Croton River fishing

Croton River fishing is stocked with Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout on a river section. Also recorded: Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Brown Bullhead, Carp, Alewife, and Blueback Herring. It is stocked about 2.6 times a year since 2011, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Striped Bass, and Largemouth Bass, and dusk and night for Brown Bullhead.

Croton River
Photo: PointsofNoReturn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Last stocked
March 2025
Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
39
Since 2011
Species stocked
2 (+6 also recorded)
Average size
10.2 in
Elevation
-1 ft

Fish at Croton River

2 stocked · 6 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 20 plants · last March 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked March 2025 · avg 9.4 in · 20 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 19 plants · last March 2020 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked March 2020 · avg 11.1 in · 19 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide

How Croton River is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Minisceongo Creek (5.5 mi), Pocantico River (6.4 mi), Peekskill Hollow Creek (8.7 mi), and Kensico Reservoir (8.9 mi) were stocked more recently. Minisceongo Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, Pocantico River is also stocked with Brown Trout, Peekskill Hollow Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, and Kensico Reservoir is also stocked with Brown Trout.

Fish stocked in 2011

1,170

Fish stocked in 2012

1,180

Fish stocked in 2013

1,150

Fish stocked in 2014

990

Fish stocked in 2015

1,170

Fish stocked in 2016

1,170

Fish stocked in 2017

1,170

Fish stocked in 2018

1,050

Fish stocked in 2019

1,180

Fish stocked in 2020

780

Fish stocked in 2021

1,100

Fish stocked in 2022

1,100

Fish stocked in 2023

1,100

Fish stocked in 2024

1,100

Fish stocked in 2025

1,150

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
March 2025Rainbow Trout1,0408.9 inreport
March 2025Rainbow Trout11011.5 inreport
March 2024Rainbow Trout9909.1 inreport
March 2024Rainbow Trout11011 inreport
March 2023Rainbow Trout11011.3 inreport
March 2023Rainbow Trout9909.4 inreport
March 2022Rainbow Trout11011.5 inreport
March 2022Rainbow Trout9909 inreport
March 2021Rainbow Trout1109.2 inreport
March 2021Rainbow Trout9909.2 inreport
March 2020Rainbow Trout6808.6 inreport
March 2020Brown Trout10012.8 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout1808.7 inreport
March 2019Rainbow Trout9009 inreport
March 2019Brown Trout10013.3 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout1709.2 inreport
March 2018Rainbow Trout7809 inreport
March 2018Brown Trout10012.8 inreport
April 2017Rainbow Trout9009.1 inreport
April 2017Brown Trout10013.2 inreport
April 2017Brown Trout1708.8 inreport
April 2016Brown Trout1709 inreport
March 2016Rainbow Trout9009 inreport
March 2016Brown Trout10013.5 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout1708.3 inreport
March 2015Rainbow Trout9008.9 inreport
March 2015Brown Trout10013.5 inreport
April 2014Brown Trout1808.6 inreport
March 2014Rainbow Trout7108.9 inreport
March 2014Brown Trout10013.5 inreport
April 2013Brown Trout1508.4 inreport
March 2013Rainbow Trout9009 inreport
March 2013Brown Trout10013 inreport
April 2012Brown Trout1808.5 inreport
March 2012Rainbow Trout9009 inreport
March 2012Brown Trout10013.2 inreport
April 2011Brown Trout1708.6 inreport
March 2011Rainbow Trout9008.1 inreport
March 2011Brown Trout10013.4 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Croton-on-Hudson

The pin is the mouth at Croton-on-Hudson. DEC stocks the first mile below New Croton Dam, where Westchester County's Croton Gorge Park (Route 129) is a popular fishing spot. The tidal lower mile and Croton Bay are a known striped bass hot spot.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before you go.

About Croton River

Photo of Croton River
PointsofNoReturn, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Minisceongo Creek 5.5 mi last stocked April 2025 Cedar Pond Brook 5.7 mi last stocked March 2020 Pocantico River 6.4 mi last stocked April 2025 Peekskill Hollow Creek 8.7 mi last stocked September 2025 Kensico Reservoir 8.9 mi last stocked April 2025

Public land at Croton River

Croton River is 0.6 miles outside the edge of Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Croton River?

Fishing Croton River usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 20 of 39 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked March 2025, averaging 9.4 in. Brown Trout was last stocked March 2020, averaging 11.1 in. Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Brown Bullhead, and Carp, plus 2 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Croton River stocked?

Last stocked March 2025. It is stocked about 2.6 times a year since 2011, most often in March and April.

How big are the fish stocked at Croton River?

Stocked fish average 10.2 in. Rainbow Trout average 9.4 in. Brown Trout average 11.1 in.

How do you get on Croton River?

The nearest town is Croton-on-Hudson. The pin is the mouth at Croton-on-Hudson. DEC stocks the first mile below New Croton Dam, where Westchester County's Croton Gorge Park (Route 129) is a popular fishing spot. The tidal lower mile and Croton Bay are a known striped bass hot spot.

Which lakes near Croton River were stocked more recently?

Minisceongo Creek (5.5 mi), Pocantico River (6.4 mi), Peekskill Hollow Creek (8.7 mi), and Kensico Reservoir (8.9 mi) were stocked more recently. Minisceongo Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, Pocantico River is also stocked with Brown Trout, Peekskill Hollow Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, and Kensico Reservoir is also stocked with Brown Trout.

Sources (7) +