When is the Salmon Run in New York?

The Empire State is home to some of the most diverse fishing in the US. With the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, and many fisheries in between, there are a lot of places to go fishing. But before you go fishing in New York’s beautiful waters, you should know when the best times are to do so.

While some species will bite year-round, most fish you’ll find in New York are seasonal. At certain times of the year, they’ll bite very hard, but then they’ll either move away or become less active. Not only will this article tell you what’s biting when, but it will also tell you what kind of fishing you can expect each month. So let’s dive in!.

What is the best season to go fishing in New York?

Between May and November, most of the fishing in New York happens in both saltwater and freshwater. However, the best time to visit the state really hinges on what you want to catch. For the most overall variety, you’ll want to hit the waters during summer. But if you’re fishing for something like Bass or Salmon, spring and fall are New York’s peak seasons.

Below, you’ll find fishing calendars for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Then, we’ll follow up with more information on what kind of opportunities each month entails. This way, you can plan your trip around the time your target fish bites the best. Or, have a look at what’s biting right now.

Since it’s winter, you might be wondering what fish you can catch. But some fish, like Steelhead, love it when it’s cold. During January, you’ll find these silvery torpedoes in various Lake Ontario tributaries. At this time of year, Steelhead can be found in many smaller streams as well as the lower Niagara River and the Salmon River.

Also, most lakes and ponds will be frozen, so you can go ice fishing! Depending on where you go, you can catch Yellow Perch, Trout, Pike, and Walleye, among other fish. Some of the best places to fish through the ice in New York are Honeoye Lake, Oneida Lake, Lake Champlain, and Sodus Bay.

On the saltwater front, it’s the offseason. Most charter boats you’d usually hop on to explore the Atlantic won’t be operating at this time. If you do find someone, though, you can expect solid bottom fishing nearshore and offshore. Your main target will be the delicious Cod.

The weather in February is likely to stay cold enough for ice fishing, but by the end of the month, some bodies of water may have thawed. As we already said, Perch, Pike, Trout, Crappie, and Walleye are common fish that you can catch through the ice.

They will still be biting in the rivers and streams, but you’ll need to know where to look for them. On the other hand, if you know how to use a fly rod, you can catch great Trout in places like the Connetquot River, Beaver Kill, and Willowemoc Creek.

On the other hand, saltwater fishing is still in a lull. That means you can’t go after most of the species you’d normally want to, unless you only want to catch and release them. Cod are still the main draw, as long as the weather is stable enough to get to the places where they hide.

With spring just around the corner, New York’s waters start coming alive in March. The ice will begin to thin and thaw, and the fish will become more active. If the ice is still thick enough for you to fish through, you should definitely do that.

The Niagara River offers terrific Steelhead fishing, but it’s not the only place to go to. Various creeks near Buffalo, such as Cattaraugus, Canadaway, and Chautauqua are also teeming with these fish. The Salmon River around Pulaski is a Steelhead hotspot as well.

When it comes to lake fishing, it really all depends on which one you hit. Make sure to watch out for the regulations as you pick your spots, because some lakes won’t open for fishing until April. However, one prolific fishery that you will have access to in March is Oneida Lake, where the season typically begins in the middle of the month.

April marks a big angling upturn in New York. Most waters finally open to fishing and the fish will be hungry after a long winter. For freshwater fishing, the Finger Lakes are among the prime spots at this time of year. Walleye, Bass, Trout, Salmon – you name it and these lakes will probably have it.

You can still catch steelhead, but sometimes you’ll find them in the bays of the Great Lakes as well as the tributaries. You can also find trout swimming in mountain streams. The best time to experience the beauty of New York’s fly fishing is in the spring.

And to add to all that noise, it’s finally time to hit saltwater. Winter Flounder and Tautog (Blackfish) open for harvest at the beginning of April. It’s also the beginning of New York’s Striper (Rockfish) fishing season! You can catch them in the Hudson River at first, but by the middle of the month, you’ll also be able to do it in the ocean.

