New York fishing reports
188 reports for New York — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Hudson Valley bass push shallow and stripers stay active for late-May anglers
Water temperatures hit 63°F at USGS gauge 01357500 on the Hudson River as of May 23, placing the region in the prime late-May window for multiple freshwater species. NY DEC The Fishing Line (Freshwater) reports that the coolwater sportfish season opened statewide on May 1, putting walleye, northern pike, and related species back in play across the Finger Lakes system. Inland striped bass have been in season since April 1, per NY DEC, and On The Water's May 22 striper migration map notes the spring run tracks through peak-and-valley cycles tied to lunar phases. With First Quarter moon this week, the next stronger bite window may build over the coming days. River bass are showing classic late-May behavior, pushing shallow and entering spawning mode, a pattern Brookdog Fishing Co. documented on western New York rivers through mid-May that mirrors conditions on Hudson Valley tributaries. Spring trout stocking, highlighted in recent NY DEC Fishing Line issues, has been loading accessible streams across the state.
Long Island Striper Run at Peak as Fluke and Sea Bass Seasons Open
Water temps of 55–56°F at NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065 aren't slowing the stripers down. The Fisherman — Long Island South Shore reports Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale called last week 'one for the books,' with solid schools of big bass working through South Shore bays and surf — find the birds and the bass are underneath. On the North Shore, Hi-Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington reports stripers stacked around Eaton's Neck on trolled Mojo's, flutter spoons, and bunker chunks, while Cold Spring Charters is putting clients on fish to 44 inches. At Montauk, The Fisherman — Long Island East End notes steady slot fish and the occasional bruiser falling to diamond jigs and surface plugs. Tight Lines Tackle puts fish to 35 pounds in Shinnecock Inlet on bucktails. Fluke season is underway — Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport drilled nine keepers Saturday — and sea bass opened May 16 with weakfish making an early appearance in Peconic Bay.
Bass spawn peaks and stocked trout still firing in Hudson Valley & Finger Lakes
Water at 68°F (USGS gauge 01357500) puts the Hudson Valley squarely in the largemouth and smallmouth spawning window this week, with fish pressing into shallow gravel and woody structure. NY DEC The Fishing Line confirmed hatchery crews were actively rolling out spring trout stockings through late April — brook, brown, and rainbow trout from fresh plants are reachable in many tributaries, though warming main-stem temps will push holdover fish toward cooler inflows and spring holes. The Hudson is running elevated, with 2,480 cfs at the upper gauge (USGS 01357500) and 8,310 cfs at the lower crossing (USGS 01358000) — enough flow to concentrate stripers and trout in current seams and slack pockets behind structure. The Hudson striper season opened April 1 and inland walleye became legal May 1, per NY DEC, making this one of the busiest multi-species windows of the year. Shallow bass beds and active striper current breaks are the two most actionable setups heading into the weekend.
Post-spawn smallmouth and walleye prime up across New York's Finger Lakes
Water temperatures recorded at 66°F by USGS gauge 04232050 as of May 19 place the Finger Lakes squarely in post-spawn territory. Smallmouth bass on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles have largely finished bedding at these temperatures and are pushing toward main-lake structure and rocky points in early-summer feeding mode. Tactical Bassin notes that with the bluegill spawn in full swing at comparable water temps, big bass are moving shallow to key on the forage—topwater frogs and walking baits over heavy cover are producing in regional fisheries right now. Walleye, which completed their spawn several weeks prior, are in active post-spawn recovery; low-light presentations along main-lake structure should be productive. Lake trout and brown trout will be retreating to deeper, cooler thermal layers as surface temperatures continue to climb—trollers should step down in depth accordingly. No Finger Lakes–specific charter or shop reports were available this cycle; observations here are grounded in gauge data and seasonal patterns typical of mid-May in central New York.
Finger Lakes smallmouth hit pre-spawn prime as May peaks
USGS gauge 04232050 logged 62°F at 32.4 cfs in the early hours of May 19, placing the Finger Lakes corridor squarely in one of its most productive spring windows. That temperature sits at the heart of the smallmouth bass pre-spawn transition — males are likely staging on rocky shoals and gravel points across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles, making them aggressive and accessible. Tactical Bassin identifies this as peak timing for big smallmouth in clear northern fisheries, recommending swimbaits to cover water quickly and finesse presentations once schools are located. Walleye, now post-spawn, should be actively feeding along structure through the weekend. Lake trout are approaching the upper edge of their comfort zone and may begin retreating toward deeper, cooler water if surface temps continue their seasonal climb. No direct Finger Lakes shop or charter reports are available this week; conditions here are drawn from temperature data and broader regional seasonal patterns.
Lake Erie smallmouth and walleye lock in as May water temps peak
USGS gauge 04231600 logged 63°F water and a flow of 4,600 cfs on May 18 — conditions that place Western NY's Lake Erie tributaries and Niagara-corridor waters squarely in the heart of the smallmouth bass prespawn window. At this temperature range, smallmouth stages on shallow rocky structure and outside weed edges ahead of the spawn. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes content highlights swimbaits and finesse presentations as high-percentage plays during this prespawn phase, noting that fish school tightly — locating one often means locating many. Walleye, typically in a post-spawn feeding mode by mid-May on Lake Erie, should be working tributary mouths and nearshore flats aggressively. Yellow perch remain a reliable all-day target through this stretch. No charter or regional tackle-shop reports reached our feeds this cycle; conditions described here reflect gauge data and seasonal norms — verify current activity with a local shop before launching.
