Smallmouth Bass in New York
DEC limits, the record and water for smallmouth bass.
- 5; minimum 12"limit
- 9 lb 0 ozrecord
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New York smallmouth bass in brief
DEC files smallmouth bass under freshwater fish, and the 2026 rule tables touch it in 10 rule tables. Where statewide applies, anglers keep 5; minimum 12″ during jun 15 – nov 30.
A 9 lb 0 oz fish from St. Lawrence River (2024) heads the state record table. Look for it on 165 of the water pages below.
DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 10-16 in./ grow to 24 in. Pound for pound, many anglers consider smallmouth bass the best fighting freshwater fish when hooked.
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)).
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| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Lake Erie | Lake Erie | 1; minimum 20" | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Lake Erie | Lake Erie | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Upper Niagara River | Upper Niagara River and tributaries | Statewide | Statewide regulations |
| Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 (statewide season) |
| Delaware River | Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River | 5; minimum 12" | First Saturday after June 11 – Friday preceding first Saturday after April 11 |
| Delaware River | Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River | No harvest; Catch and release only | First Saturday after April 11 – Friday preceding first Saturday after June 11 |
| Lake Champlain | Lake Champlain and tributaries to the first impassable barrier | 5; minimum 12" | Second Saturday in June – Nov 30 |
| Lake Champlain | Lake Champlain and tributaries to the first impassable barrier | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Friday preceding second Saturday in June |
| Greenwood Lake | Greenwood Lake | 5; minimum 12" | Third Saturday in June – Nov 30 |
| Greenwood Lake | Greenwood Lake | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Friday preceding third Saturday in June |
| Indian Lake (border) | Indian Lake (New York-Connecticut border) | 6; minimum 12" | Third Saturday in April (6 a.m.) – Nov 30 |
| Finger Lakes | Canadice, Canandaigua, Conesus, Hemlock, Keuka and Seneca lakes | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Mar 15 |
| Finger Lakes | Canadice, Canandaigua, Conesus, Hemlock, Keuka and Seneca lakes | No harvest; Catch and release only | Mar 16 – Jun 14 |
| Finger Lakes | Honeoye Lake | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Mar 15 |
| Finger Lakes | Honeoye Lake | No harvest; Catch and release only | Mar 16 – Jun 14 |
| Tidal Hudson River | Tidal Hudson River and all tributaries to the first impassable barrier | 5; minimum 15" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
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 smallmouth bass
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Smallmouth | 9 lb 0 oz | Dante Piraino | St. Lawrence River | St. Lawrence | September 22, 2024 |
DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Tracking down smallmouth bass in New York
Lake pages for smallmouth bass
- Lake Champlain277,117 acres
- Oneida Lake51,324 acres
- Seneca Lake43,394 acres
- Cayuga Lake42,910 acres
- Lake George28,562 acres
- Great Sacandaga Lake24,910 acres
- Chautauqua Lake13,304 acres
- Allegheny Reservoir12,222 acres
- Keuka Lake11,667 acres
- Canandaigua Lake10,528 acres
- Skaneateles Lake8,777 acres
- Black Lake7,856 acres
- Cranberry Lake6,909 acres
- Owasco Lake6,752 acres
- Stillwater Reservoir6,233 acres
- Pepacton Reservoir5,727 acres
- Raquette Lake5,376 acres
- Upper Saranac Lake4,870 acres
- Cannonsville Reservoir4,718 acres
- Schroon Lake4,257 acres
- Otsego Lake4,171 acres
- Long Lake4,168 acres
- Saratoga Lake3,772 acres
- Conesus Lake3,206 acres
River pages for smallmouth bass
- Mohawk RiverOneida County
- Hudson RiverSaratoga County
- Susquehanna RiverOtsego County
- Black RiverHerkimer County
- Delaware RiverDelaware County
- Genesee RiverLivingston County
- Oswegatchie RiverHerkimer County
- Seneca RiverCayuga County
- West Branch Delaware RiverSchoharie County
- Chemung RiverChemung County
- Oswego RiverOswego County
- Tioughnioga RiverCortland County
- Allegheny RiverCattaraugus County
- Grass RiverSt. Lawrence County
- Schoharie Creek, Schoharie CountySchoharie County
- Unadilla RiverHerkimer County
- Indian River, Lewis CountyLewis County
- Saint Regis RiverFranklin County
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.
Fish grouped with smallmouth bass in New York
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
- White Crappiefreshwater
Camera views of lakes and streams around Smallmouth Bass
Photo: Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to know before targeting Smallmouth bass statewide
What can a New York angler take home in smallmouth bass?
5; minimum 12" under statewide, season jun 15 – nov 30; other tables set their own figures.
Does DEC keep a record for smallmouth bass?
9 lb 0 oz from St. Lawrence River, caught by Dante Piraino (September 22, 2024).
Which New York waters hold smallmouth bass?
165 water pages here list it, starting with Lake Champlain, Oneida Lake and Seneca Lake.
Are smallmouth bass stocked in New York?
The hatchery lists skip it.
Which category do smallmouth bass fall under?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
During which months can New Yorkers keep smallmouth bass?
Jun 15 – Nov 30 under statewide.
Do out-of-state visitors need a license for smallmouth bass?
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 smallmouth bass 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 smallmouth bass
Pick a lake or stream above and read its rules first.