Special Fishing Regulations for New York City Reservoirs

The General Angling Regulations apply to species and waters not listed

Special Fishing Regulations for New York City Reservoirs
Reservoir	Species	Open Season	Minimum Length	Daily Limit
Amawalk Reservoir* Bog Brook Reservoir* Cross River Reservoir* Diverting Reservoir* Middle Branch Reservoir* Muscoot Reservoir* Titcus Reservoir*	Trout	All year	12"	3
Croton Falls Reservoir*	Trout	All year	18"	1
Lake Gilead* Lake Glenida*	Lake Trout Trout	All year All Year	21" Any size	3 5
Boyd Corners Reservoir* East Branch Reservoir*	Trout Walleye	All year 1st Sat. in May-March 15	12" 18"	3 3
West Branch Reservoir*	Lake Trout Trout Landlocked salmon	All year All year All year	21" 12" 18	3 3 1
Kensico Reservoir	Lake Trout Trout	All year All year	18" 12"	3 3
New Croton Reservoir Schoharie Reservoir	Trout	All year	12"	3
Rondout Reservoir	Lake trout Trout	April 1- Nov 30	18" 12"	3 3
Ashokan Reservoir	Trout Walleye	April 1-Nov 30 1st Sat. in May-March 15	12" 18"	3 3
Cannonsville Reservoir, Neversink Reservoir**	Trout	April 1 - October 15	12"	3
Pepacton Reservoir***	Trout	April 1-Sept 30	15"	2 fish to include only 1 over 21"

*Ice Fishing Permitted
** Neversink Reservoir: smelt fishing prohibited.
***Pepacton Reservoir: use of a line with more than three hooks and any hook with more than three points is prohibited

Fishing and Boating on NYC Reservoirs

Note:A free New York City Public Access Permit is required in order to fish these reservoirs. A valid New York State fishing license is no longer necessary to obtain a NY City Public Access Permit. However, all anglers must possess a valid New York State fishing license when fishing on New York City Reservoirs.

All NY City fishing permits issued prior to 2002 are no longer valid. You must obtain a new permit before entering these lands.

Public Access Permits and applications are now available online at the DEP website (see link below). Applicants not choosing to apply online must submit their applications by mail, to the address indicated on the application. Public Access Permit application forms are available at existing New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Offices, DEP Police Precincts, Town Offices within the NYC watershed area and tackle shops and sporting goods stores within the NYC watershed area. In New York City, applications are available at:

DEP's One-Stop Center in Queens, 59-17 Junction Blvd., 1st Floor, Low Rise (718)595-4820
DEP's Bureau of Customer Conservation Services in Manhattan, 1250 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY (212)643-2215

Additional information about changing NYC Reservoir access conditions, information about fishing on New York City reservoirs, Public Access Permit application forms, Boating Tag application forms and Fishing and Boating Regulations are available at the DEP website (see link below).

Boating for the purpose of fishing is allowed on New York City Reservoirs. Boats are permitted for the reservoir specified on the application only, and must remain at the reservoir. All boats must be approved by and registered with NYC DEP. The DEP will honor current boat permits. Anglers who would like to register a new boat must first obtain a valid Public Access Permit and then file a Boating Tag Application in person. For more information on boating, or to schedule an appointment to process a new boat, contact the appropriate Watershed Protection Office:

Ashokan Reservoir, Box 370, NYS Route 28A, Shokan, NY 12481; (845) 657-2663
Schoharie Reservoir, Box 234, Road Seven, Prattsville, NY 12468; 607-588-6237
Rondout & Neversink Reservoirs, Box 358, NYS Route 42, Grahamsville, NY 12740; (845) 985-0386
Pepacton & Cannonsville Reservoirs, Box D, NYS Route 30, Downsville, NY 13755; (607) 363-7009/7010
All East of Hudson Reservoirs, 54 Croton Falls Road, Mahopac, NY 10541; (914)232-1309

For more information about fishing on NYC reservoirs, visit the NYC Department of Environmental Protection website.