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New York fishing

What's biting in New York in November: brown trout, muskellunge, northern pike and steelhead at their peak, with Atlantic cod, black sea bass and bluefin tuna around too, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. It follows New York fishing across 4 waters, with 52 fish-by-water guides for 43 fish.

Updated

What's biting in New York in November

From the season calendar, best first
Spawning
Brown trout
Lake Ontario · New York freshwater
Peak
Muskellunge
Lake Ontario · New York freshwater
Peak
Northern pike
Lake Ontario · New York freshwater
Peak
Steelhead
Lake Erie · Lake Ontario
Peak
Walleye
Lake Erie · New York freshwater
Peak
Black crappie
New York freshwater
Spawning
Brook trout
New York freshwater
Peak
Chain pickerel
New York freshwater
Peak
Largemouth bass
New York freshwater
Peak
Rainbow trout
New York freshwater
Peak
Striped bass
Long Island Sound and Montauk
Peak
Tautog
Long Island Sound and Montauk
Arriving
Atlantic cod
Long Island Sound and Montauk
Leaving
Black sea bass
Long Island Sound and Montauk
Leaving
Bluefin tuna
Long Island Sound and Montauk

Where to fish in New York

4 waters
New York Harbor to Montauk, Connecticut shore

Long Island Sound and Montauk

November: The Montauk blitz; big blackfish

Fished from Sheepshead Bay, Freeport, Captree, Port Jefferson, Montauk, Orient, Norwalk, New London.

4,367 charted public spots across the whole water — 1,443 seawall / riprap, 1,272 wreck, 642 beach / shore access. Open the map in the app to see them.

AlbacoreAtlantic bonitoAtlantic codAtlantic mackerelBigeye tunaBlack sea bassBlue sharkBluefin tunaBluefishCommon thresherGolden tilefishLittle tunnyMahi-mahiScupShortfin makoStriped bassSummer flounderSwordfishTautogWeakfishWhite marlinWinter flounderYellowfin tuna
Long Island Sound and Montauk, month by month
Toledo to Buffalo — Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York

Lake Erie

November: Fall steelhead peak; nearshore night walleye

Fished from Toledo, Port Clinton, Sandusky, Cleveland, Erie, Dunkirk, Buffalo.

2,073 charted public spots across the whole water — 882 seawall / riprap, 454 beach / shore access, 305 boat ramp. Open the map in the app to see them.

Channel catfishFreshwater drumSmallmouth bassSteelheadWalleyeWhite bassWhite perchYellow perch
Lake Erie, month by month
Niagara to the St. Lawrence — the New York shore

Lake Ontario

November: Fall steelhead and browns in every tributary

Fished from Niagara Bar, Olcott, Rochester, Sodus Bay, Oswego, Pulaski, Henderson Harbor.

414 charted public spots across the whole water — 230 seawall / riprap, 90 boat ramp, 43 jetty / groin. Open the map in the app to see them.

Brown troutChinook (king) salmonCoho (silver) salmonLake troutLandlocked Atlantic salmonMuskellungeNorthern pikeSmallmouth bassSteelheadWhite perchYellow perch
Lake Ontario, month by month
The Finger Lakes to the Catskills

New York freshwater

November: Late season

Fished from Finger Lakes, Oneida Lake, Lake Champlain, St. Lawrence River, Lake George, Catskill rivers, Chautauqua Lake.

American shadBrook troutBrown bullheadLake troutLargemouth bassMuskellungeRainbow troutSmallmouth bassWalleyeYellow perch
New York freshwater, month by month

Rules and licence

Size and bag limits and seasons in New York are set by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and change — read the current rule before you keep a fish.

Salt-water rulesFresh-water rulesBuy a licence

Statewide rules today

NYSDEC, where no local rule applies
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 9" TL minimum · 25 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 2 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 10" TL minimum · 25 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 25 per person
closed today (Statewide, fresh water, until Apr 1) · no minimum size when open · 5 per person
closed today (Statewide, fresh water, until Apr 1) · Only 2 of the 5 may be longer than 12" when open · 5 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 15" TL minimum · 5 per person · closes Mar 16
no targeting today — don't fish for it, not even catch and release (Statewide, fresh water)
closed today (Statewide, fresh water, until Apr 1) · 21" TL minimum when open · 3 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 5 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 15" TL minimum · 3 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 12" TL minimum · 5 per person · closes Dec 1
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 40" TL minimum · 1 per person · closes Dec 1
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 18" TL minimum · 5 per person · closes Mar 16
no targeting today — don't fish for it, not even catch and release (Statewide, fresh water)
closed today (Statewide, fresh water, until Apr 1) · Only 2 of the 5 may be longer than 12" when open · 5 per person
open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 25 per person
no targeting today — don't fish for it, not even catch and release (Statewide, fresh water)
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 12" TL minimum · 5 per person · closes Dec 1
open (Statewide, fresh water) · slot 23–28" TL · 1 per person · closes Dec 1
open (Statewide, fresh water) · 15" TL minimum · 5 per person · closes Mar 16
open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 50 per person
As of 8 November 2026. Source NYSDEC, checked 7 November 2026 · For education only — rules change. Always confirm with NYSDEC before you keep a fish.

From the blog

All posts
New York Fishing Regulations: How the Rules Work (2026)New York fishing regulations explained: NYSDEC's marine registry vs freshwater license, the tautog split, Great Lakes rules, and where to check current limits.Fall Fishing Guide by Region: What's Biting in NovemberWhat's biting this fall on every US coast, the Great Lakes and big freshwater: stripers, red drum, flounder runs, steelhead, salmon and muskie, by region.Striped Bass Migration: The Atlantic Run Month by MonthWhen the Atlantic striper run hits the Chesapeake, Delaware Bay, New Jersey, Long Island, Cape Cod and Maine, spring and fall, and the temps that move it.
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