Oswego County, NY · Great Lakes
Selkirk Shores State Park
A Lake Ontario state park at the mouth of the Salmon River near Pulaski — ground zero for one of the most famous salmon and steelhead runs in the East. Fall brings huge chinook and coho staging off the rivermouth; spring and winter bring steelhead and brown trout, with smallmouth bass and walleye along the shoreline through summer.
Live · updated
Top pick today
Smallmouth Bass — Great day to fish for Smallmouth Bass.
Best conditions of 7 species tracked at Selkirk Shores State Park.
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Species at Selkirk Shores State Park
7 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top pick is open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Smallmouth Bass Great day to fish for Smallmouth Bass. In season 74/100
What's helping
- 73°F water — inside smallmouth bass's active range
- 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Micropterus dolomieu — Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.
Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 3–30 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 12"
- Daily creel
- 5
Lake Ontario: 5 black bass/day, 12" minimum (third Saturday in June through Nov 30; catch-and-release at other times).
Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#2 Walleye Marginal conditions for Walleye. In season 46/100
What's helping
- Dark moon — walleye feeds aggressively in low light
- 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 73°F water — above walleye's active range (50–72°f) — fish move deep
About. Sander vitreus — Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish. Deep Creek Lake is the flagship fishery; also found in the non-tidal Potomac and the Youghiogheny River. Low-light feeder — dusk, dawn, and overcast/windy days are prime. Jigs, crankbaits, and nightcrawler harnesses are standard.
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 15"
- Daily creel
- 5
Lake Ontario: 5 walleye/day, 15" minimum.
Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#3 Chinook Salmon Marginal conditions for Chinook Salmon. In season 38/100
What's helping
- 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 73°F water — above chinook salmon's active range (42–58°f) — fish move deep
About. Oncorhynchus tshawytscha — The “king” — the largest Pacific salmon and the marquee stocked predator of the Great Lakes. Trolled over open water through summer, then staged off river mouths and run up tributaries on the fall spawning push. Flow and water temperature drive the river bite.
Prefers. Water 42–58°F (ideal 50°F) · either tide · depth 15–150 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 15"
- Daily creel
- 3
Lake Ontario and its tributaries: 3 trout & salmon per day in combination (brown/rainbow-steelhead/coho/chinook/lake trout), with no more than 1 lake trout. Tributary and seasonal rules vary — confirm the water.
Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#3 Coho Salmon Marginal conditions for Coho Salmon. In season 38/100
What's helping
- 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 73°F water — above coho salmon's active range (44–58°f) — fish move deep
About. Oncorhynchus kisutch — “Silvers” — acrobatic, aggressive salmon that school near the surface and along piers in summer before their fall tributary run. A staple of the Great Lakes stocking program and the Pacific coast alike.
Prefers. Water 44–58°F (ideal 53°F) · either tide · depth 10–120 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 15"
- Daily creel
- 3
Lake Ontario and its tributaries: 3 trout & salmon per day in combination (brown/rainbow-steelhead/coho/chinook/lake trout), with no more than 1 lake trout. Tributary and seasonal rules vary — confirm the water.
Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#3 Steelhead Marginal conditions for Steelhead. In season 38/100
What's helping
- 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 73°F water — above steelhead's active range (40–55°f) — fish move deep
About. Oncorhynchus mykiss — Lake- or sea-run rainbow trout — chrome-bright fighters that ascend tributaries from fall through spring. The Great Lakes tributary steelhead run (Lake Erie’s “steelhead alley,” Lake Ontario, Michigan rivers) is a destination fishery; bite keys on flow and water clarity.
Prefers. Water 40–55°F (ideal 48°F) · either tide · depth 2–60 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 21"
- Daily creel
- 3
Lake Ontario and its tributaries: 3 trout & salmon per day in combination (brown/rainbow-steelhead/coho/chinook/lake trout), with no more than 1 lake trout. Tributary and seasonal rules vary — confirm the water.
Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#3 Brown Trout Marginal conditions for Brown Trout. In season 38/100
What's helping
- 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 73°F water — above brown trout's active range (45–68°f) — fish move deep
About. Salmo trutta — Naturally reproduces in the Gunpowder River tailwater (Loch Raven below Prettyboy) and several Western MD streams; also heavily stocked. Typically more wary than rainbows. Classic mayfly hatches on the Gunpowder — sulphurs, BWOs, caddis. Streamer-eaters after dark.
Prefers. Water 45–68°F (ideal 55°F) · either tide · depth 3–25 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Min size
- 15"
- Daily creel
- 3
Lake Ontario and its tributaries: 3 trout & salmon per day in combination (brown/rainbow-steelhead/coho/chinook/lake trout), with no more than 1 lake trout. Tributary and seasonal rules vary — confirm the water.
Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#7 Yellow Perch Skip the Yellow Perch trip today. In season 32/100
What's helping
- 7 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 73°F water — above yellow perch's active range (45–70°f) — fish move deep
- incoming tide — yellow perch prefers slack tide
About. Perca flavescens — Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.
Prefers. Water 45–70°F (ideal 58°F) · slack tide · depth 5–30 ft.
Last verified 39 days ago on 2026-06-03. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 50
Lake Ontario: 50 yellow perch/day, no minimum size.
Source: New York regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
Location Info
Water Body
Great Lakes
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
New York
Coordinates
Notes
Lake Ontario / Salmon River: 3 trout & salmon per day in combination. The world-famous Salmon River drift fishery is minutes away at Pulaski.
Local reports & rules for Selkirk Shores State Park: New York DEC fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Selkirk Shores State Park?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Selkirk Shores State Park you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Selkirk Shores State Park?
Selkirk Shores State Park is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, and 3 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Selkirk Shores State Park?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Selkirk Shores State Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Selkirk Shores State Park have?
Selkirk Shores State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Lake Ontario / Salmon River: 3 trout & salmon per day in combination. The world-famous Salmon River drift fishery is minutes away at Pulaski.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Selkirk Shores State Park?
state agency regulations apply at Selkirk Shores State Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Selkirk Shores State Park tidal water?
Yes. Selkirk Shores State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.