New York fishing seasons

71 species profiles in our database list New York waters among their fisheries — including Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Perch, Rock Bass. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in New York

Months when the largest share of New York's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

New York fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in New York

Species	Season
American Eel	Varies by watershed and local regulation
American Smelt	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Atlantic Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Banded Killifish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Bantam Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Bigmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Black Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blacknose Dace	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blackside Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Blue Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Brook Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Channel Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Cisco	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Common Carp	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Common Shiner	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Dollar Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Emerald Shiner	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Gizzard Shad	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Golden Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Golden Shiner	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Greater Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Green Sturgeon	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Greenside Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Gulf Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Hornyhead Chub	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Iowa Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Johnny Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Lake Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Lake Whitefish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Logperch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Longnose Dace	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Longnose Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Mud Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Muskellunge	Mar–Apr–May–Sep–Oct–Nov
Northern Hogsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Orangespotted Sunfish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Pallid Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Peacock Bass	Varies by region and regulation
Pirate Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Quillback	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Rainbow Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
River Carpsucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Rock Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Round Whitefish	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Sacramento Perch	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shadow Bass	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Shorthead Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Shortnose Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Shovelnose Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Silver Redhorse	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Smallmouth Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Smallmouth Buffalo	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spotfin Shiner	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Spotted Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Steelhead	Jan–Feb–Jun–Jul–Aug–Dec
Striped Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Perch	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Sucker	Varies by watershed and local regulation

Saltwater & brackish species in New York

Species	Season
Blueline Tilefish	Varies by region and regulation
Coho Salmon	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Northern Stargazer	Varies by region and regulation
Ocean Pout	Varies by region and regulation
Sand Tilefish	Varies by region and regulation
Scup	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Steelhead	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Striped Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Summer Flounder	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Tautog	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Tilefish	Varies by region and regulation
Weakfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Winter Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules

Where to fish in New York

• Hudson River (NY)
• Hudson Canyon (NY)
• Northeast US offshore (MA/NJ)

Fishing in the Northeast

Maine · New Hampshire · Vermont · Massachusetts · Rhode Island · Connecticut · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Maryland · Delaware · District of Columbia