2026 regulation year
New York Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Micropterus dolomieu
Last updated
New York's smallmouth fishery includes the St. Lawrence River, Lake Erie's eastern basin, the Finger Lakes, and the Susquehanna headwaters. A 12-inch statewide minimum and 5-fish combined bass bag apply outside the catch-and-release window.
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 (smallmouth + largemouth 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: barbless or single-hook recommended, no harvest
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific New York waters:
St. Lawrence River
Boundary water with ON: reciprocal licence rules apply
Lake Erie (NY waters)
Harvest 12 in min, 5 / day; PA reciprocity in shared waters
Cayuga Lake (Finger Lakes)
Statewide rule; 12 in min; deep-water summer fishery
Lake Champlain (NY waters)
VT boundary; reciprocal licence; 10 in min on VT side
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.