New York fishing reports
434 reports for New York — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
New moon pushes Hudson stripers; black bass season one week out
The Hudson River striper migration is holding strong at mid-June. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map reports the run remains widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with the new moon this weekend expected to push bass and bait toward their summer haunts — well-timed for anglers working tidal Hudson sections. NY DEC's The Fishing Line (June 12) notes the overall bite is picking up alongside the arrival of warmer summer weather and flags black bass season as "just around the corner" — the third-Saturday opener falls next weekend. Water at USGS gauge 01357500 registered 76°F this morning with flows at 1,380 cfs — warm enough to stress trout significantly. Trout anglers on Hudson Valley tributaries should focus on early-morning windows and practice careful catch-and-release during peak afternoon warmth. Walleye remain fishable in the Finger Lakes on deeper coolwater structure, and the overall fishery is in a strong position heading into late June.
Stripers Running Hot off Montauk as South Shore Fluke Bite Builds
Striper fishing off the North Fork and Montauk has been excellent as migratory fish press east and north, according to On The Water's June 11 Long Island report — a strong showing that has held across several consecutive weeks. The South Shore fluke bite is slowly but surely picking up steam, adding a second reliable target for anglers working the island's south side. Bluefish action remains spotty across Long Island, though stronger numbers were noted in late May per On The Water. The broader striper migration map from On The Water (June 12) shows bass widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with the approaching new moon and resulting big tides expected to continue moving fish and bait toward summer haunts. NY DEC Saltwater Fishing and Boating has confirmed recreational summer flounder and bluefish seasons are open; bluefish carry no size limit with a five-fish bag. No buoy or gauge readings were available for this report.
Finger Lakes Bass Hit Early-Summer Stride as Smallmouth Lead the Way
Water temps clocked at 65°F on USGS gauge 04232050 (June 13) mark the Finger Lakes' official arrival at early-summer fishing mode. Smallmouth bass are the headline act: Tactical Bassin reports Great Lakes smallmouth responding aggressively to swimbaits and finesse presentations this week, with anglers landing quality fish including trophy-class specimens on swing-head jigs and shad-style soft plastics. As Wired 2 Fish notes in their summer bass breakdown, fish that were shallow early are now sliding toward deeper structure by mid-morning; crankbaits and wobble-head rigs worked along points and transition edges are the pattern to match. Lake trout, which prefer water below 55°F, will have retreated to the thermocline on Cayuga and Seneca. Expect them slow on shallow presentations. Tributary inflow is a lean 10.1 cfs, pointing to low feeder-stream levels. Concentrate on open-water structure over main-lake basins for both bass and any trout.
Black bass season imminent as Hudson warms and summer bite builds
NY DEC's The Fishing Line (June 12th issue) flags the black bass season as "just around the corner," and conditions are lining up to match: USGS gauge 01357500 recorded the Hudson River at 79°F on June 12, squarely in summer territory. The fish bite is described as picking up with warmer weather arriving in time for the opener — a positive sign for anglers gearing up after the spring wait. The striper corridor is also active: On The Water's June 12 migration map places striped bass "widespread from New Jersey to Maine," with new moon tides this weekend continuing to push fish and bait toward summer haunts on the lower Hudson. The warm water cuts both ways for Finger Lakes anglers — trout face thermal stress at these temperatures, and early-morning sessions on cold tributaries or sheltered coves will outperform midday runs on mainstem water. Low-light windows at dawn and dusk are the play under the waning crescent.
Stripers Running Hot at Montauk as South Shore Fluke Builds Momentum
Per On The Water's June 11 Long Island report, striper fishing off the North Fork and Montauk has been excellent as migratory fish continue pressing east and north. That's the headline story this week. The South Shore fluke bite is also slowly gaining traction. On June 4, On The Water noted the striper bite firing from the Eastern Sound all the way to Montauk, with bluefish described as spotty across the island. The June 12 Striper Migration Map from On The Water confirms the push remains widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with new moon tides this weekend expected to keep moving bass and bait toward summer grounds. Saltwater Edge Blog noted in late May that big bass were crushing big baits through the region as fresh fish from the south replaced northward migrants, a pattern that aligns with what Long Island anglers are seeing right now.
Salmon Bite Heats Up on Lake Ontario as Charter Fleet Works Deep
Strike Zone Charters on Lake Ontario is calling it directly: salmon are here, and the bite has been strong this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out catches. The charter is working 100 to 160 feet of water, with preferred depths shifting day to day as wind repositions the thermocline. Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when the temperature break runs deep, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips leading the bite. On the tributary side, USGS gauge 04250750 shows the Oswego system running at 59.6 cfs as of June 12 — low, clear flows that favor open-water lake fishing over wading the Salmon River or Oswego tributaries. This week, the action is clearly on the big lake, not the rivers. The waning crescent moon sets up low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk worth building a day around.
