Port 10 of 11 · Jefferson County, NY · Lake America (Lake Ontario)
Henderson Harbor fishing charters
Book 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. Most of the fishing here is on that structure. The smallmouth bass fishing is as good as anywhere in the Great Lakes.
The water
What Henderson is good for
Most people come for smallmouth in summer. The rocky shoals and drop-offs around Association Island, Stony Point and Galloo Island hold a lot of fish, and many of them are big. Anglers catch them on tube jigs, drop-shots and live bait in 15 to 40 feet of water.
Captains also fish for walleye and northern pike, and there's ice fishing once the sheltered water freezes. A salmon fleet runs out of the same harbor to the deep water offshore, so you can fish for bass and salmon from one port.
Henderson is the best port for anglers who want to cast and hook their own fish instead of waiting for a rigger to pop.
Henderson Harbor 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.
Smallmouth structure
From June through September, anglers fish tube jigs, drop-shots and live bait on rocky shoals and drop-offs in 15–40 FOW.
Walleye and pike
Captains troll and jig the weed edges, bays and points. Pike stay in the sheltered water most of the year.
Offshore salmon
Boats from the same harbor run riggers and divers in deep water for Chinook and lake trout.
What you'll catch
Species that hold at Henderson, and the months they're at their best.
| Illustration | Species | Notes | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | King · to 35 lb | Jul, Aug, Sep | |
| Lake Trout | Deep · to 25 lb | May, Jun, Jul | |
| Smallmouth Bass | Eastern basin | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | |
| Walleye | Bays & rivers | Jun, Jul | |
| Northern Pike | Weed edges & bays | Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov | |
| Yellow Perch | Schooling · bays | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec |
The seasons guide covers every species for all twelve months.
Captains & guides in Henderson Harbor
We check each charter's license before we list it here.
We're adding captains out of Henderson Harbor now
Send one trip request and we'll put you in touch with a licensed captain who fishes Henderson Harbor, usually within a day. No fee, no obligation.
Request a tripRun a charter out of Henderson Harbor?
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 Henderson
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 Henderson 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 Henderson 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 Henderson, and the dates worth planning around.
Common questions
What people ask before they book Henderson.
Is the smallmouth fishing really that good?
Yes. The shoals and islands across the eastern basin hold a lot of smallmouth, and they run bigger than average. It's one of the best smallmouth fisheries in North America.
When does bass season open?
New York's statewide bass season opens the third Saturday in June. Current rules allow catch-and-release fishing before that. Check the NYSDEC rules before you book, because they change.
Can I fish for salmon here too?
Yes. A salmon fleet fishes deep water out of this harbor. Many groups book a bass day and a salmon day back to back.
Is Henderson Harbor on Lake Ontario?
Yes. Henderson Harbor 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 Henderson Harbor
We send your request to captains who fish this port and have open dates when you want to go.