The Salmon of New York
New York State’s Salmon ( Niagara County) are some of the largest and most eagerly sought game fish found in northeastern freshwater’s. Images of silvery leaping fish and singing reels quickly yielding line often come to mind when anglers recall, or anticipate, encounters with these fish. A diverse group of fish, Salmon are found in a variety of settings ranging from the vastness of Lake Ontario to it’s many tributaries, including the Upper and Lower Niagara River. Salmon Fishing with 1st Choice Charters can you give you access to all of these great Salmon fishing opportunities. Don’t forget Fall Salmon Fishing Lower Niagara River Lewiston New York.
New York State’s Salmon can be separated into two groups: the native Atlantic Salmon and the introduced Pacific Salmon. While the two groups are difficult to tell apart, a look at the anal (bottom rear) fin can help. Atlantic Salmon have 12 or less fin rays in their anal fin, whereas the Pacific Salmon have 13 or more. The shape of the anal fin also distinguishes Atlantic Salmon from Pacific Salmon. In New York State, there is only one species of Atlantic Salmon (Atlantic), but four species of Pacific Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Pink and Kokanee). 1st Choice Fishing Charter’s boat record is 32 pounds.
Atlantic Salmon
The Atlantic Salmon is one of the most highly regarded sport fish in North America and Europe. Known to many as “the leaper,” Atlantics are noted for their spectacular fighting ability, which usually includes several jumps completely out of the water after being hooked by a lucky angler. In New York State, Atlantic Salmon spend their entire lives in freshwater and are usually called landlocked salmon.
King Salmon
Also called Chinook Salmon, King Salmon are the largest of the Pacific salmon. While specimens exceeding 100 pounds have been taken on the Pacific coast, New York State’s record fish is a 47 pounder caught in Lake Ontario. Chinook Salmon have a limited distribution in New York State and are only found in lakes Erie and Ontario. Non-natives of New York State, Chinooks were first stocked into the Great Lakes in 1873.
Although they were sporadically stocked throughout the years, it was not until about 20 years ago that they became abundant. At that time, New York State aggressively stocked Chinooks into lakes Erie and Ontario to provide a sport fishery. Using the then tremendous population of alewives as a food source, Chinooks thrived and produced a spectacular sport fishery. Since there is not enough suitable spawning and nursery area to naturally produce enough fish, most of the salmon caught in New York State’s Great Lakes are hatchery-reared and stocked as fingerlings. The results have been spectacular for the last 40 years.
We also offer Lake Ontario Salmon FIshing