Buffalo Niagara is an angler's paradise. The region has some of the best smallmouth bass, musky, king salmon, steelhead, walleye and lake trout fishing in the world. In fact, fantastic fishing can be found only minutes from downtown Buffalo's many hotels. Within a short drive from the city, anglers can fish Lakes Erie and Ontario, the mighty Niagara River, Chautauqua Lake and numerous trout streams.
How good is the fishing? Lake Erie has been called the smallmouth bass capital of the world and Buffalo Harbor is one of the best kept secrets in the world of musky fishing. Lake Erie is also an excellent walleye fishery. Trophy fish are routinely taken here.
The Niagara River is divided by Niagara Falls into two distinct fishing areas. The upper section, as it flows out of Lake Erie, is a great warm water fishery. It's home to smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, muskies and northern pike. The lower Niagara River, which empties into Lake Ontario, is home to salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass and walleye. The state record lake trout some from the Lower Niagara - a 39 pound monster caught in 1994.
Lake Ontario is one of the finest fisheries in the Great Lakes. It has a tremendous salmon population, with many weighing in at over 40 pounds. Steelhead roam the open waters, along with brown and lake trout.
Get hooked on Buffalo Niagara fishing, with an adventurous day on the water with one of the area's many fishing captains. Take advantage of their local knowledge and expertise and come home with a trophy fish!
To obtain the I Love NY Fishing brochures and other sportsfishing information, contact the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's Buffalo office at (716) 851-7010.
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What, When and Where to Catch Fish in Western New York
| Species |
Open Season |
Minimum Length |
Daily Limit |
| Trout (brook, brown and rainbow trout and hybrids of these species; and splake) |
April 1 through October 15 |
Any size |
5 |
| Lake Trout |
April 1 through October 15 |
21" |
3 |
| Landlocked Atlantic Salmon |
April 1 through October 15 |
15" |
3 |
| Kokanee |
April 1 through October 15 |
Any size |
10 |
| Coho, Chinook, Pink Salmon - See Great Lakes Regulations |
|
|
|
Black Bass
largemouth/smallmouth |
3rd Saturday in June through November 30 |
12" |
5 |
Black Bass
largemouth/smallmouth |
December 1 - Friday preceding the 3rd Saturday in June |
catch and release only |
Artificial lures only |
| Muskellunge |
3rd Saturday in June through November 30 |
30" |
1 |
| Northern Pike |
1st Saturday in May through March 15 |
18" |
5 |
| Pickerel |
1st Saturday in May through March 15 |
15" |
5 |
| Tiger Muskellunge |
1st Saturday in May through March 15 |
30" |
1 |
| Walleye |
1st Saturday in May through March 15 |
15" |
5 |
| Crappie |
All year |
9" |
25 |
| Atlantic, Shortnose & Lake Sturgeon; Paddlefish |
Closed |
Possession Prohibited |
|
| Lake Whitefish |
All year |
Any size |
5 |
| Striped Bass in the Hudson River and tributaries north of George Washington Bridge |
March 16 through November 30 |
18" |
1 |
| American Shad |
All year |
Any size |
6 |
| Yellow Perch |
All year |
Any size |
50 |
| Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed and redbreast sunfish) |
All year |
Any size |
50 |
| American Eel- all waters except Hudson River |
All year |
6" |
50 |
| American Eel- Hudson River from the Battery to Troy and all tributaries upstream to the first barrier |
