Muskellunge in New York
Seasons, records and stocking of muskellunge.
- 1; minimum 40"limit
- 69 lb 15 ozrecord
Pick for muskellungePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a New York water: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
muskellunge in New York waters, summed up
In the DEC lists muskellunge is a freshwater fish with rows covering 8 rule tables. Take 1; minimum 40″ under the statewide row, in season jun 1 – nov 30.
Record holder: 69 lb 15 oz, St. Lawrence River, 1957. Across this site 16 water pages list it. State hatcheries put 86,927 of them into New York water in 2025, across 22 stocking rows.
DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 28-48 in./ grow to 5 ft. Muskellunge are the largest freshwater game fish in New York State.
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 muskellunge herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The 2026 New York table for muskellunge
| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Lake Erie | Lake Erie | 1; minimum 54" | Jun 15 – Dec 15 |
| Upper Niagara River | Upper Niagara River and tributaries | 1; minimum 54" | Jun 15 – Dec 15 |
| Lower Niagara River | Lower Niagara River and tributaries | 1; minimum 54" | Jun 15 – Dec 15 |
| Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | 1; minimum 54" | Jun 15 – Dec 15 |
| Delaware River | Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River | 1; minimum 40" | All year |
| Lake Champlain | Lake Champlain and tributaries to the first impassable barrier | 1; minimum 40" | Last Saturday in May – Nov 30 |
| Greenwood Lake | Greenwood Lake | 1; minimum 44" | All year |
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations web pages (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation), read October 24, 2026; figures checked twice on October 25, 2026.
New York muskellunge records by weight
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge | 69 lb 15 oz | Arthur Lawton | St. Lawrence River | Jefferson | September 22, 1957 |
DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.
DEC muskellunge stockings, top waters
| Year | Fish stocked |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 25,260 |
| 2024 | 98,820 |
| 2025 | 86,927 |
data.ny.gov Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and the planned spring 2026 trout list; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Where muskellunge turn up across the state
Still water with muskellunge
- Chautauqua Lake13,304 acres
- Greenwood Lake1,850 acres
- Waneta Lake, Schuyler County797 acres
- Findley Lake309 acres
- Cassadaga Lakes241 acres
- Bear Lake, Chautauqua County137 acres
Moving water with muskellunge
- Susquehanna RiverOtsego County
- Chenango RiverMadison County
- Delaware RiverDelaware County
- Chemung RiverChemung County
- Allegheny RiverCattaraugus County
- Grass RiverSt. Lawrence County
- Saint Regis RiverFranklin County
- Olean CreekCattaraugus County
- Cassadaga CreekChautauqua County
- Great Chazy RiverClinton County
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.
Close cousins of muskellunge on the New York list
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
- White Crappiefreshwater
Shores, kills and lakes by Muskellunge, pictured
Photo: Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: PointsofNoReturn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0
What New York anglers check about Muskellunge
How many muskellunge may I keep in New York?
1; minimum 40" under statewide, season jun 1 – nov 30; other tables set their own figures.
Which muskellunge tops the New York record list?
69 lb 15 oz from St. Lawrence River, caught by Arthur Lawton (September 22, 1957).
Which lakes list muskellunge?
16 water pages here list it, starting with Chautauqua Lake, Greenwood Lake and Waneta Lake, Schuyler County.
Do New York hatcheries raise muskellunge?
Yes; the lists carry 59 rows, most fish going to Conewango Creek.
How is muskellunge grouped in New York?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
What dates apply to muskellunge?
Jun 1 – Nov 30 under statewide.
Which New York license covers muskellunge?
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 do the muskellunge figures come from?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Plan a day for muskellunge
Open any listed water for access and seasons.