Freshwater Fishing Regulations
View results from a recent Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide Survey (PDF), which solicited public opinion on preferences for style, size, content, and more. The information from the survey will help shape future issues of the guide to better serve our anglers.
Ways to View
2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations
(Effective April 1)
Statewide Seasons and Catch Limits
(Exceptions may apply in certain waters through special regulations - see below)
Special Regulations for Specific Waters
Great Lakes and Tributaries: Lake Erie | Lake Ontario | Niagara River | St. Lawrence River
Border Waters: Delaware River | Lake Champlain | Greenwood Lake | Indian Lake
Map of DEC Regions
Waters by Region/County:
- Region 1(Long Island): Nassau | Suffolk
- Region 2 (New York City): Brooklyn | Bronx | Manhattan | Queens | Staten Island
- Region 3 (Lower Hudson Valley): Dutchess | Orange | Putnam | Rockland | Sullivan | Ulster | Westchester
- Region 4 (Capital Region/Northern Catskills): Albany | Columbia | Delaware | Greene | Montgomery | Otsego | Rensselaer | Schenectady | Schoharie
- Region 5 (Eastern Adirondacks/Lake Champlain): Clinton | Essex | Franklin | Fulton | Hamilton | Saratoga | Warren | Washington
- Region 6 (Western Adirondacks/Eastern Lake Ontario): Herkimer | Jefferson | Lewis | Oneida | St. Lawrence
- Region 7 (Central New York): Broome | Cayuga | Chenango | Cortland | Madison | Onondaga | Oswego | Tioga | Tompkins
- Region 8 (Wester Finger Lakes): Chemung | Genesee | Livingston | Monroe | Ontario | Orleans | Schuyler | Seneca | Steuben | Wayne | Yates
- Region 9 (Western New York): Allegany | Chautauqua | Cattaraugus | Erie | Niagara | Wyoming
Additional Regulations and Guidance
General Regulations
Definitions, taking and possession, harvest, purchase and sale, natural baits other than baitfish.
Baitfish Regulations
Use, purchase, collection, possession, and transportation of baitfish
Fishing Licenses
Requirements, types, privileges, and purchasing information on freshwater fishing licenses or enrolling in the recreational marine fishing registration (for migratory fish species only)
Fish Consumption Advisories (link leaves DEC website)
Species, quantity, and waterbody locations from which you can safely eat fish.
View a Full Copy of the Fishing Regulations Guide
Download a Printable Copy (PDF)
2023 New York Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide - effective April 1, 2023
Pick Up a Copy
You can get a hard copy of the 2023 guide in one of the following ways:
- Visit a License Issuing Agent/Vendor near you, OR
- Email Bureau of Fisheries to request a copy by mail (include your name and address)
