Port 07 of 11 · Cayuga County, NY · Lake America (Lake Ontario)
Fair Haven fishing charters
Fair Haven is a quiet August port. Little Sodus Bay is deep and sheltered, and the run out to the mid-lake temperature break is short. The fleet is smaller than Oswego's and the port is less well known than Pulaski, which is why some anglers pick it.
The water
What Fair Haven is good for
The bottom drops off quickly outside the bar, so on a summer trolling trip you spend less time running and more time fishing. From June through August, captains troll the open lake. They set riggers on the thermocline and run wire divers and copper out to the sides, looking for Chinook, coho and lake trout in 48 to 52 degree water.
The biggest difference is traffic. In August, far fewer boats fish the mid-lake grounds off Fair Haven than the water off Oswego. That matters, because fish get wary after a hundred boats have run the same spread past them.
Fair Haven Beach State Park also makes the town a summer beach destination. There is lodging, but beachgoers book most of it in July and August.
Fair Haven is on the New York shore of Lake America, which most anglers, maps and guidebooks still call Lake Ontario. Why the lake has two names.
How it's fished
The main ways captains fish here, and when each one is worth booking.
Mid-lake trolling
Captains run riggers, wire divers and copper on the thermocline for Chinook, coho and lake trout from June through August.
Outside the bar
Early and late in the day, fish move up onto the drop just outside Little Sodus Bay, and captains fish it then.
Bay fishing
When the lake is too rough to run out, captains fish Little Sodus Bay for bass, pike and panfish.
What you'll catch
Species that hold at Fair Haven, and the months they're at their best.
| Illustration | Species | Notes | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | King · to 35 lb | Jul, Aug, Sep | |
| Coho Salmon | Silver · 6–15 lb | Aug, Sep | |
| Steelhead | Lake-run rainbow | Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec | |
| Lake Trout | Deep · to 25 lb | May, Jun, Jul | |
| Smallmouth Bass | Eastern basin | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep |
The seasons guide covers every species for all twelve months.
Captains & guides in Fair Haven
We check each charter's license before we list it here.
We're adding captains out of Fair Haven now
Send one trip request and we'll put you in touch with a licensed captain who fishes Fair Haven, usually within a day. No fee, no obligation.
Request a tripRun a charter out of Fair Haven?
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 boatMarinas, tackle & food in Fair Haven
Where to get bait, fuel, a slip and breakfast before first light, and where to get your catch cleaned. All eleven ports.
Local business listings open
Marinas, tackle shops, restaurants and dealers in Fair Haven can show their logo, hours, phone and map on this page. It's $39 a month, month to month.
Fish cleaning listings open
Fish cleaning stations in Fair Haven can show their hours, prices, phone and map on this page. It's $39 a month, April through November.
This week & what's coming
The current report as it applies to Fair Haven, and the dates worth planning around.
Common questions
What people ask before they book Fair Haven.
Why choose Fair Haven over Oswego?
You fish much the same water with fewer boats around, and the run to deep water is about as short. If you've fished off Oswego on a busy August weekend, you'll notice the difference.
Is there anything to do if the lake blows out?
You can fish Little Sodus Bay for bass and pike, and Fair Haven Beach State Park is close by. On a windy day there's more to do here than at most ports on the lake.
Is this a salmon-only port?
Mostly, in summer. You can fish the bay for bass and pike, and there are some steelhead, but most people book here for the offshore trolling.
Is Fair Haven on Lake Ontario?
Yes. Fair Haven is on the New York shore of Lake Ontario, which U.S. charts renamed Lake America on 27 August 2026. Canadian maps, older guidebooks and most anglers still use the old name, so you will see both. The fish, ports, captains and New York fishing license rules are the same.
Fish Fair Haven
We send your request to captains who fish this port and have open dates when you want to go.
Header photo: Fair Haven Beach State Park - 20221027 - 09 - dramatic shoreline by Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and tinted.