New York fishing reports
187 reports for New York — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Stripers Running Hot Off Montauk and the North Fork Under New Moon Tides
Per On The Water's June 11 report, striper fishing off the North Fork and Montauk has been excellent as migratory fish press east and north — the strongest active signal coming out of Long Island right now. The South Shore fluke bite is slowly picking up steam, while bluefish action has remained spotty across the island. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map confirms bass are spread from New Jersey to Maine, and with today's new moon delivering the month's biggest tidal movement, conditions are set to concentrate fish along rip lines and structure. NY DEC notes the summer flounder season is underway, giving South Shore anglers a legal target as that bite develops. Bluefish remain an inconsistent presence — worth keeping a popper rigged if you're seeing birds, but not a reason to build a dedicated trip.
Black bass season arrives as Hudson warms and stripers push through the Valley
USGS gauge 01357500 at the upper Hudson logged 76°F at 6 a.m. on June 14, setting up prime conditions for black bass just ahead of New York's inland season opener. The NY DEC's June 12 Fishing Line reports 'the fish bite is picking up with the warmer summer weather arriving just in time for the' bass season. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map places the coastal push 'widespread from New Jersey to Maine,' with new moon tides this weekend expected to move stripers and bait deeper into the Hudson corridor. Finger Lakes anglers can expect typical early-summer walleye and smallmouth action as water temperatures climb. The upper Hudson is running at 1,400 cfs at Waterford; the Green Island gauge (01358000) reads 6,340 cfs. Trout anglers should note: at 76°F, water temps are at or above the stress threshold for salmonids — morning-only sessions and quick catch-and-release are recommended through this warm stretch.
Finger Lakes Smallmouth Peak as Mid-June Bass Season Hits Full Stride
Water temperatures have climbed to 65°F (USGS gauge 04232050), putting the Finger Lakes squarely in prime early-summer bass territory across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Smallmouth are the story right now, with Tactical Bassin reporting aggressive Great Lakes smallmouth action on swimbaits: the Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad pairing has been producing well on windy, big-water days that closely mirror Finger Lakes conditions. The outlet system is running at just 7.45 cfs (USGS gauge 04232050), indicating stable, low-flow conditions that typically push fish tighter to offshore structure and weedline edges. Lake trout, which define these lakes year-round, are beginning their summer retreat toward the thermocline as surface temps tick upward. Field & Stream's trout temperature guide notes fish start avoiding shallower layers once consistent warmth arrives. A new moon this weekend eliminates ambient light overnight, opening a short but productive topwater window at dawn and dusk for both bass and walleye.
Stripers Moving the Hudson as Black Bass Season Countdown Begins
Water temps on the Hudson River have reached 79°F (USGS gauge 01357500) as of June 13, confirming summer conditions have settled across the Hudson Valley. On The Water's June 12 Striper Migration Map reports the push remains widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with new moon tides this weekend expected to continue moving bass and bait toward summer haunts, a prime window for tidal Hudson anglers. Inland, NY DEC's The Fishing Line (June 12) notes the fish bite is picking up with the arrival of warmer weather, and black bass season is just days away. For trout anglers, 79°F water pushes well into stress territory; Field & Stream's trout temperature guide warns that feeding windows narrow sharply above 68°F. Target trout only in the predawn hours on higher-elevation Finger Lakes tributaries, and shift focus toward bass and walleye as water temperatures climb through the day.
Finger Lakes smallmouth firing up as early summer pattern locks in
USGS gauge 04232050 reads 68°F and 7.45 cfs in Finger Lakes tributaries, a combination that signals a firmly established early-summer pattern on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Smallmouth bass are squarely in their prime feeding window. Rocky points, wind-driven shorelines, and mid-lake shoals are the structure to target through the morning hours. Tactical Bassin's recent Great Lakes sessions highlight finesse swimbaits and swing-head jigs as a productive one-two punch for summer smallmouth, a presentation that translates well to the Finger Lakes' expansive basins. Lake trout, which prefer water in the mid-50s, are almost certainly staged deep below the thermocline at 68°F surface temps. With tonight's new moon eliminating ambient nighttime light, low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk should be pronounced for both bass and walleye. Low tributary flow means inlets are running thin; the main lake basins are the better option right now.
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.