Great Lakes & Tributary Regulations
New York
Fishing
These regulations apply to New York waters of Lake Erie, the Upper and Lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and designated sections of the tributaries to these waters. Tributary sections subject to these regulations are generally defined as the bridge closest to the mouth upstream to the first barrier impassable to fish. Tributaries with different boundaries and exemptions are listed separately below. Note that there are also seasonal tackle restrictions and restrictions on night fishing in the tributaries. Statewide angling regulations apply for species not listed.
Regulations for All Great Lakes & Tributaries
Regulations for all Great Lakes waters, including Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Upper and Lower Niagara River, St. Lawrence River and tributaries to these waters.
At all times:
- Snatching and attempting to snatch is prohibited. See definition of snatching on Definitions.
- All foul-hooked fish must be immediately released without unnecessary injury.
- Use or possession of gaff hooks is prohibited except when ice fishing.
- Any action to frighten fish and move them from concealment, including herding, driving, kicking or stoning, is prohibited.
- The use of eggs for chumming is prohibited (see General Regulations).
Special Regulations for Lake Erie Tributaries
Lake Erie tributary seasonal fishing regulations
Fishing hours
- Fishing only permitted one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (fishing at night is prohibited).
Hook, leader and weight regulations
- The distance between a hook’s shaft and point cannot exceed one-half inch.
- Hooks attached to any lure must be free-swinging, except on an artificial fly (see Definitions).
- Use of hooks with added weight is prohibited, except for artificial flies (Definitions) and jigs weighing no more than one-eighth ounce are permitted.
- The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure and any weight attached to the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet.
| Lake Erie and Tributaries Angling* Regulations | |||
| Species | Open Season | Minimum Length | Daily Limit |
| Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon | All year | 12″ | 3 in any combination |
| Lake Trout | All year | 12″ | 1 |
| Northern Pike | 1st Sat In May through March 15 | 22″ | 5 |
| Walleye | 1st Sat In May through March 15 | 15″ | 6 |
| Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge | 3rd Sat in June through Nov 30 | 54″ | 1 |
| Yellow Perch, Sunfish | All year | Any size | 50 of each |
| Black Bass | December 1 through the Fri preceding the 3rd Sat in June | 20″ | 1 |
| 3rd Sat in June through Nov 30 | 12″ | 5 | |
| Lake Sturgeon | Closed | Possession Prohibited | |
Anglers are advised that attempting to take fish by snatching in any Great Lakes tributary, which is indicated by repeated or exaggerated jerking motions of the fishing rod, is prohibited (see definition of snatching on Definitions).
| Lake Erie Year-Round Catch-And-Release Regulations for Chautauqua and Eighteenmile Creeks | ||
| ||
| Water | County | Section |
| Chautauqua Creek | Chautauqua | From bridge on South Gale Street upstream 1.3 miles to the upper Village of Westfield water intake dam |
| Eighteenmile Creek | Erie | Main branch of creek (excluding South Branch) contained within Eighteenmile Creek County Park |
Let Them Grow
Unlike Pacific Salmon, rainbow trout (steelhead), brown trout and Atlantic salmon are repeat spawners. Releasing these fish will provide them the opportunity to grow larger, improving future fishing opportunities for you and other anglers.