Big Stripers Firing Island-Wide as Fluke and Sea Bass Season Opens
Water temps of 56–57°F per NOAA buoys 44025 and 44065, and the Long Island striper bite is firing on all cylinders from the surf to the back bays. Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle (per The Fisherman — Long Island South Shore) called the past week "one for the books," with solid schools working the bays and beaches responding to swim shads, SPs, and bucktails. Out east, The Fisherman — Long Island East End correspondent Matt Broderick reports steady Montauk action with slot fish and occasional larger bass on diamond jigs, bucktails, and surface plugs from both boat and surf. River Bay Outfitters (West End) notes big fish keying on bunker, sand eels, and spearing — early mornings and moving tides delivering the most consistent shots at trophy class fish. Fluke season is officially open, and Sea Rogue Charters (West End) put four anglers on nine bay keepers Saturday. Porgies are running strongly at Shinnecock, and black sea bass season opened May 16 with South Shore wrecks already producing.
Finger Lakes Smallmouth Heating Up as Post-Spawn Transition Begins
Water temperature at 65°F as of May 18 (USGS gauge 04232050) places the Finger Lakes — Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles — squarely in the post-spawn transition for smallmouth bass. At this temperature, most fish have completed their spawning cycle on rocky shoreline flats and are now feeding aggressively to recover weight. Tactical Bassin reports that the bluegill spawn is currently in full swing across freshwater bass fisheries, drawing big bass into shallow cover with topwater frogs, swimbaits, and chatterbaits proving most effective. Walleye, which typically spawn in early-to-mid April in the Finger Lakes, should be actively feeding on transition structure between shallow and mid-depth zones. Lake trout are retreating toward thermocline depth as surface temps push past the 60°F comfort threshold. Low tributary inflow on the gauge (39.7 cfs) points to excellent water clarity — a distinct advantage for finesse presentations and sight-fishing along rocky shorelines. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
Stocked trout and spawning bass join the striper push in Hudson Valley waters
Water temperatures have hit 64°F at the upper Hudson (USGS gauge 01357500), landing squarely in the prime late-spring window for this region. NY DEC The Fishing Line (Freshwater) confirmed that hatchery crews have been actively transporting and stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout throughout the spring — a strong foundation for tributary fishing across the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes. The coolwater sportfish season opened statewide May 1 per DEC, adding walleye and northern pike to the mix just as water temperatures reach their active feeding range. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map reports the spring push has fully extended through the Northeast, meaning Hudson River striped bass should be well into their upriver run. Main-stem flows are elevated — 3,620 cfs at the upper gauge (USGS 01357500) and 9,880 cfs downstream (USGS 01358000) — so tributary mouths and sheltered coves will offer the most productive access for anglers this week.
Finger Lakes smallmouth go post-spawn as caddis bite heats up
Water temperatures on the Finger Lakes watershed have reached 60°F, recorded at USGS gauge 04232050 early this morning — a threshold that marks the tail end of smallmouth bass spawning on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Post-spawn fish are leaving the beds and beginning to stage on adjacent structure. Per Tactical Bassin's recent on-water coverage, the bluegill spawn is in full swing, pulling big bass into shallow heavy cover and making topwater frogs and walking baits productive right now. Lake trout and brown trout remain active as surface temps move through the low 60s, and caddis emergences are beginning to fire; MidCurrent's current fly-tying roundup features sparse nymph and emerger patterns well-suited to this transition window. Walleye on Seneca are in post-spawn recovery and will likely be found on deeper structure. New Moon conditions today extend the low-light feeding window at dawn and dusk. No local shop or charter reports were available in this feed cycle.
Spring stripers rolling on the Hudson; Finger Lakes walleye now in play
Water temperatures at the Catskill gauge are sitting at 62°F (USGS 01357500), placing the Hudson River squarely in its prime window for the spring striper run. On The Water's May 15 striper migration map confirms the Northeast push has fully extended — fish are now reaching Maine — putting the Hudson Valley corridor in the thick of the action. River flow at Catskill (4,000 cfs) and Green Island (12,700 cfs, USGS 01358000) reflects active spring runoff; expect some color in the upper sections. Up in the Finger Lakes, NY DEC's Fishing Line (April 24 issue) reports spring trout stocking is actively underway — brook, brown, and rainbow — and the coolwater sportfish season covering walleye, northern pike, and tiger muskie opened May 1, making mid-May an ideal early-season window for those fisheries. Tonight's new moon phase favors the low-light feeding bursts that Hudson stripers are known for; first and last light are the premium windows on the tidal river this week.
Finger Lakes bass enter post-spawn transition for mid-May push
USGS gauge 04232050 on Cayuga Inlet recorded 64°F water temperature and 50.9 cfs flow on May 17, placing Cayuga Lake tributaries squarely in a prime late-spring window. No local charter or tackle-shop reports are available in this cycle, but Tactical Bassin notes the bluegill spawn is in full swing right now — a classic trigger for largemouth and smallmouth to stage in shallow heavy cover. Post-spawn bass across the region should be completing their transition off beds and pushing toward early-summer structure in the 5–15 foot range. A New Moon on May 18 can amplify low-light and dawn feeding windows. Wired 2 Fish highlights ongoing smallmouth research confirming that Great Lakes-strain bronzebacks may represent a genetically distinct lineage — a reminder that Cayuga and Seneca hold some of the Northeast's most prized smallmouth water. Deeper-oriented species like lake trout will be retreating to cooler water as nearshore temps climb through the mid-60s. Check state regulations before targeting any species.