Burbot in New York
Finding burbot, keeping them legally, and the record.
- n/alimit
- 16 lb 12 ozrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a New York water: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
burbot across New York: rules, record and water
For DEC purposes burbot is freshwater, and its rules sit in no table of its own.
New York’s record stands at 16 lb 12 oz, landed on Lake Ontario (Black River Bay) in 1991.
Biggest burbot in the DEC record book
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burbot | 16 lb 12 oz | Terrance Colwell | Lake Ontario (Black River Bay) | Jefferson | February 14, 1991 |
DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Species that share a category with burbot
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
Empire State water close to Burbot, in pictures
Photo: Allie_Caulfield from Germany, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Burbot from the Adirondacks to Long Island: answers
Which DEC row sets the burbot limit?
Only the catch-all line for other fish applies.
When was the New York burbot record set?
16 lb 12 oz from Lake Ontario (Black River Bay), caught by Terrance Colwell (February 14, 1991).
Where in New York do burbot turn up most?
Water pages here do not include it so far.
Does DEC stock burbot?
No stocking row names it.
Is burbot a freshwater or a marine fish in New York?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
Is the New York burbot season open now?
No season row is printed.
Which New York license should a burbot angler buy?
Anglers 16 and older need a DEC freshwater fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for residents 70 and older, with 1-day and 7-day options.
Which DEC page covers burbot?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Target burbot this season
Each water listed above has launches, species and limits on its own page.