Charters, anglers enjoying “record breaking” sport fishing season on New York Great Lakes

 1 month ago by Chris Munchow 

Modified Aug 12th, 2024 at 6:34 PM

Anglers and charter boats on Lake Ontario are reporting a “record breaking” sport fishing season, including “exceptional” numbers of Chinook (King) Salmon.

In addition, anglers and charter boats on New York State waters of Lake Erie have been enjoying a “record-setting” walleye season.

These updates are according to the New York State DEC. “The New York State waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario provide world-famous recreational fisheries and fishing in 2024 has been exceptional,” said Interim DEC Commissioner, Sean Mahar.

In addition to the reported record setting Chinook Salmon fishing, anglers are also catching strong numbers of Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, and Atlantic Salmon.

“The 2024 Lake Ontario king salmon fishing has been incredible. The combination of the salmon stocking program, natural reproduction, and conducive weather patterns leading to a resurgence of the baitfish population has all come together to make this the best king salmon fishing on the planet at this time!” said Captain Tom Burke, of Oswego, NY.

The salmon and trout fishery in Lake Ontario is supported by a combination of stocking and naturally reproducing fish, and New York stocks Lake Ontario with approximately 2.7 million salmon and trout each year.

In addition to record-setting walleye fishing on Lake Erie, anglers are having success catching smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and tributary steelhead this year, the DEC says.

New York stocks nearly 200,000 steelhead into the Lake Erie tributaries each year; the yellow perch and smallmouth bass fisheries are supported entirely by natural reproduction.

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