San Juan River NM fishing forecast
San Juan River NM is a freshwater fishing spot in New Mexico, United States. Anglers here target Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout. The most productive months are typically January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Today’s verdict
Trending up — 3 points above this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±12 points, from 6 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
Live conditions are temporarily unavailable for this spot (last data Aug 28, 2026). Seasonal and regulation info below is unaffected.
What the score means at San Juan River NM
San Juan River NM currently scores 64 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 23.3 °C. 6 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +15.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Wind +9.3
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Barometric pressure +4.4
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
- Thermocline +3.0
- a defined layer stacks fish at one depth
- Moon phase +2.8
- lunar feeding rhythm
- Gust factor +2.8
- gustiness versus steady wind
What’s biting now
The model expects today: cutthroat-trout, green-sunfish, yellow-bullhead, longnose-gar, shortnose-gar, bowfin, bluegill, flathead-catfish
Bite windows
Best months for San Juan River NM:
Score history at this spot
8 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-07-30, 71/100
1 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
+5 points vs the same day last week
About this spot
Rivers are flow-driven. Fish the seams, eddies, and structure where current breaks, where fish hold to conserve energy and ambush bait.
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · estuary
What you can catch
-
Oncorhynchus mykiss
-
Salmo trutta
-
Oncorhynchus clarkii
Best months by species at San Juan River NM
| Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown TroutSalmo trutta | ||||||||||||
| Cutthroat TroutOncorhynchus clarkii |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown TroutCold Water Regulations — Bag Limits for Trout and Kokanee Salmon | 5/day, 10 in possession | — | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Five fish COMBINED across brown, brook, rainbow and Gila trout and kokanee salmon, with no more than 2 lake trout and/or 2 cutthroat inside that limit. Special Trout Water rules apply on the San Juan River below Navajo Dam. | |||
| Cutthroat TroutCold Water Regulations — Bag Limits for Trout and Kokanee Salmon | 2/day, 4 in possession | — | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Cutthroat carry their own lower limit of 2, and they also count inside the combined 5-fish trout limit. The regulation adds a practical identification rule: "Any trout with red slash marks below the jaw is considered a cutthroat." | |||
| Rainbow TroutCold Water Regulations — Bag Limits for Trout and Kokanee Salmon | 5/day, 10 in possession | — | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Five fish is a COMBINED limit across brown, brook, rainbow and Gila trout and kokanee salmon — not five of each — and no more than 2 lake trout and/or 2 cutthroat may be inside it. Special Trout Waters are stricter: on the San Juan River from Navajo Dam downstream 3.75 miles to the Crusher Hole Day Use Area, it is illegal to fish with more than 2 flies or lures on a single line, and Special Trout Water bag limits apply. | |||
Licensing:
- freshwater-recreational — residents Resident annual fishing $35.00. Junior annual (12–17) $5.00. Senior annual (65–69) $8.00. Age 70 and older free. One-day $12.00, five-day $30.00., non-residents Non-resident annual fishing $90.00. Junior annual (12–17) $20.00. One-day $12.00, five-day $30.00.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. New Mexico layers Special Trout Waters, Trophy Bass Waters and Special Summer Catfish Waters over the statewide limits shown here, and several of them apply to waters on this site. Always check the water-specific pages of the current New Mexico Fishing Rules & Information before you fish.
Check San Juan River NM before you go
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 341 km of San Juan River NM.
-
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Gunnison River Colorado
Roaring Fork Colorado
Roaring Fork River CO
Fryingpan River CO
Arkansas River CO
Arkansas River Colorado
Lake Powell Utah
South Platte River CO
Blue River CO
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at San Juan River NM?
Anglers at San Juan River NM target Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Cutthroat Trout.
When is the best time to fish San Juan River NM?
The most productive months at San Juan River NM are typically January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
What is the fishing forecast for San Juan River NM right now?
San Juan River NM currently scores 64 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish San Juan River NM from shore?
Yes — San Juan River NM is fishable from shore (estuary).
Is the thermocline set up at San Juan River NM right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Rainbow Trout in Stocked Lakes and PondsHow to Catch TroutBest Time of Day to Fish
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.