Fishing charters at all eleven New York ports on Lake Ontario, now Lake America
U.S. charts renamed the lake Lake America on 27 August 2026. It's a day's drive from New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto, and it has thirty-pound Chinook, winter steelhead and big smallmouth bass. Tell us what you want to catch and we'll put you in touch with a licensed captain who fishes that water every week.
Biting now · Sep
The best two weeks of the yearTwenty-pound-plus Chinook are stacked off the Salmon River and Oswego in 60–120 feet, and the first fish are already in the lower river. Troll the lake in the morning and fish the river from a drift boat in the afternoon.
Not sure where to go?
Type what you want to catch and when, in plain English. We'll show you the ports that fish best for it and tell you why.
Pick your port
Each end of the lake fishes differently. The west end is best for brown trout in spring. The east end has salmon, smallmouth bass and ice fishing. Pick the port where your fish are.
Niagara Bar & Lewiston
Niagara CountyThe only port on the lake that fishes well in February. The Lower Niagara River doesn't freeze, so the fishing keeps going all winter.
Peak Mar-May, Oct-Dec 02 · WEST → EASTWilson
Niagara CountyWilson Harbor sits at the mouth of Twelvemile Creek behind a breakwall. The bottom drops off fast, so you can have lines in the water about fifteen minutes after you leave the dock.
Peak Apr-Jun, Jul-Aug 03 · WEST → EASTOlcott
Niagara CountyOlcott is western New York's top port for April brown trout. Every spring Eighteenmile Creek carries warm, stained water out over the cold shallows, and brown trout feed along the edge of it.
Peak Apr-Jun 04 · WEST → EASTPoint Breeze / Oak Orchard
Orleans CountyPoint Breeze sits at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, one of the best tributaries on the U.S. shore. Boats troll the lake in spring, and anglers wade the creek in fall.
Peak Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct 05 · WEST → EASTRochester
Monroe CountyRochester has brown trout near shore, salmon in deep water and bass in the bays, all within twenty minutes of downtown. You can leave a city hotel and be fishing in fifteen minutes, and water over three hundred feet deep is a short run out.
Peak Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep 06 · WEST → EASTSodus Bay
Wayne CountySodus Bay is large and sheltered, with a narrow inlet to the main lake. You can fish for king salmon on the lake in the morning and bass in the bay after lunch.
Peak Jun-Aug 07 · WEST → EASTFair Haven
Cayuga CountyFair Haven is a quiet August port with fewer boats than Oswego. Little Sodus Bay is deep and sheltered, and the run out to the mid-lake temperature break is short.
Peak Jun-Aug 08 · WEST → EASTOswego
Oswego CountyThe biggest fish of the year come out of Oswego. It's a working harbor at the mouth of the Oswego River, with deep water close by and the most charter boats on the east end of the lake.
Peak Jun-Sep 09 · WEST → EASTPulaski & Mexico Bay
Oswego CountyThe Salmon River at Pulaski has the best-known salmon run in the eastern United States. For many anglers, it's the reason they know the lake at all.
Peak Aug-Nov, Nov-Apr 10 · WEST → EASTHenderson Harbor
Jefferson CountyBook Henderson Harbor if you want to catch a lot of fish. At the east end the lake breaks up into islands, shoals, points and weed edges, and the harbor sits in the middle of them.
Peak Jun-Sep 11 · WEST → EASTCape Vincent & Chaumont
Jefferson CountyCape Vincent sits at the far east end, where the lake narrows among islands and flows into the St. Lawrence River.
Peak Jun-Sep, Jan-FebWhen to come
The chart shows the best months for each of ten species. The darkest cells are the months worth taking time off for.
Full seasons guide| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook SalmonKing · to 35 lb | ||||||||||||
| Coho SalmonSilver · 6–15 lb | ||||||||||||
| SteelheadLake-run rainbow | ||||||||||||
| Brown TroutNearshore · to 20 lb | ||||||||||||
| Lake TroutDeep · to 25 lb | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic SalmonRestoration fishery | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth BassEastern basin | ||||||||||||
| WalleyeBays & rivers | ||||||||||||
| Northern PikeWeed edges & bays | ||||||||||||
| Yellow PerchSchooling · bays |
We're adding captains now
Send one trip request and we'll put you in touch with a licensed captain who fishes the port you pick, usually within a day. There's no fee and no obligation.
