New York State Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide

1 YORKF reshwater FISHING2018 19 Official Regulations GuideVolume 10, Issue No. 1 April 2018N ew Yo rk :A State of Angling OpportunityNew york 's Fishiest 50page 10 DEC's I FISH NY Programpage 30 Start Your Fishing Adventure in New york StateWelcome to another wonderful season of Fishing in New york State . With more than 7,500 lakes and ponds and 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, Fishing in the Empire State offers a world-class experience that is second to has a long and proud tradition in New york , and the State has undertaken comprehensive efforts over the past several years to raise awareness of and improve access to opportunities to enjoy New york s unparalleled natural resources. To better connect New Yorkers and visitors with these peerless Fishing resources, earlier this year we launched Adventure NY which is working across the State to: Expand access to healthy, active outdoor recreation; Connect people with nature and the outdoors; Protect New york s natural resources; and Boost local economies.

2 Already, we re making great progress with new and renovated boat launches on Lake George in Warren County, Meacham Lake in Franklin County, and Forge Pond in Suffolk County that are enhancing the State s Freshwater Fishing experiences. Over the next three years, Adventure NY s goal is to complete an additional 75 projects, from additional boat launches like these to renovating Fishing access sites. New york is committed to providing residents and visitors with a good Fishing experi-ence. Each year, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) fish hatchery system raises more than 850,000 pounds of fish that stock nearly 1,200 public water-bodies across New york . Recognizing the importance of the Fishing industry, New york has invested more than $14 million dollars to modernize our fish hatcheries statewide, including the newly renovated visitor center at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery and significant improvements made to water supply wells at the Bath Hatchery.

3 In addition, four new trucks were added to New york s hatchery fleet and are anticipated to travel more than 500,000 miles every s popular I FISH NY program continues to educate thousands of New york s avid anglers each year on where and when to find the hottest spots. In 2017, DEC held a special Outdoor Day at the New york State Fair and granted free fair admission to anyone with a New york State sporting license. DEC also sponsored our first-ever Learn to Fish program and introduced more than 500 New Yorkers to the wonders of Fishing . We look for even more exciting outdoor activities at the fair in 2018. I encourage you to join us and experience the joys of Fishing New york s waters. Wishing you a safe and successful Fishing M. CuomoGovernor, State of New YorkTiconderoga Boat Launch2018 2019 New york Freshwater Fishing GuideMessage from the GovernorContentsStop the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species 2 License Information 6 NYS Environmental Conservation Police Q&A 8 Feature: New york 's Fishiest 50 10 Statewide Angling Regulations 13 Special Regulations : Region 1 15 Special Regulations : Region 2 16 Special Regulations : Region 3 17 Special Regulations .

4 Region 4 19 New york City Reservoir Regulations 21 Tidal Hudson River Regulations 22 Border Waters Regulations 23 Special Regulations : Region 5 24 Lake George and Lake Champlain Regulations 29 Feature: DEC's I FISH NY Program 30 Special Regulations : Region 6 34 Special Regulations : Region 7 38 Special Regulations : Region 8 41 Finger Lakes and Tributary Regulations 43 Special Regulations : Region 9 44 Great Lakes and Tributary Regulations 46 General Regulations 50 Definitions 54 Baitfish Regulations 55 Freshwater Fish Identification 58 Weigh Your Fish With A Ruler 60 New york State Angler Achievement Awards 61 Catch & Release Guidelines 65 Public Fishing Rights 66 Health Advisories 67 Environmental Conservation Officers

5 72 DEC Fish Hatcheries 74 Funding Fisheries Management 76 Using This Guide1 Review the Statewide Angling Regulations page 132 Review the Special Regulations section, which begins on page 14 and includes Regulations for specific waters (i e , Lake Champlain) or group of waters (i e , Great Lakes) If the water you are Fishing or the species you are Fishing for is not listed in this section, statewide angling Regulations apply 3 Review: General Regulations page 50 Baitfish Regulations page 55 Definitions page 544 Consult the License Information section to determine if you need a Fishing license page 65 Review the NYS Environmental Conservation Police Q&A section, which provides answers to some of the more frequently asked ques-tions concerning the information in this Guide page 86 Review Health Advisories page 67If you have any questions or are unsure of any Regulations , call or e-mail the nearest DEC regional office Contact information can be found in the Special Regulations section of the Guide pages 14 49 This Guide is a summary that is intended for convenience only For a com-plete reference, consult New york State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and Volume 6 of the Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New york (NYCRR)

