2026 regulation year
New York Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
New York runs a freshwater licence (DEC) and a separate Marine Registry for saltwater anglers (free but required). Freshwater annual licences run for 365 days from purchase. Hudson River striped bass and Lake Ontario salmon both carry their own special-regs booklets.
License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual freshwater | $25.00 | |
| Resident 1-day | $5.00 | |
| Resident 7-day | $12.00 | |
| Resident senior (70+) | $5.00 | |
| Resident lifetime (age 70+) | $65.00 | |
| Marine Recreational Registry | Free | Free — required for saltwater |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual freshwater | $50.00 | |
| Non-resident 7-day | $28.00 | |
| Non-resident 1-day | $10.00 |
Buy directly from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bass | Hudson River: Apr 1 – Nov 30; Marine District: Apr 15 – Dec 15 | 1 / day | Hudson River slot 18–28 in; Marine slot 28–31 in |
| Brook trout | Apr 1 – Oct 15 (most waters); year-round on listed waters | 5 / day (combined with other trout, only 2 over 12 in) | No statewide minimum on heritage-strain waters; 7 in elsewhere |
| Smallmouth bass | 3rd Sat in June – Nov 30 harvest; catch-and-release Dec 1 – mid-June | 5 / day (combined with largemouth) | 12 in minimum statewide |
| Largemouth bass | 3rd Sat in June – Nov 30 harvest; catch-and-release Dec 1 – mid-June | 5 / day (combined with smallmouth) | 12 in minimum statewide |
| Walleye | 1st Sat in May – Mar 15 (most inland waters) | 5 / day (most waters); special-reg lakes reduced | 15 in minimum statewide |
Notable water-body special regulations
Striped bass slot 18–28 in; 1 / day Apr 1 – Nov 30
Salmon + trout: separate regs booklet; chinook 3 / day in season
Brook trout: artificial-only / barbless on listed ponds
Smallmouth + walleye special slots; PA boundary reciprocity
Official source
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is the authoritative source for New York fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.