New York State
New York Fishing Regulations
Hatchcast covers the seasons, daily limits, size rules and gear restrictions that apply to every New York lake, river and species — written in plain language and sourced from the state agency, so you know the rule before you wet a line.
Below is how the rules break down by species. In the app, each one is narrowed to the exact water you are fishing, with the source link behind it.
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
Bass rules change from water to water. The season, the minimum length and how many you may keep depend on whether you are on Lake Champlain, one of the Finger Lakes or a smaller water with its own special regulations, and some waters carry catch-and-release stretches or artificial-lure-only rules for part of the year.
Get early access to Hatchcast for full NY regulationsWalleye & Sauger
Walleye and sauger limits are set per water, so a daily limit that is legal on one lake can put you over the line on the next. Slot sizes, night-fishing restrictions and bait rules vary across the state, and sauger are often covered by a separate line in the same table.
Get early access to Hatchcast for full NY regulationsTrout & Salmon
Trout and salmon waters are the most individualized in New York. Season dates can shift by river and by stretch, and you will find catch-and-release sections, single-hook and artificial-lure-only water, and size rules that differ between a stocked pond and a Great Lakes tributary.
Get early access to Hatchcast for full NY regulationsNorthern Pike & Pickerel
Pike and pickerel seasons, minimum sizes and daily limits vary by water, and several lakes add gear restrictions such as a ban on certain baits or a required hook type. Because these fish are often caught while bass or walleye fishing, the rule that applies depends on where you actually are.
Get early access to Hatchcast for full NY regulationsPerch & Panfish
Panfish rules are frequently the most local of all. Yellow perch, crappie, bluegill and pumpkinseed can each carry a per-water daily limit, and some waters add possession limits, size minimums or gear restrictions that do not apply anywhere else in the state.
Get early access to Hatchcast for full NY regulationsRegulations vary by water and are updated annually. Always confirm the current rules with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation before you fish.
Get early access to Hatchcast for full NY regulations
Join the early-access list and we will email you when Hatchcast opens, including the full New York regulations guide and the catch logbook.