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New York fishing waters. Backdrop for the Angling Hubs New York guide directory

Fishing Guides · New York

Fishing Guides in New York

Cast 79 guides across New York. Maps, hours, contact info, photos, and verified operator profiles, all in one place.

Adirondacks, Catskills, the Finger Lakes, and the Long Island shore.

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Highest rated

Fishing Guides in New York by Google rating

Ranked by Google rating, then by number of reviews, across the 67 of 79 guides in New York with 10 or more Google reviews. A blank cell means we do not have that detail yet.

GuideCityFishingRating
Freshwater Therapy Fishing Guide Service, Silver Bay, NYSilver BayBass Fishing, Walleye Fishing, Trout Fishing +15.0284 Google reviews
Ace Charters - Lake Ontario Fishing Charters, Oswego, NYOswego5.0274 Google reviews
Reel Silver Charters, Pulaski, NYPulaskiSalmon & Steelhead, Trout Fishing, Walleye Fishing +15.0168 Google reviews
TailWrapped Sportfishing: Tuna Fishing Montauk, Shark Fishing, Charter Fishing, Fluke Fishing, Montauk, NYMontaukInshore Fishing, Offshore / Deep Sea5.0143 Google reviews
Good Times Sportfishing - Pulaski Fishing Charters, Pulaski, NYPulaskiSalmon & Steelhead, Trout Fishing, Bass Fishing5.0112 Google reviews
Black Jack Charters, Pulaski, NYPulaski5.097 Google reviews
Lake Ontario Sportfishing, Kendall, NYKendallTrout Fishing, Salmon & Steelhead5.085 Google reviews
Lucky Buck Fishing charters, Skaneateles, NYSkaneatelesTrout Fishing, Walleye Fishing5.074 Google reviews

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79 guides in New York

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On the map

Guide businesses, fishing spots, rivers & creeks and camping in New York

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Browse all 5,240 fishing spots

About New York

Few states can put Chinook salmon and bluefin-water charters on the same license. New York runs from the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes in the west and center to the salt off Long Island and New York City, with the Adirondack wilderness in between. Guides here work Lake Ontario for salmon and steelhead, the ocean for trophy striped bass and fluke, and everything the geography offers in between, and the geography offers a lot.

The freshwater alone would carry most states. Lake Ontario around Oswego and Rochester delivers salmon and trout runs that pull anglers into the tributaries every spring and fall. The eleven Finger Lakes, Cayuga and Seneca among them, fish well for lake trout, landlocked salmon, and smallmouth bass. And north of it all sits Adirondack Park, thousands of lakes and rivers holding brook trout, northern pike, and bass in country that feels a very long way from the city on the same map.

Then there's the coast. Long Island covers the full spread: light-tackle work in the Great South Bay for striped bass and weakfish, and offshore boats out of Montauk and Shinnecock running the open Atlantic for tuna, shark, and mahi-mahi. Long Island Sound and the waters around New York City itself fish hard for stripers, bluefish, and fluke, plenty of guides here specialize in fly and light tackle in the tidal estuaries, a short train ride from Manhattan.

Water this varied demands local knowledge, and that's the case for a guide. They know when the steelhead push into a tributary, where the walleye stack on Lake Erie, which stage of the tide moves stripers through an estuary. They bring the boat, the specialized gear, and the safety margin, and they scale the day to your experience, first cast or thousandth. On water with this many options, a good guide is the difference between fishing and catching.

When to fish in New York

Peak Mar–May

Full season

Quick facts

Fishing spots mapped
5,240
Rivers mapped
866
Guides listed
79
Best season
May through October

Trip guide

Know before you go in New York

Confirm current requirements with the agency that sets them before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

  • New York State Fishing License

    All individuals 16 years of age and older must possess a valid New York State fishing license to fish in freshwater. Licenses can be purchased online, by phone, or from authorized license issuing agents throughout the state.

    NY DEC

  • Marine Fishing Registry

    For saltwater fishing, anglers must enroll in the New York State Marine Recreational Fishing Registry. This registration is free and, for marine-district fishing, takes the place of the freshwater fishing license (which does not cover saltwater) for anglers aged 16 and older.

    NY DEC

  • Catch Limits and Seasons

    Regulations regarding catch limits, size restrictions, and open seasons vary significantly by species, water body, and time of year. Anglers on guided trips should always defer to their guide's knowledge and verify current regulations with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

    NY DEC
01Do I need a fishing license for a guided trip in New York?
Yes. Everyone 16 and older needs a valid New York State fishing license to fish freshwater. Saltwater fishing instead requires enrollment in the free New York State Recreational Marine Fishing Registry, not the freshwater license. Neither is something your guide can handle for you.
02What is typically included in a guided fishing trip in New York?
The gear is covered: rods, reels, bait, tackle, and safety equipment like life vests. What you're really paying for is the guide's knowledge: where the fish are, when they eat, and how to reach them. Your license, food, drinks, and personal items are on you.
03What should I bring on my guided fishing trip?
Layers, rain gear, and sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), cover most conditions. Add snacks, drinks, a camera, and a cooler if you plan to keep fish. Then ask your guide what's specific to their water; a Montauk charter and a Salmon River drift call for different kits.
04Can I keep the fish I catch on a guided trip?
Sometimes. It depends on current New York State regulations for the species and water, and on the guide's own policy, many run catch-and-release for certain fish or areas, while others are happy to send you home with legal-sized keepers. Settle this when you book, not at the dock.
05What are the best times of year for guided fishing in New York?
There's no single answer in a state this varied. Spring and fall own the migratory runs: salmon, trout, striped bass. Summer is offshore season and prime lake bass fishing. Winter brings ice fishing and deep-water lake trout. Pick your fish, then let a specialist guide pick the window.
06Is tipping customary for fishing guides in New York?
Yes, guides work for tips the way servers do, and 15-20% of the trip cost is the standard range. Scale it to the effort and service you received. A guide who grinds all day to find fish in tough conditions has earned the top of that range, fish count or not.

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River levelsLive levels for every gauged river in New York.
Fishing SpotsBrowse 24,783 named waters, then read the state stocking record: species, size, and when.
River ExplorerExplore named rivers from USGS data. Filter by water type, with live flow where a gauge sits.
Fishing TimesMajor and minor solunar periods, sunrise, sunset and the moon for your exact spot, all week.
Fishing License CheckPick your state, your age and whether you live there for a yes or no from the state's own rule, plus the next free fishing days.
Skill DrillsInteractive 3D drills, one decision at a time. Pick wrong and you watch it fail, then learn why.

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