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Fishing in New York

Find fishing spots near you with Fishbrain's interactive crowd-sourced map

Top fishing waters in New York

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Long Island Sound

New York, United States

4.6
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Hudson River

New York, United States

4.4
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Prospect Park Lake

New York, United States

4.0
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Lake Champlain

New York, United States

4.8
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Great South Bay

New York, United States

4.5
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Lake George

New York, United States

4.7
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Want trophy-size catches? These New York spots deliver

About New York fishing

New York delivers diverse fishing, from Great Lakes salmon and trout to Catskills fly-fishing streams. Inland lakes hold bass, walleye, and pike, while Long Island provides striped bass and fluke.

New York fishing license

Fishing in New York requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include resident and non-resident, annual, daily, and lifetime licenses, available online or at licensed agents statewide.

In New York, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. Residents 70 and older qualify for a discounted license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

Get license

Top fish species caught in New York

Bass
Bass
Sunfish
Sunfish
Trout
Trout
Perch
Perch
Pickerel
Pickerel
Crappie
Crappie
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Biggest catches in New York

Explore your local leaderboard—see the top catches in the app.

State records of caught fish in New York

SpeciesWeightRainbow trout31.2 lbsLargemouth bass12.4 lbsSmallmouth bass9 lbsChain pickerel8.1 lbsYellow perch3.5 lbsBluegill2.5 lbs

Latest New York fishing reports

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Brown trout

Schroon River

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Largemouth bass

Silver Lake

length · weight

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Hudson River

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Lake char

Lake Champlain

26 in · 5 lb

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Common carp

Black River

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Striped bass

Long Island Sound

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Rock bass

Seneca River

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Rock bass

Seneca River

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Brown trout

Schroon River

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Summer flounder

Gravesend Bay

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Fishing regulations in New York

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in New York can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Smallmouth bass as of May 29th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Smallmouth bass

Seasons

Closed

Bag limit

5

Min size

12"

Measurement

Total Length

Aggregate

5

From Dec 1-June 14, catch and release using only artificial lures is permitted. See here for site specific regulations

Micropterus dolomieui

Regulations for

42°39′35.4″N 73°46′52.8″W
Regulations in the map
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New striper regulations for Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean

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See related posts
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FAQ about New York fishing

Fishing regulations in New York, United States vary by location, species, and season. Rules may include size limits, bag limits, licensing requirements, and protected areas. Because regulations are managed locally and can change throughout the year, it's important to check the latest official guidance before fishing.

To stay up to date and avoid guesswork, use the to explore local rules, discover popular waters, and see what other anglers are catching across United States.
Some of the most popular species anglers target in New York, United States include Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, and Largemouth bass. The best species often depend on season, water type, and location within the country.

For more detailed, real-time insights, the shows which species are being caught near you and what baits are working best across United States.
Some of the most popular fishing spots in New York, United States include Long Island Sound, Hudson River, and Prospect Park Lake. Anglers across the country fish a wide range of waters, with opportunities varying by region and season.

With the , you can explore local hotspots anywhere in United States, see recent catches, and find out what's working near you.
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Cities in New York
New YorkBrooklynQueensManhattanBronxBuffaloHempsteadRochesterAlbanyBrookhavenStaten IslandSyracusePoughkeepsieIslipOyster BayNorth HempsteadBabylonHuntingtonYonkersBinghamton
Top fishing waters in the United States
Long Island SoundLake BalboaFox RiverPuddingstone ReservoirHorsetooth ReservoirLexington ReservoirShaver LakeLon Hagler ReservoirBuckroe Fishing PierCarter Lake ReservoirLake ErieLake LanierLake ConroeLake HartwellLake TexomaRocky RiverSebastian InletLake ForkSalmon RiverCape CodPopular Waters
Top regions in the United States
HawaiiRhode IslandNorth CarolinaConnecticutCaliforniaOhioNew JerseyFloridaSouth DakotaMontanaNew MexicoUtahMarylandMinnesotaIndianaTennesseeVirginiaColoradoMassachusettsMichiganPennsylvaniaArizonaTexasFishing spots near you