New York Great Lakes Fishing
Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence from the New York shore.
Pick for steelheadPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake Erie: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
New York on the Great Lakes and their connecting rivers
New York fronts two Great Lakes and the rivers that join them: Lake Erie at Buffalo and Dunkirk, the Niagara River through its gorge, Lake Ontario from the Niagara to the Thousand Islands, and the St. Lawrence flowing out toward Quebec. Each has its own DEC rule table and its own page here, with launches, harbors, tributaries and level stations.
Together the four waters carry 100 mapped launches on the New York side. EPA puts Lake Erie at 9,910 square miles and 210 feet deep at most, and Lake Ontario at 7,340 square miles and 802 feet.
| Water | New York shore counties | Launches | Tributary pages | Area (whole lake) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Erie | Chautauqua County and Erie County | 8 | 3 | 9,910 sq mi |
| Lake Ontario | Niagara County, Orleans County, Monroe County, Wayne County, Cayuga County, Oswego County and Jefferson County | 47 | 15 | 7,340 sq mi |
| St. Lawrence River | Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County and Franklin County | 27 | 0 | |
| Niagara River | Erie County and Niagara County | 18 | 0 |
EPA Physical Features of the Great Lakes (whole-lake figures), DEC launch layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Great Lakes tributaries on the New York side
DEC lists 19 Great Lakes tributaries for steelhead and Pacific salmon, with access points and angler parking.
For the steelhead herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Other big New York water beyond the Great Lakes
- Lake Champlain rulesChamplain and the border waters
- New York saltwaterLong Island and the tidal Hudson
- Finger Lakes rulesthe eleven Finger Lakes
Shores, kills and lakes by Great Lakes, pictured
Photo: Christian Collins, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Antepenultimate, CC BY-SA 4.0
.JPG){kind=link}
Photo: bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
New York Great Lakes questions
Which Great Lakes border New York?
Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, joined by the Niagara River; the St. Lawrence drains Ontario to the sea.
How big is Lake Ontario?
7,340 square miles of water and 802 feet at its deepest, per EPA.
How deep is Lake Erie?
210 feet at most and 62 on average, per EPA; it is the shallowest Great Lake.
How many launches serve the New York Great Lakes?
100 mapped on the New York side of the four waters.
Do I need a special license for the Great Lakes?
The New York side of the Great Lakes and their tributaries is covered by the ordinary DEC freshwater license, with no extra stamp: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, or $5.00 and $10.00 for one day.
Does a New York license work in Canadian waters?
No; DEC border rules exclude the Ontario and Quebec portions.
Where are the Great Lakes limits?
On the New York Great Lakes rules page, lake by lake.
Are tributary seasons different?
Yes; DEC sets separate tributary seasons, shown on the tributaries and rules pages.