Post-Spawn Smallmouth Prime Across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles
USGS gauge 04232050 recorded 68°F on the Seneca system at 6:30 a.m. this morning, confirming the Finger Lakes have entered full early-summer mode. For bass anglers, that temperature is the trigger: Wired 2 Fish reports that summer bass push shallow before sunrise to chase surface bait, then retreat to offshore structure as sun angle climbs — a two-phase pattern ideally matched to the rocky points and boulder transitions that define Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Tactical Bassin documented Great Lakes smallmouth hammering swimbait-and-swing-jig combinations in these conditions, calling the pairing a "phenomenal 1-2 punch" for post-spawn fish holding on deep structure. Lake trout are the counterpoint: Field & Stream's temperature guide flags the upper 60s as the zone where trout begin vacating the surface column and dropping toward the thermocline. Conditions strongly favor the bass angler right now; trout specialists should fish deep or target the coolest early-morning windows.
Hudson Valley bass bite peaks as summer warmwater pattern takes hold
Water temperatures at USGS gauge 01357500 have climbed to 76°F as of June 12, pushing the region firmly into summer warmwater mode. Bass are the primary target across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes waters right now: Wired 2 Fish's current summer bass coverage points to crankbaits and swing-head jigs on deeper structure once the sun is high, with early-morning topwater along weed edges and current seams worth working first. Trout anglers should note that 76°F sits in the high-stress range — Field & Stream's water temperature guide for trout highlights that conditions like these can trigger voluntary hoot-owl closures on sensitive streams, so check NY DEC advisories and practice careful release. Walleye remain active in the Finger Lakes during low-light windows, and NY DEC's May 22 Fishing Line confirms muskellunge season has arrived — warm surface temperatures historically fire up trophy musky on designated NY waters. Hudson mainstem flow reads 5,770 cfs at gauge 01358000, suggesting moderate, fishable current conditions.
Lake Erie Smallmouth Firing as Summer Bass Patterns Set In
Water at USGS gauge 04231600 hit 75°F this morning, marking a warm start to mid-June across Western NY's freshwater system. The clearest on-water signal for this region comes from Tactical Bassin, whose Great Lakes smallmouth outing documented fish feeding actively even in choppy Lake Erie conditions, with the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad delivering a big bag including two trophy Smallmouth. Wired 2 Fish's summer bass breakdown aligns: bass push shallow at first light before retreating to deep offshore structure once the sun climbs, making an early start critical. Flow at gauge 04231600 sits at 1,530 cfs, keeping current seams well-defined for anglers working Lake Erie tributaries and the Niagara corridor. Walleye have likely shifted to their deeper, low-light summer rhythm as surface temps climb past 70°F. Steelhead, which dominate the Niagara tributaries each spring, are off the table at current temperatures.
Low, Clear Water and Evening Hatches Define Mid-June on Catskill Trout Streams
USGS gauge 01413500 shows 58.4 cfs on a Catskill watershed stream as of the early morning of June 12, with USGS gauge 01415000 recording just 10 cfs on a smaller tributary — both figures consistent with the transition from spring runoff into summer low-water conditions. No water temperature readings are available from either gauge. With flows this lean and a waning crescent moon, mid-June conditions favor technical dry fly and nymph presentations over heavier attractor rigs. MidCurrent's recent tying coverage notes patterns built for every feeding lane as hatches begin to fire — a description that fits the Delaware system tributaries and Adirondack headwater streams well at this point in the season. Flylords Mag's current deep-dive on PMD fishing is timely: Pale Morning Duns are among the most important Catskill hatches in June, and low, clear water makes precise presentation essential. Expect educated fish, fine tippets, and long leaders to separate results from frustration.
Stripers Firing from Eastern Sound to Montauk in Early June
Per On The Water's June 4 report, the striper bite is firing from the Eastern Sound to Montauk, with fluke fishing showing signs of improvement around NYC and bluefish action remaining spotty across the island. That momentum has been building for weeks: On The Water's May 21 dispatch flagged a strong push of big bass and bunker into Western Long Island Sound, with the North Fork and Montauk heating up noticeably. The Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) observed in late May that as some bass push north, more fish from the south continue to fill the void — a classic early-summer rotation that keeps Long Island waters well-supplied through June. As of June 9, OTW Saltwater's striper migration report confirms bunker, mackerel, sea herring, and sand eels are fueling improving action northward through southern New England. No buoy readings are available to confirm current water temperature, but the pattern across multiple sources is consistent: this is a productive early-June striper window for Long Island anglers.
Lake Ontario salmon running strong as offshore summer bite builds
Strike Zone Charters reports salmon fishing on Lake Ontario has been 'very good this past week,' with brown trout and lake trout mixing into the bite. The productive zone is 100-160 feet of water. Mag Dipsey Divers are doing the heavy lifting, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chips are accounting for most fish when temperature breaks push them deeper. Depths shift day to day as wind reorganizes the thermal structure, so staying mobile and adjusting regularly pays off. Inshore, USGS gauge 04250750 shows flows at 67.8 cfs, indicating low, clear conditions in the tributary system, typical for the Salmon River corridor as spring runoff subsides heading into summer. No water temperature data is available from monitoring stations this cycle. For tributary anglers, low clear flows call for longer leaders, finer presentations, and a focus on shaded pools and deeper runs during midday hours.