Wayne County Fishing Update

Updated: August 12, 2026

Thank you to all that have shared your photos with us! Keep them coming!

We want to see your Wayne County fishing photos! We love to see what everyone is catching throughout the year. Click the link below to upload your photos to show us your trophies!

https://upload.crowdriff.com/wayne-county-tourism-fishing

Lake Ontario

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The kings have been offshore in 150 to 700 fow. The depth changes daily, however, if you mark them…go get em!

The meat rigs are working the best with some action with flasher flies.

Some browns are also being caught in 50 fow.

Most of the action has been straight out from Sodus Bay.

Don’t forget the LOC Fall Derby which starts August 21^st and finishes on Labor Day Sept. 7.

Streams

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Nothing at this time.

Lake Ontario tributary regulations: Three fish in combination and not to include more than one Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and One Brown Trout.

Bays

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There have been perch caught close to the Sodus Bay channel. Some smallmouth bass have also been netted at the channel.

Largemouth bass have been everywhere in Sodus. Fish the weedlines, close to shore areas and at the south end of the bay. Use your Senko rigs.

The water has cleared on Port Bay, and the rock bass have started to hit on the east side of the bay. The panfish are fun to catch using ultra-lite gear. Use 6’ 6” rods with your reel spooled with light 10lb. braided line with a 6lb. Vanish leader.

Place your 1-inch grub up 12 inches from the sinker and put a silver bass belly on the hook. The gobies cannot steal your bait.

Try that “Corky” rig or go with your own set-up. Have fun!  

New York, the open season (harvest) for largemouth and smallmouth bass, collectively known as black bass, runs from June 15 to November 30, with a catch-and-release season from December 1 to June 14.

Erie Canal

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Cast out into the water next to the locks and catch a wide variety of fish. The closing and openings of the locks stir the bottom. There are pull-offs next to some locks adjacent to Route 31.

Some pike were caught on the south side of Widewaters, where the weeds are thick. You can also catch some crappies suspended from the bottom.

The largemouth bass are on the south side of Widewaters and under the Port Gibson Bridge where the canal narrows.

Bait for fishing is available on the south end of Sodus at Davenports and Bay Bridge Sport Shop. On Port Bay Jarvis Bait Farm is open on Brown Road. The signs are on East Port Bay Road at the junction of Brown Road. Toadz Bait is near the end of West Port Bay.

Additional Information

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Anyone underway in a boat less than 21 ft in length anytime between November 1^st and May 1^st must wear a securely fastened life jacket.  

2026 Youth Derby

Wayne County NY Youth Fishing Derby

2026 LOC Derby

Home Page (loc.org)

2026 Sodus Pro-Am

Home

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Fishing in Wayne County

Blind Sodus Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

East Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Port Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Sodus Bay – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

New York Angler Achievement Awards Program

New York Angler Achievement Awards Program – NYDEC

Boat Launch Sites in Wayne County

Boat Launch Sites for Wayne County – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Scam Alert for Fishing Licenses Online

It has come to our attention that fraudulent websites claiming to sell NYS Freshwater Fishing Licenses are scamming users into providing personal information. While we work to resolve this issue, please be advised that the ONLY legitimate method to purchase your NYS fishing license online is through the official DECALS website.

You can purchase them locally in Wayne County at our town offices, Bay Bridge Sport Shop, Davenport & Son Marina, & Walmart.

Notable Freshwater Fishing Regulation Changes

The following list offers a brief summary of the most notable fishing regulation changes resulting from the adopted rulemakings described above. 

• New statewide regulation for rainbow trout, brown trout, and splake in lakes and ponds. The season will now be open year-round, with a five-fish daily limit, any size, with a “no more than two longer than 12 inches” harvest rule.
• Statewide Atlantic salmon regulations will now allow for a year-round open season.
• Ice fishing is permitted on all waters in New York unless specifically prohibited with the exception of Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties where previous rules remain.
• New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include:
  • May 1 – Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel, and Tiger Muskellunge. June 1 – Muskellunge. (Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips); and
    • June 15 – Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
• A five-fish daily walleye limit in Oneida Lake.
• A new regulation to limit the growth of the walleye population in Skaneateles Lake. No daily possession limit; 12-inch minimum size limit, open year-round.
• The statewide sunfish daily harvest limit has been reduced from 50 to 25 fish.
• The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to ten inches.

Please note: The information in this report was developed as a marketing tool and is meant to provide an overview of the current opportunities in Wayne County, New York. Wayne County Tourism does not specifically endorse any fishing guide, charter, outfitter, location or other partner. Nor does Wayne County accept any liability for trips to the area based on the contents of this report. Users should always refer to the New York State DEC to confirm specific fishing regulations.