| Portions of Lake Erie Tributaries Subject to Seasonal (September 1 through March 31) Regulations | ||
| The following tributary sections are subject to Lake Erie tributary seasonal fishing regulations during the period September 1 through March 31: | ||
| Water | County | Section |
| Cattaraugus Creek | Erie and Cattaraugus | From the Aldrich Street Extension Bridge in Gowanda upstream to Springville Dam |
| Buffalo River and its tributaries | Erie | From the I-90 (NYS Thruway) bridge upstream to first barrier impassable by fish |
| All others | Erie, Chautauqua | From bridge closest to the mouth upstream to the first barrier impassable by fish |
Attention Boaters
All individuals born on or after 5/1/96 are now required to successfully complete an approved course in boater education in order to operate a motorboat. To find a boating course near you go to: www.parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/
| Upper Niagara River and Tributaries Angling Regulations | |||
| Species | Open Season | Minimum Length | Daily Limit |
| Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (Including Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon | All year | Any size | 3 in any combination |
| Lake Trout | All year | 12″ | 1 |
| Northern Pike | 1st Sat In May through March 15 | 22″ | 5 |
| Walleye | 1st Sat In May through March 15 | 15″ | 6 |
| Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge | 3rd Sat in June through Nov 30 | 54″ | 1 |
| Yellow Perch, Sunfish | All year | Any size | 50 of each |
| Black Bass (north of the Peace Bridge) | Statewide Angling Regulations Apply | ||
| Lake Sturgeon | Closed | Possession Prohibited | |
| Species | Open Season | Minimum Length | Daily Limit |
| Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon | All year | 15″, except 21″ | 3 (Trout & Salmon) in any combination, not to include more than 1 Atlantic Salmon or 2 Lake Trout |
| Lake Trout | Dec 1 through Sept 30 | None, except only 1 Lake Trout may be between 25″ and 30″ | |
| Atlantic Salmon | All year | 25″ | |
| Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge | 3rd Sat in June through Dec 15 | 54″ | 1 |
| Northern Pike | 1st Sat in May through March 15 | 22″ | 5 |
| Black Bass | Statewide Angling Regulations Apply | ||
| Walleye | 1st Sat in May through Dec 31 | 18″ | 3 |
| Jan 1 through March 15 | 18″ | 1 | |
| Yellow Perch, Sunfish | All year | Any size | 50 of each |
| Lake Sturgeon, American Eel | Closed | Possession Prohibited | |
| Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, and | |||
| Species | Open Season | Minimum Length | Daily Limit |
| Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon | All year | 15″ except for Rainbow Trout or Steelhead: 21″ in the lake and 25″ in tributaries | 3 in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 rainbow trout (or steelhead) and 1 brown trout in the tributaries |
| Except 9″ and 3 fish daily for Brown Trout in Irondequoit Creek upstream of the south side of Rt. 286 bridges, Lindsey Creek and Skinner Creek (Oswego and Jefferson counties), and the Black River from Dexter Dam to Mill Street Dam (Jefferson County) | |||
| Lake Trout | Dec 1 through Sept 30 | None (except no more than 1 shall be between 25″ and 30″) | 2 |
| Atlantic Salmon | All year | 25″ | 1 |
| Northern Pike (Lake Ontario) | 1st Sat in May through March 15 | 22″ | 5 |
| Northern Pike (St. Lawrence River and tributaries downstream of Tibbets Point) | 1st Sat in May through March 15 | 22″ | 3 |
| Black Bass (Lake Ontario & tributaries except in Jefferson County) | Statewide Angling Regulations Apply | ||
| Black Bass (Lake Ontario and tributaries in Jefferson County & St. Lawrence River and tributaries) | 3rd Sat in June through Nov 30 | 12″ | 5 Fishing for black bass (including catch & release) is prohibited outside of the open season. |
| Walleye | 1st Sat in May through March 15 | 18″ | 3 |
| Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge | 3rd Sat in June through Dec 15 | 54″ | 1 |
| Lake Sturgeon, American Eel | Closed | Possession Prohibited | |
| Yellow Perch, Sunfish | All year | Any size | 50 of each |
Life Jackets
Every pleasure vessel, including canoes, kayaks and rowboats, must have on board at least one wearable personal floatation device (PFD) for each person on board. Children under 12 years of age on any vessel 65 ft. or less in length must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while underway.
From November 1 – May 1, everyone must wear a PFD when underway on pleasure boats less than 21 ft.
For more information on boating safety regulations, go to www.parks.ny.gov.