All year |
Eels 6-14" only may be possessed in any number for bait. No eels greater than 14" may be possessed. No eels may be possessed for food. |
| All other species (except endangered and threatened species) |
All year |
Any size |
Any number |
|
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Western New York Charter Captains |
|
Ameri-Can Fishing Charters
8654 Hennepin Avenue
Niagara Falls, NY 14304
Captain Lloyd Schrack
(716) 418-4738
fishtheniagara@aol.com
www.fishtheniagara.com |
Lucky Seven Charters
3684 Heathwood Drive
Hamburg, NY 14075
Captain Dick Smith
(716) 648-9071 |
Angling Adventures with Schultz Sportfishing
3673 Ewings Road
Lockport, NY 14094
Captain Barry Schultz
(716) 433-5848
barrys@buffnet.net
www.captainbarry.com |
Mostly Muskies Charters
268 Harrison Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14223
Captain Larry Jones
(716) 833-6739 |
Chet's Hunting and Fishing
2519 Niagara Falls Boulevard
Amherst, NY 14228
Captain Chet Beyer
(716) 564-0788 |
Northeast Outdoors Charters
12 Main Street, Ste. 1
Hamburg, NY 14075
Captain Jim Hanley
(716) 312-0418
www.northeastoutdoors.com |
Chopper's Sport Fishing Charters
740 Mohawk Street
Lewiston, NY 14092
Captain Tony LaRosa
(716) 754-1919
chopper1976@hotmail.com
|
The Oak Orchard Fly Shop
5110 Main Street, Ste. 124
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 626-1323
www.OakOrchardFlyShop.com |
Cinelli's Niagara River Guides
2809 Love Road
Grand Island, NY 14072
Captain Joe Cinelli
(716) 773-7910 |
Phil's Sportfishing Guide Service
4100 Faber Lane
Clarence, NY 14031
Captain Phil Rowan
(716) 432-1276 |
Doug's Charter Fishing Service
1877 Huth Road
Grand Island, NY 14072
Captain Doug Stein
(716) 774-0077
|
River Master Fish & Charters
2110 Harvey Road
Grand Island, NY 14072
Captain Ted Kessler
(716) 774-8589 |
Dream Maker Charters
102 Bogardus Street
Buffalo, NY 14206
Captain Fred Zmuda
(716) 894-3297 |
River Wild Sport Fishing
2855 Bedell Road
Grand Island, NY 14072
Captain Scot Endres
(716) 774-8820 |
Eerie Eyes Sport Fishing Charters
Ports of Dunkirk, NY & Barcelona, NY
Captain Don Walter
Sept.-May (716)257-9216
June-Aug. (716)326-2226
www.EerieEyes.com |
Rusty Hook Charters
1515 Fuhrmann Boulevard
Buffalo, NY 14203
Captain Fred Langdon
(716) 825-0333 |
First Class Bass Charters
70 Huetter Avenue
Tonawanda, NY 14207
Captain Terry Jones
(716) 875-4946
www.1stclass-bass.com |
Sly Fox Charters
103 Rochelle Park
Tonawanda, NY 14150
Captain Pat Fox
(716) 836-7899 |
Fishgrappler Charters
110 Wrexham Court North
Tonawanda, NY 14150
Captain Mark Kessler
(716) 440-2250
fishgrappler@adelphia.net
fishgrappler.tripod.com
|
Sparky's Charters
39 Calvin Court North
Tonawanda, NY 14150
Captain Mark McGranahan
(716) 837-3146
mmcsparkey@aol.com
www.sparkyscharters.com |
Grand Island Sportsman's
3407 Wallace Drive
Grand Island, NY 14072
Captain Mark Hassan
(716) 773-9067
mrh773@aol.com
www.huntguide.com/grandisland.html |
Sure Shot Musky Charters
49 Pullman Avenue
Kenmore, NY 14217
Captain Tom Slomka
(716) 871-9185 |
Jeff's River Charters
3302 Love Road
Grand Island, NY 14072
Captain Jeff Draper
(716) 773-9127
www.niagaraguides.com |
Tom Katt Sport Fishing
Grand Island, NY 14072
Captain Tom Kilmer
(716) 471-9516
www.tomkattsportfishing.com |
Lake Erie Sportfishing
3684 Heathwood Drive
Hamburg, NY 14075
Captain Dick Smith
(716) 648-9071
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