontario tributary regulations for St. Lawrence River tributaries in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties will be replaced with statewide terminal tackle restrictions.

The modifications to the sportfishing regulations are a result of a two-year process, which included biological assessment, discussions with anglers and a formal 45-day public comment period. DEC used public input to finalize the changes. These regulations will be published in the 2015-16 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide which will be available at all license sales vendors in March.

DEC modifies its freshwater sportfishing regulations as necessary to help maintain the fantastic freshwater sportfishing New York is known for,” said Commissioner Martens. Changes are made to the regulations governing sportfishing and related activities to address management needs in specific waters, as well as to accommodate angler and other stakeholder desires. Many of the proposed changes resulted from DEC’s focus on consolidating regulations where possible and eliminating special regulations that are no longer warranted and have become outdated.”

Details on regulations not specific to St. Lawrence County waterways can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/101039.html