River Herring in New York
Finding river herring, keeping them legally, and the record.
- No harvestlimit
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a New York water: kjell, CC BY-SA 2.0
river herring across New York: rules, record and water
For DEC purposes river herring is freshwater and marine, and its rules sit in 4 rule tables. In delaware river and west branch delaware river the keeper rule reads no harvest, open closed.
DEC record and stocking lists both pass it by.
DEC sizes and seasons for river herring
| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware River | Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River | No harvest | Closed |
| Finger Lakes | Honeoye Lake | No harvest | Closed |
| Finger Lakes | Skaneateles Lake | No harvest | Closed |
| Tidal Hudson River | Hudson River tributaries and embayments, including the Mohawk River | 10 per angler or 50 per boat a day, whichever is lower | Mar 15 – Jun 15 |
| Tidal Hudson River | Main stem Hudson River from Lock 1 near Waterford south to the George Washington Bridge | see DEC rules | open all year |
| Marine and Coastal District | Marine waters south of the George Washington Bridge | 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.
Species that share a category with river herring
- Striped Bassfreshwater and marine
- White Perchfreshwater and marine
- American Shadfreshwater and marine
- Hickory Shadfreshwater and marine
- American Eelfreshwater and marine
Empire State water close to River Herring, in pictures
Photo: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Karl Thomas Moore, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0
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River herring from the Adirondacks to Long Island: answers
Which DEC row sets the river herring limit?
No harvest under delaware river and west branch delaware river, season closed; other tables set their own figures.
When was the New York river herring record set?
DEC lists no record for it.
Where in New York do river herring turn up most?
Water pages here do not include it so far.
Does DEC stock river herring?
No stocking row names it.
Is river herring a freshwater or a marine fish in New York?
Freshwater and marine on the DEC list.
Is the New York river herring season open now?
Closed under delaware river and west branch delaware river.
Which New York license should a river herring 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 river herring?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Target river herring this season
Each water listed above has launches, species and limits on its own page.