Statewide Seasons & Catch Limits
The following statewide species regulations apply to all fresh waters for which special regulations have not been established. Seewww.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7894.html for fishing regulations in the Marine and Coastal District.
A person may not fish for a species (not even catch and release) outside of the open season for that species on a given water.
SPECIES | OPEN SEASON¹ | MINIMUM LENGTH² | DAILY LIMIT³ |
Brook Trout in lakes and ponds | April 1–Oct 15 | None | 5 |
Brown Trout, RainbowTrout, Splake in lakes and ponds | All year | None | 5 with only 2 longer than 12" |
Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout and Splake in Inland Trout Streams4 | April 1–Oct 15 | None | 5 with only 2 longer than 12" |
Oct 16–Mar 31 | Catch and Release only, Artifcial lures only | ||
Lake Trout | April 1–Oct 15 | 21" | 3 |
Atlantic Salmon (Landlocked) | All year | 15" | 3 |
Coho & ChinookSalmon | See Great Lakes & Tributaries Regulations | ||
Black Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth) | June 15–Nov 30 | 12" | 5 |
Dec 1–June 14 | Catch and Release only, Artifcial lures only | ||
Muskellunge | June 1–Nov 30 | 40" | 1 |
Northern Pike | May 1–Mar 15 | 18" | 5 |
Pickerel | May 1–Mar 15 | 15" | 5 |
Tiger Muskellunge | May 1–Mar 15 | 30" | 1 |
Walleye | May 1–Mar 15 | 15" | 5 |
Crappie (Black and White) | All year | 10" | 25 |
Yellow Perch | All year | None | 50 |
Sunfsh (Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, and Redbreast Sunfsh) | All year | None | 25 |
Remember, if the water you plan to fish doesn't have a special regulation, statewide seasons and limits apply.
SPECIES | OPEN SEASON¹ | MINIMUM LENGTH² | DAILY LIMIT³ |
Lake Whitefsh | All year | None | 5 |
Paddlefsh, Sauger | Closed | Fishing for (including Catch and Release) or possession prohibited | |
Striped Bass (north of George Washington Bridge) | April 1–Nov 30 | 1 (not less than 18" nor greater than 28") | |
American Shad—All inland waters except those listed in special regulations | All year | None | 3 |
Possession prohibited in Hudson River and tributaries | |||
Hickory Shad | Aug 1–Nov 30 | None | 5 |
American Eel | All year | 9" | 25 |
All endangered or threatened fish species | Fishing for (including Catch and Release) or possession prohibited | ||
Snakeheads (all species) | Live possession prohibited | ||
All other species (except those listed in special regulations) | All year | None | Any number |
¹ Open Season means the time during which fish may be legally taken.
² Minimum length means the greatest possible length measured from the tip of the fish’s snout to the tip of the tail. The mouth may be openor closed and the tail may be spread or compressed in order to achieve the greatest length.
³ Daily Limit
- A person may not have in possession, or intentionally kill or injure, fish other than the sizes specifed and allowed for that species on a given water. Any fish in a vehicle used to access a given water counts towards the number and sizes of fish in possession.
⁴ Inland Trout Streams shall mean all rivers and streams inhabited by trout except as follows:
- Great Lakes tributaries to the 1st impassible barrier;
- Finger Lakes tributaries to the 1st impassible barrier;
- Lake Champlain tributaries to the 1st impassible barrier;
- Tidal stream reaches
