Best Fishing Times in New York This Week
Near Pulaski, Montauk and Lake George: today on a 24 hour timeline and the next seven days rated Fair to Best.
Working out the moon and the sun for Pulaski, NY, and reading the forecast.
Fishing somewhere else? Enter any ZIP for your own spot
Photo: “Fall fishing on the Madison River at sunrise”, Jacob W. Frank, Yellowstone National Park (NPS), Public domain
New York at a glance
Solunar windows plus the agency calendarWhen fish bite in New York
New York's fishing year turns on the April 1 trout opener, walleye in early to mid spring, cod and winter flounder in spring and bluefish in summer on the coast, and walleye through the ice.
Each entry below is from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation or its published guides, quoted word for word and linked. Line the season up with the week above: a run in its prime and a Great day with a window at first light is the morning to take off.
- April 1
Trout
The spring trout season opens April 1, for both wild and stocked trout.
“New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the April 1 start of the spring trout fishing season, which provides excellent angling opportunities for wild and stocked trout.”
DEC Announces Start of Trout Fishing Season on April 1 - NYSDEC, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, read October 9, 2026 - Early to mid spring
Walleye
Early to mid spring can be a particularly good time for walleye.
“Early to mid-spring can be particularly good for walleye fishing.”
DEC Announces Opening Day for Many Popular Coolwater Fish Species - NYSDEC, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, read October 9, 2026 - Spring and summer
Atlantic cod, winter flounder, bluefish, summer flounder
On the coast, Atlantic cod, winter flounder and mackerel are spring targets, and bluefish, summer flounder and Spanish mackerel come once school is out.
“You can fish for Atlantic cod, winter flounder and mackerel in the spring, or try your luck for bluefish, summer flounder and Spanish mackerel when school is out.”
Saltwater Fishing - NYSDEC, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, read October 9, 2026 - Ice season
Walleye
Through the ice, look for walleye around points, flats and shoals, and fishing is often best just before and after dark.
“Look for walleye around points, flats and shoals. Fishing is often best just before and after dark.”
I FISH NY Guide to Ice Fishing, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, read October 9, 2026
License, stocking, ice and tides in New York
Reading the New York timeline
Each day has two major solunar periods of about two hours, centered on the moon overhead and underfoot, and two minor periods of about an hour at moonrise and moonset. A window within an hour of sunrise or sunset is marked in gold. The rating adds the moon phase, the gold windows and a capped nudge from the National Weather Service forecast for each town. Every factor and its points.
Dawn and dusk are the reliable part; the moon windows are the old angler’s rule.
