New York State Black Bass Season: What To Know

And another reason we love the warm weather months in New York State: Fishing!

Trout season always begins on April 1st, and it's a highly anticipated date for anglers across the Empire State. Next up is the open harvest season for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth).

On June 11, 2206, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced that the open harvest season for black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass) begins on Monday, June 15.

The season will be in effect through Monday, November 30. The catch-and-release season exists in most of the state from December 1 through June 14.

New York anglers are fortunate to have some of the best bass fishing opportunities in the country. Whether you’re fishing a top-ranked water such as Lake Erie, the St. Lawrence River, or Oneida Lake, or just a local fishing hole, catching a big bass is just a cast away here in New York. - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton 

The NYS DEC notes that bass can be found in many state rivers, ponds, and lakes. Last year, 2025, the St. Lawrence River was ranked #4 and Lake Erie #5 among the best bass lakes in the country according to Bassmaster Magazine.

Other New York State lakes that are popular for bass fishing include Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake, Otisco Lake, and Chautauqua Lake. The NYS DEC says that fishing for bass is a great option for beginning anglers interested in going “beyond the bobber.”

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Want tips on how and where to catch bass? Visit the NYS DEC Fishing For Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass website. Are you new to the fishing scene? Learn more about the adventure of fishing by visiting the NYS DEC FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing website.

Plan on eating your catch? Well, play it safe. Check out the NYS DEC website to see what fish are safe to eat and how often. Go Fishing in New York!

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