New York: Go Fishing in The Empire State

Published: Wednesday, January 26th, 2022| Updated on: Friday, January 28th, 2022

Overview

Fishing in New York is a cultural staple. In addition to the 127 miles of coastline, the state flaunts over 7,500 lakes and ponds, shares territory with two of North America's five Great Lakes, and contains 70,000 miles of rivers. Freshwater fishing is a common pastime in New York due to the sheer amount of fishable water, and proximity to two of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. You can target both cold and warm water fish species in New York, marking fish that prefer swift-moving streams and colder glacial lakes like Trout and Salmon a popular gamefish in addition to traditional freshwater targets like Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. The many species of cold-water fish are found largely in lakes Champlain, George, Erie, and Ontario, where warm water species like Bass and Perch are commonly found statewide in lakes and ponds. Long Island and the Hudson River host many ocean species from springtime to autumn, like Bluefish and Tautog that roam the Long Island Sound avoiding Sharks that hunt the migrating schools of game fish. Saltwater species like the brackish and shallow waters near the mouth of the Hudson are prime targets for nearshore and tidal drift fishing.

New York Map of Places to Fish

About Fishing in New York

Long Island is situated right along the migration path of Bluefish and Striped Bass that feed on the same prey. Stripers begin their migration north from the Chesapeake Bay in early spring and begin to make themselves at home in the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. They hole up around New York City and feed on smaller schooling fish like Shad and Herring until early to mid-summer when the water gets warm and the Stripers get fat, the big game swims farther north and are found near the Hamptons in the Montauk area. Black Sea Bass and Flounder are also a common find when inshore fishing in New York, but deep water expeditions will yield larger species like Bluefin Tuna, Dolphinfish, and White Marlin.

Farther north where freshwater fishing dominates, Adirondack Park, the largest area of protected land in the US has six million acres of land coveted for hunting and fishing alike. The Adirondack regions house over three thousand waterbodies chock full of all kinds of aquatic wildlife, each of which offers you a chance to take home prize-winning fish. Adirondack lakes are great for fishing Perch, Bass, and Walleye, but bag limits are very strict in order to promote conservation in some of America's most beautiful and valued fishing spots.

Everything Else About New York Fishing

Even though fishing in New York seems to have no potential flaws or negative outcomes, there are some species to be wary of. Native to Asia and invasive to North America, the Northern Snakehead, often confused with Bowfin, are detrimental to aquatic life in New York and should not be transported or released back into the water if you’re unlucky enough to encounter the infamous creature. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, anglers are to kill any Snakeheads caught immediately, as they can survive on land for multiple days out of water. You should also report the catch and make note of where you caught the fish so the species can be tracked and eradicated from the habitats that they invade.

Fishing in New York is quite a popular activity, and even though you might want to get on the water as soon as you’re physically able, it’s important to stop and make sure you have a New York fishing license so you can start your trip without any trouble. Simply order online today and register for New York’s Harvest Information Program to start fishing in compliance with the rules. You also may want to download the HuntFishNY app where you can store your own e-license and report your take as required by law from the comfort of your smartphone. Take advantage of Guidesly’s service and fish New York like a native.