Northern Pike in New York
DEC limits, the record and water for northern pike.
- 5; minimum 18"limit
- 46 lb 2 ozrecord
Pick for northern pikePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a New York water: Georg Mittenecker, CC BY-SA 2.5
New York northern pike in brief
DEC files northern pike under freshwater fish, and the 2026 rule tables touch it in 7 rule tables. Where statewide applies, anglers keep 5; minimum 18″ during may 1 – mar 15.
A 46 lb 2 oz fish from Great Sacandaga Lake (1940) heads the state record table. Look for it on 82 of the water pages below.
DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 18-35 in./ grow to 4 ft. With their razor sharp teeth and quick speed, they’re the top predators in many New York waters.
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 northern pike herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Every DEC rule row for New York northern pike
| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lake Erie | Lake Erie | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Upper Niagara River | Upper Niagara River and tributaries | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lower Niagara River | Lower Niagara River and tributaries | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | Lake Ontario | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | St. Lawrence River and tributaries downstream of Tibbets Point | 3; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lake Champlain | Lake Champlain and tributaries to the first impassable barrier | 5; minimum 20" | All year |
| Finger Lakes | All Finger Lakes | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations web pages (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation), read October 24, 2026; figures checked twice on October 25, 2026.
Record weights for New York northern pike
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike, Northern | 46 lb 2 oz | Peter Dubuc | Great Sacandaga Lake | Fulton | September 15, 1940 |
DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Tracking down northern pike in New York
Lake pages for northern pike
- Lake Champlain277,117 acres
- Seneca Lake43,394 acres
- Cayuga Lake42,910 acres
- Lake George28,562 acres
- Great Sacandaga Lake24,910 acres
- Allegheny Reservoir12,222 acres
- Keuka Lake11,667 acres
- Black Lake7,856 acres
- Cranberry Lake6,909 acres
- Owasco Lake6,752 acres
- Raquette Lake5,376 acres
- Upper Saranac Lake4,870 acres
- Indian Lake4,304 acres
- Schroon Lake4,257 acres
- Long Lake4,168 acres
- Saratoga Lake3,772 acres
- Conesus Lake3,206 acres
- Carry Falls Reservoir3,074 acres
- Onondaga Lake2,976 acres
- Upper Chateaugay Lake2,550 acres
- Delta Reservoir2,378 acres
- Lower Saranac Lake2,151 acres
- Cross Lake1,999 acres
- Lake Placid1,970 acres
River pages for northern pike
- Mohawk RiverOneida County
- Hudson RiverSaratoga County
- Susquehanna RiverOtsego County
- Black RiverHerkimer County
- Chenango RiverMadison County
- Oswegatchie RiverHerkimer County
- Seneca RiverCayuga County
- Tioughnioga RiverCortland County
- Allegheny RiverCattaraugus County
- Grass RiverSt. Lawrence County
- Indian River, Lewis CountyLewis County
- Saint Regis RiverFranklin County
- Sangerfield RiverOneida County
- Perch RiverJefferson County
- Oneida RiverOnondaga County
- Tonawanda Creek, Niagara CountyNiagara County
- Cassadaga CreekChautauqua County
- Eighteen Mile Creek, Niagara CountyNiagara County
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.
Fish grouped with northern pike in New York
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
- White Crappiefreshwater
Camera views of lakes and streams around Northern Pike
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
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Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region, CC BY 2.0
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Things to know before targeting Northern pike statewide
What can a New York angler take home in northern pike?
5; minimum 18" under statewide, season may 1 – mar 15; other tables set their own figures.
Does DEC keep a record for northern pike?
46 lb 2 oz from Great Sacandaga Lake, caught by Peter Dubuc (September 15, 1940).
Which New York waters hold northern pike?
82 water pages here list it, starting with Lake Champlain, Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake.
Are northern pike stocked in New York?
The hatchery lists skip it.
Which category do northern pike fall under?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
During which months can New Yorkers keep northern pike?
May 1 – Mar 15 under statewide.
Do out-of-state visitors need a license for northern pike?
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.
How fresh is the northern pike information?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Go after New York northern pike
Pick a lake or stream above and read its rules first.