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New York City Special Fishing Regulations

  • This is a list of exceptions to the General Angling Regulations of New York's Freshwater Fishing Regulations.
  • Trout waters where ice fishing is permitted are identified here.
  • In some cases, you will be referred to the regulations tables for major resource blocks (Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, Lake Champlain, Border Waters, New York City Reservoirs).
Special fishing regulations for waters in New York City
Waters Species Open Season Minimum Length Daily Limit Method
Bronx
Crotona Park Pond, Van Cortlandt Lake		 All Species All Year Catch and release fishing only.
All fish, except for snakeheads, shall be returned to the water immediately. See Snakehead Alert information below* for instructions on handling a snakehead you have caught.
Kings (Brooklyn)
Prospect Park Lake		 All Species All Year Catch and release fishing only.
All fish, except for snakeheads, shall be returned to the water immediately. See Snakehead Alert information below* for instructions on handling a snakehead you have caught.
New York (Manhattan)
Central Park- all waters		 All Species All Year Catch and release fishing only.
All fish, except for snakeheads, shall be returned to the water immediately. See Snakehead Alert information below* for instructions on handling a snakehead you have caught.
Queens
Baisley's Pond, Kissena Lake, Meadow Lake, Oakland Lake, Willow Lake**		 All Species All Year Catch and release fishing only.
All fish, except for snakeheads, shall be returned to the water immediately. See Snakehead Alert information below* for instructions on handling a snakehead you have caught.
Richmond (Staten Island)
Brooks Lake, Clove Lake, Willowbrook Lake, Wolfes Pond		 All Species All Year Catch and release fishing only.
All fish, except for snakeheads, shall be returned to the water immediately. See Snakehead Alert information below* for instructions on handling a snakehead you have caught.

* Snakehead Alert: Northern snakeheads and other snakehead species are listed as species dangerous to native fish populations in New York, and their possession or sale is strictly prohibited. These fish can seriously damage native fish communities. If you catch a snakehead, DO NOT RELEASE IT. Kill it, freeze it, and report your catch to a local DEC office.

** Please note that Willow Lake has been posted as "no fishing" by the NYC Parks Department.