Request a tripRun a charter?
Show your boat, photos and booking link to anglers planning a trip here. Pay monthly, or pay only for the leads we send you.
List your boat
Where to stay
Lodging fills up first
Pulaski lodging fills a year ahead for the October run, and prices go up sharply. On the west end in spring you can book two weeks out. The stay page has booking lead times, lodging searches for each port and questions to ask before you reserve.
Where to stayThis week on the water
We update the report every Thursday in season, and each item lists its source and date.
Read the full reportCommon questions about Lake Ontario and Lake America
Short answers to what people ask before they book.
Is Lake America the same as Lake Ontario?
Yes. U.S. charts renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America on 27 August 2026. It is the same lake, with the same fish, ports and captains. Canadian maps, older guidebooks and most anglers still say Lake Ontario, and this site uses both names.
Where are the best Lake Ontario fishing charter ports in New York?
There are eleven ports on the New York shore. From west to east: Niagara Bar & Lewiston, Wilson, Olcott, Point Breeze / Oak Orchard, Rochester, Sodus Bay, Fair Haven, Oswego, Pulaski & Mexico Bay, Henderson Harbor, and Cape Vincent & Chaumont. Oswego and Pulaski are the top salmon ports in late summer and fall. Olcott and Wilson are best for brown trout in spring. Henderson Harbor and Cape Vincent are best for smallmouth bass.
How much does a Lake Ontario fishing charter cost?
Most charter boats on the New York side of Lake Ontario charge about $700 to $800 for a 5- to 6-hour trip and $900 to $1,000 for 8 hours (published 2025 and 2026 rates). That price is for the whole boat, not per person, and most boats take up to six anglers, the limit on a captain's six-pack (OUPV) license. Each captain sets their own rates, so ask when you request a trip. Everyone 16 and over also needs a New York fishing license.
When is the best time to fish Lake Ontario for salmon?
Offshore king salmon fishing runs from late June through August. Mature Chinook stage off Oswego and Mexico Bay from late July into September, and the Salmon River run at Pulaski peaks from mid-September to late October. Steelhead take over in the tributaries from November through April.
Do I need a fishing license on a Lake Ontario charter?
Yes. Everyone 16 and over needs a New York State fishing license, including on a charter boat. Captains don't sell licenses. Buy one from NYSDEC online at decals.east.licensing.app (the state's official site) or by calling 1-866-933-2257. Nonresidents pay $10 for 1 day, $28 for 7 days or $50 for the year.
How do I book a Lake Ontario fishing charter here?
Send one trip request with your port, dates, party size and target species. Licensed captains who fish that port reply directly with availability and pricing, and you book with them. There is no fee.
Does this site cover the Canadian side of Lake Ontario?
No. We cover the eleven U.S. ports on the New York shore, from the Niagara River east to Cape Vincent. We don't list ports in Ontario, Canada, such as Port Credit, Bronte and Cobourg.
Before you go
Get your New York fishing license
Everyone 16 and over needs one, on a charter boat, in the river or on shore. New York State (NYSDEC) sells them. It takes about five minutes online, and you can show the license on your phone. We don't sell licenses or add a fee. Your payment goes straight to the state.
Prefer to call or buy in person? 1-866-933-2257, or any license agent. Most tackle shops and many town offices sell them.
Which one do I need?
NYSDEC sets these prices. Check them again at checkout.
How this works
Your request goes to captains who fish your port
Tell us the port, the species and roughly when. We send your request to the licensed captains and guides who fish that water in that month.
They reply to you directly with dates, boat details and a price, and you book with them. We never handle your payment, and we never sell your details.
Don't know where to start? Say so in the notes. Tell us "first time, four of us, October, want something big" and we'll point you at the Salmon River and Oswego and explain why.