The action that began in April only gets better in May. New York’s freshwaters are as productive as ever, with fish biting everywhere. The Finger Lakes remain top-tier fisheries, but the Great Lakes offer fantastic angling as well. In Lake Erie, there’ll be Walleye, Trout, and Bass to hunt for. Or hit up Lake Ontario to reel in Salmon and big Lakers.

Fly fishermen also have a lot to look forward to. May is one of the best times to explore New York’s various rivers and streams. You can catch Rainbow, Brown, and Brook Trout in a lot of different places. The West Branch of the Ausable River and the East Branch of the Croton River are two of the best.

When it comes to the ocean, the Fluke and Porgy seasons usually start in May, giving inshore fishermen some tasty treats. You can also catch a lot of striped bass, and as the month goes on, bluefish will start to show up. Soon enough, it’ll be time to head further offshore, too.

The summer is nearly upon us and the fishing really catches fire. Lake Ontario and Lake Erie enter their prime fishing seasons. Ontario is a great place to fish for salmon and lake trout, and Erie is a great place to catch limits of walleye, plus big lakers and browns.

Another important event is that the season for keeping bass starts in the middle of June, though most fishermen still release them. Fly fishermen should keep an eye out for the different hatches happening this month, as that’s when the best fishing is likely to happen.

Along the coast of New York, the Porgy and Flounder bite will keep getting better, and the Striper fishing will stay the same. For those in Montauk, this is the time of year when you can wrestle Thresher and Mako Sharks because their scary jaws start to show. You’ll also see more charter captains run offshore trips, where you’ll get a shot at catching Tuna.

To get the most out of the summer, you’ll need to plan your trips around the hot days. Trout don’t like it when it’s hot, so they’re usually less active. Bass, on the other hand, hide in deep holes, so you need a boat to catch them during the day.

But there are still many fishing spots that do well in July. The best ones are on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. On Lake Ontario, it’s the peak time to go trolling for Salmon and Trout. On Erie, great Walleye fishing is all but guaranteed. Finally, if you’re near Buffalo and go into the upper Niagara River, you might be able to catch the elusive Musky.

At the same time, saltwater fishing enters its peak season in New York. You can now fish for Mahi Mahi, Marlin, Tuna, and other pelagic species in the offshore canyons. There are also scary Mako Sharks in the water, which makes for some of the most exciting and adrenaline-filled battles you can imagine. Closer to shore, there’ll be Kingfish, Black Seabass, Striped Bass, and Fluke to fish for.

By and large, August offers similar fishing conditions compared to the previous month. On New York’s portion of the Great Lakes, the angling is absolutely outstanding. As you may already know, Lake Ontario has the biggest Chinook salmon of the five lakes. This month is a great time to catch both them and their silvery relatives, the Coho.

Head to Lake Erie instead and you’ll find the Walleye fishing to be as good as ever. Musky fishing is still good in Buffalo and the upper part of the Niagara River. It will get even better in the coming months. There’s also plenty of Smallmouth action on both forks of the Niagara River where it splits.

It’s also still the prime season to go deep sea fishing in New York. The go-to starting spot is Montauk, as it’ll offer you the quickest ride to the offshore fishing grounds. Sometimes you have to go more than 60 miles from land, so cutting the trip short does help. Once you’re out there in the Atlantic, expect to fish for Marlin, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and more.

In September, the seasons shift once again. This summer, salmon and steelhead have been hiding in the Great Lakes. Now, they are getting ready for their fall runs. They will gather near the mouths of the rivers that flow into the lakes, which brings them closer to the shore. Targeting them at this time often yields some of the biggest specimens of the season.

With the water temperatures slowly dropping, you’ll once again see Bass on the move. They’ll begin leaving their summer haunts, making their way to more shallow waters. Trout will also start getting more active as the relentless heat finally passes. The Finger Lakes once again become a hotspot for all kinds of fish. For Muskellunge, visit the epic Thousand Islands region on the Canadian border.

In the Atlantic Ocean, it’s almost time for Marlin and Mahi Mahi to migrate elsewhere. However, you will only have a few chances to catch them in September as we get closer to fall. Tuna are also in the cards, and they’ll stay offshore for some time. Inshore, Striped Bass fishing slowly enter one of their most exciting seasons.

