2026 regulation year
New York Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Micropterus nigricans
Last updated
Largemouth bass share the 12-inch minimum and 5-fish combined bag with smallmouth across New York. The Hudson Valley reservoirs, downstate ponds, and Lake Champlain shallows hold the largest fish.
Season
Harvest: 3rd Sat in June – Nov 30. Catch-and-release: Dec 1 – 3rd Fri in June.
– Harvest window statewide
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day (largemouth + smallmouth combined)
- Possession
- 5 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 12 in minimum statewide
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line on most waters
- Catch-and-release window: no harvest, no possession
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific New York waters:
Lake Champlain (NY waters)
VT boundary; reciprocal licence; 10 in min on VT side
Oneida Lake
Statewide rule; classic largemouth + walleye lake
Cross River Reservoir
NYC watershed; access permit required; statewide rule
Croton system reservoirs
NYC watershed; access permit required
Official source
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation publishes the authoritative 2026 New Yorkfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.