Fisheries

Restoring American Shad in the Susquehanna River

July 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Native and colonial Americans fished for shad for sustenance, often smoking the flesh and consuming the roe as a delicacy.

American shad continued to be an important recreational and commercial fishery throughout the 20th Century. However, the shad stock has since dramatically declined due to shoreline development, pollution and over fishing, and as a result all recreational and commercial fisheries for American shad were closed in 2010.

As part of an effort to restore American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in New York, DEC Fisheries staff, in collaboration with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, recently stocked 322,000 American shad fry (young fish) into the Susquehanna River in Endicott, Broome County, NY.

Survey to Monitor Striped Bass Health in New York

July 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a two-year study to monitor the health and contaminant loads of Atlantic striped bass in New York’s marine waters.

The survey will collect samples of striped bass to measure levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and other contaminants to update commercial fishery restrictions and the State Department of Health’s consumption advisories for recreational anglers, as well as enhance the understanding of New York’s striped bass population. [Read more…] about Survey to Monitor Striped Bass Health in New York

Hudson River Atlantic Sturgeon: The River’s Largest Fish

July 9, 2022 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Each June, biologists from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Fisheries Unit study the endangered adult Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) when the fish return to the Hudson River to spawn.

Atlantic sturgeon, the largest fish species in the Hudson River Estuary, are anadromous, which means they hatch in freshwater, spend most of their lives in saltwater, and return to freshwater to spawn. The Hudson River currently supports the largest population of Atlantic sturgeon along the Atlantic Coast, estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,500 fish.

Sturgeon were one of the types of fish commercially harvested by European settlers and one of the first “cash crops” of Albany, where they became known as “Albany Beef.” In the late 19th century, seven million pounds of sturgeon meat were exported from the US each year. That number soon dropped to 22,000 pounds. [Read more…] about Hudson River Atlantic Sturgeon: The River’s Largest Fish

New Chittning Pond Fishing Access in Oneida County

July 3, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the completion of work along Chittning Pond in the town of Sangerfield, Oneida County, including rehabilitation of the dam that impounds the pond and the official grand opening of an enhanced fishing access site.

The 70-acre pond located on DEC’s Albert J. Woodford Memorial State Forest is home to a warm water fishery and provides habitat for a multitude of bird, amphibian, reptile, and mammal species. [Read more…] about New Chittning Pond Fishing Access in Oneida County

Smallmouth Bass State Record Broken on Cayuga Lake

July 3, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

A new state record for smallmouth bass was set on June 15th, opening day for bass season.

Thomas Russell Jr., of Albion reeled in an eight-pound, six-ounce smallmouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Seneca County. Russell’s bass surpassed the previous record by two ounces, a tie between fish caught on Lake Erie in 1995, and in the St. Lawrence River in 2016. [Read more…] about Smallmouth Bass State Record Broken on Cayuga Lake

2.4M Salmon & Trout Stocked in Lake Ontario

June 25, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Salmon and trout stocking in Lake Ontario is complete for 2022 with 900,000 Chinook salmon, 505,200 rainbow trout, 480,000 brown trout, 320,000 lake trout, 121,000 coho salmon, and 125,000 Atlantic salmon to provide exceptional angling opportunities. [Read more…] about 2.4M Salmon & Trout Stocked in Lake Ontario

New Summer Flounder Fishing Regulations

May 30, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

DEC has announced new recreational saltwater fishing regulations for the summer flounder (fluke) season that began on May 1st. Changes will provide more opportunities for anglers by extending the season a total of 12 fishing days to end on October 9th, 2022, and decreasing the minimum size limit by half an inch. [Read more…] about New Summer Flounder Fishing Regulations

35+ Pound Channel Catfish Breaks State Record

May 25, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

A New York State record for channel catfish was broken on May 8th, 2022. Using cut bait while bottom fishing, Bailey Williams of Watertown reeled in a 35-pound, 12-ounce channel catfish from the Black River in Jefferson County.

Bailey’s record-breaking catch surpassed the previous State record catfish, caught from Lake Ontario in 2017, by 9 ounces. [Read more…] about 35+ Pound Channel Catfish Breaks State Record

Pike, Pickerel, Muskie, and Walleye Season Opens May 1

April 30, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Fishing season for northern pike, pickerel, tiger muskellunge, and walleye opens on May 1st. Fishing regulation changes implemented earlier this year replaced the floating “Saturday” season openers with a fixed date in addition to other improvements to enhance fishing opportunities across the state. [Read more…] about Pike, Pickerel, Muskie, and Walleye Season Opens May 1

Several Anglers Ticketed in Warren County Sweep

April 30, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

On the morning of April 15th, Lieutenant Higgins and NYS Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Brassard patrolled a small trout pond in Queensbury and discovered several anglers catching freshly stocked trout without incident. However, some anglers also possessed out-of-season chain pickerel. In addition, two fishermen had failed to buy a fishing license, resulting in tickets to the offenders.

It was one of several incidents where anglers were ticketed for illegal fishing in Warren County. [Read more…] about Several Anglers Ticketed in Warren County Sweep