Tidal Hudson River Regulations

New York Fishing

Statewide Angling Regulations apply except as listed below:
Species	Location	Open Season	Minimum Length	Daily Limit
American eel	From the Battery to the Troy Dam and all tributaries upstream to the first barrier impassable by fish	All year	Eels 9″–14″ only may be possessed for bait. No eels may be possessed for food.	25
Black Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)	Hudson River from the Troy Dam downstream and all tributaries in this section to the first barrier impassable by fish.	3rd Sat in June through Nov 30	15″	5
Black Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)	Note: It is illegal to fish for (including catch & release) largemouth bass and smallmouth bass during the closed season of Dec 1 through the Fri preceding the 3rd Sat in June.
Striped Bass	Hudson River and its tributaries north of the George Washington Bridge	April 1 through Nov 30	Slot Size: 18” – 28” (not less than 18″ nor greater than 28″)	1
American Shad	Fishing for or possessing American Shad on the Hudson River or in the marine district is prohibited.
Hickory Shad	Hudson River & Tributaries north of Mario M. Cuomo Bridge	Aug 1 through Nov 30	Any Size	5
* Total length is the longest straight line measurement from the tip of the snout, with the mouth closed, to the longest lobe of the tail, with the lobes squeezed together, and the fish laid flat on the measuring device.

License Requirements

Anglers 16 years of age and older who desire to fish in the marine and coastal district of New York, or for migratory marine species in all waters of the state, including the Hudson River, must enroll in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. Anglers targeting solely freshwater species such as largemouth and smallmouth bass on the Hudson River require only a “freshwater” fishing license.

Circle Hook Recommendation

If you plan to use natural baits for striped bass, please use non-offset circle hooks. Circle hooks increase the percentage of fish that are hooked in the mouth, decreasing hooking mortality in released fish. If you plan on practicing catch-and-release fishing, you should only use circle hooks for natural baits.

Blue Crab Regulations

50 blue crabs per day. Minimum carapace length across the back is:

Hard crab: 4½ inches
Soft shell crab: 3½ inches
Peeler crab: 3½ inches

No license is required to collect blue crabs.

Hudson River Anadromous River Herring* Regulations
Location	Open Season	Minimum Length	Daily Possession Limit	Manner of Taking
Hudson River Tributaries and Embayments, including Mohawk River (see Saratoga County Mohawk River exception on Saratoga County).	March 15 through June 15	None	10 per angler, OR a maximum boat limit of 50 per day for a group of boat anglers, whichever is lower	Angling only
Main stem of the Hudson River from Lock 1 near Waterford, NY south to the George Washington Bridge	March 15 through June 15	None	10 per angler, OR a maximum boat limit of 50 per day for a group of boat anglers, whichever is lower	Angling or by personal use nets (see below)
Anadromous river herring are alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, and blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis*.

Taking of Anadromous River Herring with Personal Use Nets

No person shall take anadromous river herring with a net within Hudson River tributaries and embayments. Prior to entering a Hudson River tributary or embayment, all personal use nets must be stowed in a secured container on deck or in a container below deck.
No person shall take anadromous river herring from the Hudson River:
- with more than one net when taking with a scap or dip net;
- with a dip net exceeding 14 inches in diameter if it is round form or exceeding 13 inches by 13 inches if it is square form;
- with a scap or lift net exceeding 16 square feet;
- with a seine net exceeding 36 square feet; or
- with a cast net exceeding 10 feet in diameter.