Welcome to New York Fishing
Governor's Message
Since the Fish and Forestry Commission was formed in 1869, New York State has provided careful stewardship to ensure that our valuable fisheries are maintained for generations to come. With strategic management, we have overcome numerous threats and challenges to our thriving fishing opportunities, from overfishing to acid rain.
With all our success, climate change remains an ongoing challenge that has the potential to dramatically alter our future fisheries. In addition to wide-ranging impacts on New York State’s communities and economy, the changing climate will bring warmer water, more intense weather events, and will create an environment that provides pathways for more invasive species. These factors can have devastating effects on existing fish populations.
Fortunately, New Yorkers are once again taking action to protect our natural resources. The Climate Action Scoping Plan provides a roadmap to combat climate change and mitigate its effects on our natural resources. New York State also continues to invest significant resources, such as the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, to improve State hatcheries and habitats and enhance recreational access for current and future anglers.
But we cannot fight climate change alone. Anglers have a rich legacy of supporting New York State’s fisheries, and as we enter another fishing season, I hope you continue your advocacy for our aquatic resources, and continue to set an example for the day-to-day actions we can all take to protect our beautiful state. Together, we can make a difference.
I wish you all the best success and enjoyment while on the water this year, and thank you again for your continued support of our environmental conservation programs.
Kathy Hochul, Governor
Commissioner's Message
New York State is brimming with fishing opportunities. When mentioning fishing in New York State, thoughts often shine a light on the remarkable Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, Lake Champlain, Beaver Kill, and more.
There is no doubt those waters are special, but there are many warmwater rivers in the state that boast some amazing fishing opportunities. From the Allegheny River in western New York and the Oswegatchie River and Great Chazy River in the northern part of the state, to those in between, such as the Susquehanna, Mohawk, and Delaware rivers—each offers incredible opportunities to catch muskellunge, smallmouth bass, walleye, and other prized fish.
Shoreline access is plentiful too, so anglers don’t need a boat to have a successful day on the water. I encourage you to consult DECinfo Locator or the Tackle Box feature within DEC’s HuntFishNY app to find where public access sites exist and learn local fishing regulations.
If you are fortunate enough to catch a big fish while you’re out there, I encourage you to see if it qualifies for an Angler Achievement Award. DEC recently revamped this popular program and added more eligible fish species to provide additional opportunities to enter fish that meet a minimum qualifying length. Additionally, an online entry form is now available to submit your catch from the convenience of your smartphone. I encourage all anglers to check out our redesigned website for more information on these resources.
There truly is something for every angler here in New York State, and DEC’s fishing experts have done an incredible job stewarding these opportunities. I wish you all a great 2024 fishing season, and may the memories be as plentiful as the fish at the end of your line.
Basil Seggos, Commissioner
