New York Fishing Regulations: Bag Limits, Size Limits and Seasons
These are the statewide daily bag limits and length limits New York anglers work under, taken from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) guide for April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. Statewide means the default: most states, New York included, override these on specific lakes, rivers and coastal zones, so treat this page as the baseline and the official guide as the rule for the water you are standing on.
New York runs species seasons. Trout streams: harvest April 1 through October 15, then catch-and-release with artificial lures through March 31. Black bass: harvest June 15 through November 30, catch-and-release the rest of the year. Walleye, pike and pickerel: May 1 through March 15. Muskellunge: June 1 through November 30. Perch, sunfish, crappie and catfish are open all year. Marine striped bass season runs April 15 through December 15. You will still need the New York fishing license, which runs $25 for residents and $50 for non-residents; the New York fishing license page covers short-term options, exemptions and where to buy.
Limits last verified 2026-09-16.
New York freshwater bag and length limits
| Species | Daily bag | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Brook, brown and rainbow trout (streams)Catch-and-release only from October 16 to March 31. | 5 | None, but only 2 may be over 12 in. |
| Brown and rainbow trout (lakes and ponds)Brook trout in lakes: 5, April 1 to October 15. | 5 | None, only 2 over 12 in. |
| Lake troutDifferent rules on the Finger Lakes and Great Lakes. | 3 | 21 in. minimum |
| Landlocked Atlantic salmon | 3 | 15 in. minimum |
| Black bass (largemouth and smallmouth)June 15 to November 30 only. | 5 combined | 12 in. minimum |
| Walleye | 5 | 15 in. minimum |
| Northern pike | 5 | 18 in. minimum |
| Pickerel | 5 | 15 in. minimum |
| MuskellungeTiger muskellunge: 1 at 30 in., May 1 to March 15. | 1 | 40 in. minimum |
| Yellow perch | 50 | None |
| Sunfish | 25 | None |
| Crappie | 25 | 10 in. minimum |
| Catfish and bullhead | No limit | None |
New York saltwater limits
| Species | Daily bag | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Striped bass (marine waters)April 15 through December 15. Circle hooks required with bait. | 1 | 28-31 in. slot |
Saltwater source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation saltwater regulations.
How to read a bag limit
A daily bag limit is the number of that species one angler may keep in a day, and in most states also the number you may have in possession on the water. Where a row says "combined", the number is shared across every species named in it. A minimum length is measured from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched; a slot means fish inside the range must go back. When a lake has its own rule in the official guide, that rule replaces the statewide one for that water only.
Related: the New York fishing license page for the fee and where to buy, non-resident fishing license fees across states, and fishing regulations for every state.