Monroe County · facts last verified October 5, 2026 · conditions updated Nov 4, 4:14pm ET

Rochester fishing report

Sourced guide to Rochester, NY on Lake America (Lake Ontario): launches, current NY DEC regulations, stocking and seasonal pattern, each linked to its source.

Live conditions

Readings come from the NOAA stations and buoys shown, which are not necessarily near Rochester. Use them as lake-wide context.

Marine forecast — Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay

All tributary flows →

Overview

• The NWS nearshore marine forecast zone is LOZ043; the NWS text title is "Hamlin Beach to Sodus Bay along Lake Ontario including Irondequoit Bay". [api.weather.gov]
• NDBC buoy 45012 is located at 43°37.2' N, 77°24.1' W. [ndbc.noaa.gov]
• USGS gauge 04231600 is "GENESEE RIVER AT FORD STREET BRIDGE, ROCHESTER NY"; Irondequoit Creek above Blossom Rd near Rochester is gauge 0423205010. [waterdata.usgs.gov]

Launches and access

• Port of Rochester Marina public launch on the Genesee River at Lake Ontario: hard surface, municipal, parking listed by DEC as "40 cars and trailers" (43.254159 N, 77.609155 W). [dec.ny.gov]
• City of Rochester: "A four-lane public boat launch with minimal launching fee is available adjacent to the marina." [cityofrochester.gov]
• Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park (OPRHP): hard-surface launch, parking listed by DEC as "28 cars and trailers". NY State Parks: "Boat Launch: Opens Year Round, Docks available 4/1 - 10/15"; "Boat Launch Fees $6". [parks.ny.gov]

Current regulations (quoted from NY DEC)

• DEC seasons and limits for Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and tributaries: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead), Coho Salmon and Chinook Salmon are open "All year", minimum length 15", "except for Rainbow Trout or Steelhead: 21" in the lake and 25" in tributaries". Daily limit: "3 in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries". [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC exception: "9" and 3 fish daily for Brown Trout in Irondequoit Creek upstream of the south side of Rte. 286 bridges; Lindsey Creek, and the Black River from Dexter Dam to Mill Street Dam (Jefferson County)". [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC tributary seasonal regulations: "Seasonal fishing regulations apply September 1 - March 31". "Fishing from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise is prohibited" (the Black River in Jefferson County from Lake Ontario upstream to the Rte. 180 bridge in Dexter is excepted). "Only one hook with a single hook point is permitted". [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC lists the Genesee River seasonal-regulation section as "From the State Rte. 104 bridge upstream to the Lower Falls". [dec.ny.gov]
• DEC: "Buck Pond, Cranberry Pond, Irondequoit Bay, Long Pond, Round Pond, Sodus Bay: Exempt from seasonal fishing regulations. Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply." [dec.ny.gov]

Seasonal pattern

• DEC Region 9 hotline, October 2 to October 9, 2026: "Anglers at the piers at Olcott, Oak Orchard and Genesee River reported a good mix of king salmon and brown trout, with the odd lake trout catch." [dec.ny.gov]

Stocking

• 2022-2026 stocking strategy annual targets: Genesee River Chinook 111,400 and steelhead 35,000; Irondequoit Creek steelhead 25,500; brown trout at Rochester 23,300 and Irondequoit 23,300. [extapps.dec.ny.gov]
• DEC 2023 annual report: Chinook fingerlings, Genesee River 126,330 on 2023-05-01; walleye, Irondequoit Bay 12,400 on 2023-06-13. [dec.ny.gov]

Local charters and businesses

No businesses are listed for Rochester yet. See the charter directory →

Sources

Every statement on this page comes from one of these primary sources. Last verified October 5, 2026. Regulations change: confirm on the linked DEC page before you fish.

• https://api.weather.gov/zones/forecast/LOZ043 (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/latest_obs/45012.txt (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/04231600/ (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/boating/launch-sites/monroe-county (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://www.cityofrochester.gov/locations/marina-port-rochester (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://parks.ny.gov/parks/irondequoitbay/details.aspx (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/regulations/great-lakes-tributaries (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/erie-western-new-york-hotline (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/lostockingstrategy.pdf (verified 2026-10-05)
• https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-02/lakeontarioannualreport.pdf (verified 2026-10-05)

Other ports on Lake America

• All ports
• Wilson
• Olcott
• Point Breeze
• Sodus Bay
• Fair Haven
• Oswego
• Mexico Bay
• Henderson Harbor
• Cape Vincent
• Chaumont
• Niagara Bar

Species

• King Salmon
• Brown Trout
• Steelhead
• Lake Trout
• Coho Salmon
• Walleye
• Smallmouth Bass