Lake Sturgeon in New York
New York rules and lakes for lake sturgeon.
- No harvestlimit
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Empire State lake sturgeon: the short version
New York counts lake sturgeon among its freshwater species; the DEC limit tables mention it across 6 rule tables. The statewide entry allows no harvest; dates run closed.
The DEC lake and stream lists put it on 6 pages here. DEC lists 12 stockings in 2025, adding up to 55,968 fish.
DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 3-5 ft./ grow to 7 ft. New York State is home to three sturgeon species: lake (threatened), Atlantic (federally endangered), and shortnose (endangered). Fishing for any sturgeon species is strictly prohibited.
Size note and fact from the DEC I FISH NY beginner guide (I FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing, Chapter 1 Fishes of New York (DEC, 2016)).
For the sturgeon herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Seasons, sizes and bag limits for lake sturgeon in New York
| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | No harvest | Closed |
| Lake Erie | Lake Erie | No harvest | Closed |
| Upper Niagara River | Upper Niagara River and tributaries | No harvest | Closed |
| Lower Niagara River | Lower Niagara River and tributaries | No harvest | Closed |
| Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | No harvest | Closed |
| Marine and Coastal District | Marine and Coastal District | No harvest | Closed |
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations web pages (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation), read October 24, 2026; figures checked twice on October 25, 2026.
The waters getting the most stocked lake sturgeon
| Year | Fish stocked |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 33,864 |
| 2025 | 55,968 |
data.ny.gov Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and the planned spring 2026 trout list; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Lakes and streams on the lake sturgeon list
Lakes listing lake sturgeon
- Oneida Lake51,324 acres
- Cayuga Lake42,910 acres
- Black Lake7,856 acres
Streams listing lake sturgeon
- Raquette RiverHamilton County
- Oswegatchie RiverHerkimer County
- Salmon River, Franklin CountyFranklin County
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.
Same DEC category as lake sturgeon
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
New York shorelines a short drive from Lake Sturgeon
Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: dans362, CC BY 3.0
Lake sturgeon in New York, asked and answered
Can I keep lake sturgeon in New York?
No harvest under statewide, season closed; other tables set their own figures.
How big is the New York record lake sturgeon?
It is not on the DEC record list.
Where do lake sturgeon live in New York?
6 water pages here list it, starting with Oneida Lake, Cayuga Lake and Black Lake.
How many lake sturgeon does DEC stock?
Yes; the lists carry 23 rows, most fish going to St. Lawrence River.
Where do lake sturgeon sit on the DEC species list?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
Does New York close a season on lake sturgeon?
Closed under statewide.
Is there a stamp for lake sturgeon?
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.
Where can I read more about lake sturgeon?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Choose water for lake sturgeon
The pages above carry launches and DEC rules.