New York fishing limits 2026–27
Fishing rows are copied from the NYSDEC statewide freshwater fishing table (effective April 1, 2026). Deer dates come from the DEC 2026–27 Hunting & Trapping Guide (Big Game section); the opening dates DEC announced on Oct 7, 2026 match. Every table links to the official source. If anything here disagrees with NYSDEC, NYSDEC is right.
New York season & rule alerts
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Statewide freshwater seasons, minimum length & daily limit
Special regulations by county and water, Great Lakes and tributaries, and marine waters differ — check DEC before you keep fish. Catch-and-release periods (trout streams Oct 16 – Mar 31, black bass Dec 1 – June 14) and closed species are not repeated here; see DEC.
| Species | Daily bag | Min length | Max length |
|---|---|---|---|
Brook Trout (in lakes and ponds)
| 5 | None | — |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Splake (in lakes and ponds)
| 5 with only 2 longer than 12" | None | — |
Trout in inland trout streams (see Definitions)
| 5 with only 2 longer than 12" | None | — |
Lake Trout
| 3 | 21" | — |
Atlantic Salmon (Landlocked)
| 3 | 15" | — |
Black Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)
| 5 | 12" | — |
Muskellunge
| 1 | 40" | — |
Northern Pike
| 5 | 18" | — |
Pickerel
| 5 | 15" | — |
Tiger Muskellunge
| 1 | 30" | — |
Walleye
| 5 | 15" | — |
Crappie (Black and White)
| 25 | 10" | — |
Yellow Perch
| 50 | None | — |
Sunfish (Bluegill, Redbreast, and Pumpkinseed)
| 25 | None | — |
Lake Whitefish
| 5 | None | — |
Striped Bass (north of George Washington Bridge)
| 1 | Not less than 23" nor greater than 28" | — |
American Shad - All other inland waters, including Delaware River
| 2 | None | — |
Hickory Shad
| 5 | Any Size | — |
American Eel
| 25 | 9" | — |
All other species (except those listed in special regulations)
| Any number | None | — |
NYSDEC statewide freshwater regulations 2026–27 (effective Apr 1, 2026) · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026
Lake water levels
Hunting? See New York hunting seasons 2026–27.