6 Copies can be reviewed at the nearest library with a State Supreme Court reference section, online at w w for ECL and for NYCRR, or by contacting a Regional DEC Division of Law Enforcement Office State of New YorkAndrew M. Cuomo, Governor NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Basil Seggos, Commissioner Kathy Moser, Deputy Commissioner for Natural ResourcesTony Wilkinson, Director, Division of Fish and Wildlife Steve Hurst, Chief, Bureau of Fisheries How to contact us: NYS Department of Environmental ConservationBureau of Fisheries625 BroadwayAlbany, NY cover photo: Patrick Hildenbrand with the 8 lb 4 oz smallmouth bass he caught from the St Lawrence River, Jefferson County on August 28, 2016 that tied the New york State record Division of Fish and Wildlife Mission: The mission of DEC s Division of Fish and Wildlife is to serve the interests of current and future generations of New Yorkers by using our collective skills, in partnership with the public, to describe, understand, manage and perpetuate a healthy and diverse assemblage of fish, wildlife and ecosystems The advertisements contained herein offset the cost of this Guide , are provided for informational purposes only, and do not constitute an endorsement by the New york State Department of Environmental Conservation J F Griffin Publishing, LLC is proud to print the official New york Freshwater Fishing Regulations summary on post-consumer recycled paper eWe Need Your E-mail AddressThe Bureau of Fisheries routinely uses e-mail to provide information to anglers and gather input on important fisher-ies issues.

7 Reminders are also provided to anglers when their annual Fishing license is about to expire. If you did not provide a valid e-mail address at the time you purchased your license, please do the following: Call the NYS DEC Call Center at 1-866-933-2257 (Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm) or the License Sales hotline at 866-472-4332 (Monday-Friday, 8:00AM 4:00PM), OR Edit your profile directly online through the DEC Automated Licensing System (DECALS) at 2019 New york Freshwater Fishing Guide1 Protect Your WatersHelp Stop the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species and Fish DiseasesFollow these simple guidelines to properly clean boats and Fishing equipment INSPECT your boat, trailer and other Fishing and boating equipment and remove all plant and animal material clinging to it 132 DRAIN AND DRY everything that came into contact with water Dry equipment for at least 5 days before using it in another water body Be sure to completely drain your boat, including baitwells and livewells DISINFECT the boat s bilge area, all water-holding compartments, and other equipment with hot water at least 140 F or steam for at least 30 seconds if they can't be dried before launching into another water body IF YOU CAN T DRY OR DISINFECT YOUR BOAT.

8 Thoroughly flush all water-holding compartments with water before launching Don t let rinse water run into a water body Looking for a place to wash your boat? Go to for a listing of vendors that provide this service About This GuideThis high-quality Guide is offered to you by the New york State Department of Environmental Conservation through its unique partnership with Griffin Publishing, revenue generated through ad sales significantly lowers production costs and generates savings. These savings translate into additional funds for other important agency you have any feedback or are inter-ested in advertising, please contact us at or at Design: Jon Gulley, Dane Fay, John Corey, Evelyn Haddad, Chris SobolowskiWilliamstown, MA | Birmingham, ALThis Guide is also available online at2018 2019 New york Freshwater Fishing | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Offi ceSee how much you could save on boat your boatSee how much you could save on boat | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Offi ce for your boatSee how much you could save on boat discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies.

9 Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. is the preferred towing service provider for GEICO Marine Insurance. The GEICO Gecko Image 1999-2017. 2017 GEICOM essage from the CommissionerThis year s Fishing Guide from the New york State Department of Environmental Conser-vation (DEC) highlights the outstanding fish-ing opportunities available across New york From Montauk to Buffalo, anglers don t have to look far to find quality Fishing for a variety of fish species DEC s talented fishery team works across the State all year round to manage and maintain New york s robust Fishing industry Our dedi-cated staff operating our fish hatchery system work tirelessly to raise and stock fish alongside experienced biologists and technicians who gather and analyze the data necessary to make science-based fishery management decisions Our educators are busy helping connect people with the outstanding Fishing our State provides, and DEC s highly trained law enforcement per-sonnel are on patrol to ensure that all Fishing Regulations are properly followed Through Governor Andrew Cuomo s sup-port.

10 DEC is constantly working to provide a world-class Fishing experience right here in the Empire State Public input is important to us, and DEC strives to engage the public to help inform the decisions we make In 2017, DEC s Bureau of Fish-eries held meetings across the State to gather public opinion on our trout stream management efforts These discussions will help Guide our trout stream management program in the future In early 2018, DEC will conduct a survey of New york anglers Last conducted in 2006, this survey will provide updated use, preference, and expenditure information for those Fishing in New york The survey will also provide DEC with an opportunity to gather angler input on various issues associated with fishery manage-ment in New york The survey will be conducted via e-mail, and if you d like the opportunity to share your input, be sure to provide your e-mail address when purchasing your license Providing quality access to New york s fish-ing resources is a top priority for DEC Our New york Open for Fishing and Hunting initiative has been successful, not only by improving access for hunters and anglers, but by reducing fees and simplifying the purchase of a sporting