Bonito Lake fishing

Bonito Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 13 times a year since 2024, most often in March and July. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout.

Bonito Lake
Photo: Felix Garcia, CC BY 2.0
Last stocked
October 7, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
39
Since 2024
Species recorded
2
Average size
10.2 in
Elevation
7,384.1 ft

Fish at Bonito Lake

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 37 plants · last September 14, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 14, 2026 · avg 10.4 in · 37 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brook Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last July 30, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked July 30, 2025 · avg 3.7 in · 1 plant

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brook Trout species guide

How Bonito Lake is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Alto Lake (5.5 mi) and Grindstone Reservoir (9.1 mi) were stocked more recently. Alto Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2024

8,948

Fish stocked in 2025

48,219

Fish stocked in 2026

26,418

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
October 7, 2026Rainbow Trout4,01010.3 inreport
September 14, 2026Rainbow Trout1,99010.1 inreport
July 7, 2026Rainbow Trout1,49910.3 inreport
June 29, 2026Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
June 16, 2026Rainbow Trout3,00110 inreport
June 10, 2026Rainbow Trout3,00110 inreport
May 19, 2026Rainbow Trout3,42910.2 inreport
May 5, 2026Rainbow Trout2,99910.1 inreport
April 20, 2026Rainbow Trout3,00110.4 inreport
March 18, 2026Rainbow Trout2,99910.1 inreport
March 4, 2026Rainbow Trout2,99910 inreport
November 18, 2025Rainbow Trout1,00010 inreport
November 17, 2025Rainbow Trout2,00010.3 inreport
October 29, 2025Rainbow Trout2,99910.6 inreport
October 6, 2025Rainbow Trout3,00010 inreport
August 25, 2025Rainbow Trout3,00010.8 inreport
August 19, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.2 inreport
August 19, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.2 inreport
August 5, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
August 4, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
July 30, 2025Brook Trout5,7163.7 inreport
July 29, 2025Rainbow Trout3,00110 inreport
July 16, 2025Rainbow Trout1,71510.5 inreport
July 15, 2025Rainbow Trout1,28610 inreport
July 2, 2025Rainbow Trout2,99910.4 inreport
June 10, 2025Rainbow Trout3,00210.6 inreport
May 30, 2025Rainbow Trout3,00010 inreport
April 21, 2025Rainbow Trout2,00010.5 inreport
March 19, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.3 inreport
March 18, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.4 inreport
March 11, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.3 inreport
March 6, 2025Rainbow Trout1,49810 inreport
February 25, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.5 inreport
November 25, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12510.9 inreport
November 19, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12612.3 inreport
November 14, 2024Rainbow Trout1,50211 inreport
November 5, 2024Rainbow Trout1,50011.7 inreport
October 9, 2024Rainbow Trout2,19611 inreport
September 13, 2024Rainbow Trout1,49910.7 inreport

Access and facts

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish before you go.

About Bonito Lake

Photo of Bonito Lake
Felix Garcia, CC BY 2.0

Nearest lakes

Rio Bonito Upper 2 mi last stocked May 19, 2026 Alto Lake 5.5 mi last stocked September 21, 2026 Ruidoso River 7.4 mi last stocked June 11, 2024 Grindstone Reservoir 9.1 mi last stocked October 1, 2026 Carrizozo Recreation Lake 14.5 mi last stocked June 30, 2026

Public land at Bonito Lake

Bonito Lake is 0.2 miles outside the edge of Lincoln National Forest.

It is 0.2 miles outside the edge of White Mountain Wilderness.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Bonito Lake?

Fishing Bonito Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 37 of 38 plants on record, ahead of Brook Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 14, 2026, averaging 10.4 in. Brook Trout was last stocked July 30, 2025, averaging 3.7 in.

When is Bonito Lake stocked?

Last stocked October 7, 2026. It is stocked about 13 times a year since 2024, most often in March and July.

How big are the fish stocked at Bonito Lake?

Stocked fish average 10.2 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.4 in. Brook Trout average 3.7 in.

Which lakes near Bonito Lake were stocked more recently?

Alto Lake (5.5 mi) and Grindstone Reservoir (9.1 mi) were stocked more recently. Alto Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.