REMINDER: Father’s Day coincides this year with New York Bass season opener

Looking for some Father’s Day weekend plans? It just so happens that New York’s official Bass season opener is Sunday, June 15.

For context, this means that licensed anglers will be able to legally harvest their daily limit of both Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass, if they choose to do so.

“New York has some of the best bass fishing in the country and this affordable, fun activity is accessible for all New Yorkers,” New York’s DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said.

When bass are out of season from December 1 – June 14 in New York, anglers can still catch and release, however; some special regulations exist for certain waterways depending the time of year.

According to the DEC, New York’s bass fisheries remain in the national spotlight and contribute to the $5 billion in economic benefits provided by New York’s recreational freshwater fishing industry each year.

In 2024, the St. Lawrence River and Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River were ranked the nation’s #1 and #7 bass lakes, respectively, by Bassmaster Magazine.

Lake Champlain, Cayuga Lake, and Oneida Lake also made Bassmaster Magazine’s top 25 Northeastern Best Bass Lakes list in 2024.

NYS DEC image.