Patrick Hildebrand shows off a state-record-tying 8-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth bass he caught in the St. Lawrence River in summer 2016. (Provided photo — DEC)

ALBANY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced that the open (harvest) season for largemouth and smallmouth bass, collectively known as black bass, begins Thursday, June 15 and runs through Nov. 30.

For most of the state, a catch-and-release season exists from Dec. 1 through June 14. Special fishing regulations exist for some waters, so anglers should check the current fishing regulations before heading out to fish.

“New York is home to some of the world’s best fishing destinations, especially for largemouth and smallmouth bass,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a press release. “I encourage anglers of all abilities to get outside and explore the many special bass fishing opportunities our state has to offer.”

Many New York waters consistently rank among the best bass angling destinations in the country. In September 2022, Bassmaster Magazine ranked the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands) as the best bass “lake” in the nation, with Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River coming in at No. 8. Other New York waters that made their list of the top 100 bass waters included Lake Champlain and Cayuga, Oneida and Chautauqua lakes. All of these waters provide the opportunity to catch trophy bass, but anglers don’t have to venture far from home to catch New York’s top sport fish. Both species are widespread across the state and thrive in waters of all sizes.

The DEC offers anglers the Places to Fish and Warmwater Fishing web pages for more information on where to go bass fishing. Bass anglers are also encouraged to check out DEC’s “Tackle Box” feature in the HuntFishNY app, which provides anglers one-stop shopping for water-body-specific information on fishing regulations, stocking and fishing/boating access sites. If you’re new to fishing, the I FISH NY Beginners Guide to Fishing has all the information you need to get started. There’s also a “how-to” video series on DEC’s YouTube channel.

DEC’s Bureau of Fisheries recognizes catches of big sport fish, including state records, through the Angler Achievement Awards program. Largemouth bass 20 inches and over and smallmouth bass 18 inches and over qualify for awards. Last year, 79 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass qualified for the Catch and Release Category, with the longest measuring 22.5 inches.