You’ll often hear East Coast anglers refer to October as “Rocktober. ” And it’s due to the outstanding Striper bite you’ll experience during the month. When the fish start schooling up and feeding quickly near the surface, anglers will have a great time. Fish for them around New York City or head to Montauk.

October is also a fantastic time to hunt for other kinds of Bass. For the winter, both largemouth and smallmouth will be hungry, chasing bait fish and hitting lures hard. They also gain weight, which makes fall one of the best times to catch a big one. You’ll find both Bass and Musky in the Niagara River.

Salmon and steelhead will start moving upriver in most places in October, though some runs happen as early as September. There are many other rivers and streams that lead to the Salmon River where you can fish, but it is one of the best.

Last but not least, remember that the New York trout fishing season ends on October 15. This is your last chance to catch them. Waters in the Catskill Mountains are some of the best for fly fishing in the Northeast. Put them on your list of things to do.

As we get deep into fall, the fishing slows down somewhat. In the Atlantic, most pelagics have moved elsewhere, and charter captains have mainly part stopped offering offshore outings. However, Striped Bass fishing is still solid and Black Seabass will be biting around structure. In the NY Bight region, Tautog (Blackfish) are typically open for retention.

On the waters feeding into the Great Lakes, Steelhead fishing is an absolute blast. In the Lake Ontario tributaries, you’re also likely to see Brown Trout. At this time of year, the Salmon River is a great place to visit. The lower Niagara River is also a great place to fish for Steelhead. At the same time, the upper portion holds trophy Musky.

For even more variety, the Finger Lakes are as productive as ever. Walleye, Perch, and Pike are standard targets in that region, and you’ll also come across landlocked Salmon and Trout, usually in the lakes’ tributaries. Lake Champlain is another Landlocked Salmon hotspot worth visiting in November, while Saranac Lake holds big Brown Trout.

With the year at its end, New York’s saltwater fishery shuts down in large parts. The season for Winter Flounder ends on November 30, and the season for Striped Bass ends in the middle of the month. Blackfish fishing ends around the first half of December, as does most other species’ fishing seasons by the end of the month.

As for freshwater fishing, it’s highly dependent on the weather conditions. If there’s a lot of snowfall, riverbanks may be inaccessible. Not all water will freeze until January, but in most years the ice won’t be thick enough to fish through until then.

If the weather favors you, you’ll still find late-season Trout and Steelhead along the Great Lakes’ tributary streams. If the lakes freeze over, you might catch Walleye, Pike, Panfish, and other fish, depending on where you go.

Salmon Fishing New York’s World Famous Salmon River

FAQ

Where do the salmon run in New York?

How long is the salmon run in Pulaski, NY?

What months do salmon run?

Where is the Salmon River in NY?

When is the salmon run in New York?

Salmon fishing on the Salmon River in New York can be so good that people from all over the country will visit the area during the two-month window known as the salmon run. Salmon fishing consists of the prized Chinook salmon, Coho Salmon, and some Atlantic salmon. Huge numbers of salmon move into the river from September through November.

Can you fish the Salmon River New York?

Fishing the Salmon River New York is known as a world-class river for steelhead and salmon. The Salmon River even has two records which include the world’s largest Coho Salmon. Anglers can fish for steelhead, Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, Coho Salmon, large lake-run brown trout, and even smallmouth bass.

What is spin fishing for salmon in New York?

Spin fishing for salmon in New York is very popular. Spin fishing with a spinning reel and heavy salmon rods usually means casting lures. However, spin fishing can also mean dead drifting baits or flies down the river with or without a bobber. Float fishing involves drifting a bait under a float with the river’s current.

When is the best time to fish for New York Salmon?

The best time to fish for New York salmon depends on whether you have a boat or not. Michael Healy Outdoors with a New York king salmon caught from a boat Boat fishing for salmon starts in April, gets better into June, peaks in July and August, and tapers off once most of the mature salmon are in the rivers in October.