Pumpkinseed in New York
Where pumpkinseed swim in New York, and what to keep.
- 25limit
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the species, not a New York water: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
What New York anglers should know about pumpkinseed
pumpkinseed belongs to the freshwater group in New York, and the 2026 tables carry it in 3 rule tables. Under statewide: 25, with the season set at all year.
DEC fishing lists name it on 183 lake and river pages here.
DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 5-7 in./ grow to 11 in. These two species are usually the first fish kids catch.
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)).
Keeping pumpkinseed legally in New York
| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | 25 | All year |
| Lake Champlain | Lake Champlain and tributaries to the first impassable barrier | No daily limit | open all year |
| Finger Lakes | Honeoye Lake | 15; minimum 8" | All year |
| Finger Lakes | Otisco Lake | 15; minimum 8" | 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.
Pages that list pumpkinseed
New York lakes for pumpkinseed
- Oneida Lake51,324 acres
- Seneca Lake43,394 acres
- Cayuga Lake42,910 acres
- Lake George28,562 acres
- Chautauqua Lake13,304 acres
- Keuka Lake11,667 acres
- Skaneateles Lake8,777 acres
- Black Lake7,856 acres
- Cranberry Lake6,909 acres
- Owasco Lake6,752 acres
- Stillwater Reservoir6,233 acres
- Upper Saranac Lake4,870 acres
- Indian Lake4,304 acres
- Schroon Lake4,257 acres
- Otsego Lake4,171 acres
- Long Lake4,168 acres
- Saratoga Lake3,772 acres
- Conesus Lake3,206 acres
- Carry Falls Reservoir3,074 acres
- Onondaga Lake2,976 acres
- Salmon River Reservoir2,900 acres
- Hinckley Reservoir2,708 acres
- Upper Chateaugay Lake2,550 acres
- Delta Reservoir2,378 acres
New York rivers for pumpkinseed
- Mohawk RiverOneida County
- Hudson RiverSaratoga County
- Susquehanna RiverOtsego County
- Black RiverHerkimer County
- Oswegatchie RiverHerkimer County
- Seneca RiverCayuga County
- Grass RiverSt. Lawrence County
- Unadilla RiverHerkimer County
- Indian River, Lewis CountyLewis County
- Saint Regis RiverFranklin County
- Perch RiverJefferson County
- Rondout CreekUlster County
- Tonawanda Creek, Niagara CountyNiagara County
- Cayuta CreekSchuyler County
- Eighteen Mile Creek, Niagara CountyNiagara County
- Great Chazy RiverClinton County
- Saranac RiverClinton County
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Neighbors of pumpkinseed among New York species
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
Pictures of fishing water around Pumpkinseed
Photo: DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Catching Pumpkinseed in the Empire State: answers
What is the New York bag limit on pumpkinseed?
25 under statewide, season all year; other tables set their own figures.
Where was the record pumpkinseed caught in New York?
There is no DEC record entry.
What New York water is a good bet for pumpkinseed?
183 water pages here list it, starting with Oneida Lake, Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake.
Where are pumpkinseed stocked in New York?
Not on the DEC stocking lists for 2023 to 2026.
What kind of fish is pumpkinseed for DEC?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
When is pumpkinseed season open in New York?
All year under statewide.
Do I need a license to fish for pumpkinseed?
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 current are the pumpkinseed rules here?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Find pumpkinseed near you
Every listed lake and stream has its own page here.