Tiger Muskellunge in New York
Where tiger muskellunge swim in New York, and what to keep.
- 1; minimum 30"limit
- 35 lb 8 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
What New York anglers should know about tiger muskellunge
tiger muskellunge belongs to the freshwater group in New York, and the 2026 tables carry it in 8 rule tables. Under statewide: 1; minimum 30″, with the season set at may 1 – mar 15.
The 1990 catch of 35 lb 8 oz on Tioughnioga River remains the state best. DEC fishing lists name it on 30 lake and river pages here. DEC stocked 26,178 in 2025 on 3 recorded stockings.
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| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| 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 |
| Greenwood Lake | Greenwood Lake | 1; minimum 44" | All year |
| Finger Lakes | Otisco Lake | 1; minimum 36" | 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.
The tiger muskellunge mark New York anglers chase
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge, Tiger | 35 lb 8 oz | Brett Gofgosky | Tioughnioga River | Broome | May 25, 1990 |
DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Stocked tiger muskellunge by lake and stream
| Year | Fish stocked |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 93,600 |
| 2024 | 25,213 |
| 2025 | 26,178 |
data.ny.gov Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and the planned spring 2026 trout list; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Pages that list tiger muskellunge
New York lakes for tiger muskellunge
- Conesus Lake3,206 acres
- Otisco Lake2,266 acres
- Cross Lake1,999 acres
- Canadarago Lake1,936 acres
- Cossayuna Lake675 acres
- Lincoln Pond647 acres
- Kayuta Lake467 acres
- North Lake432 acres
- Horseshoe Lake398 acres
- Lake Durant365 acres
- Grass Lake341 acres
- Soft Maple Reservoir338 acres
- Findley Lake309 acres
- Moshier Reservoir308 acres
- Putnam Pond283 acres
- Moon Lake261 acres
- Duck Lake, Cayuga County219 acres
- Jamesville Reservoir217 acres
- Lake Moraine188 acres
- Hyde Lake182 acres
- Payne Lake, Jefferson County168 acres
- Lime Lake151 acres
- Chenango Lake, Chenango County138 acres
- Long Pond, Chenango County111 acres
New York rivers for tiger muskellunge
- Mohawk RiverOneida County
- Seneca RiverCayuga County
- Chemung RiverChemung County
- Tioughnioga RiverCortland County
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.
Neighbors of tiger muskellunge among New York species
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
- White Crappiefreshwater
Pictures of fishing water around Tiger Muskellunge
Photo: DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Allie_Caulfield from Germany, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Catching Tiger muskellunge in the Empire State: answers
What is the New York bag limit on tiger muskellunge?
1; minimum 30" under statewide, season may 1 – mar 15; other tables set their own figures.
Where was the record tiger muskellunge caught in New York?
35 lb 8 oz from Tioughnioga River, caught by Brett Gofgosky (May 25, 1990).
What New York water is a good bet for tiger muskellunge?
30 water pages here list it, starting with Conesus Lake, Otisco Lake and Cross Lake.
Where are tiger muskellunge stocked in New York?
Yes; the lists carry 47 rows, most fish going to Canadarago Lake.
What kind of fish is tiger muskellunge for DEC?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
When is tiger muskellunge season open in New York?
May 1 – Mar 15 under statewide.
Do I need a license to fish for tiger 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.
How current are the tiger muskellunge rules here?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Find tiger muskellunge near you
Every listed lake and stream has its own page here.