Fishing on Long Island

Fishing on Long Island
A fishing charter boat on the water with passengers on board enjoying a day of fishing. The vessel is painted in blue and white, flying an American flag, and equipped with fishing rods and nets. The scene highlights the recreational fishing opportunities available on Long Island. File photo: James Kirkikis, licensed.

With two coasts and two seas – the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Long Island Sound to the north – plus the Peconic Estuary, inlets, bays, rivers, and stocked ponds, Long Island offers year-round fishing for surfcasters, boaters, and freshwater anglers alike.

What you can catch (high level)

  • Striped bass & bluefish (spring–late fall; classic surf targets)
  • Fluke (summer flounder), porgy (scup), black sea bass, weakfish (late spring–fall)
  • False albacore & bonito (late summer–fall runs, especially Montauk)
  • Tautog/blackfish (spring & strong fall bite on structure/reefs)
  • Sea robins & dogfish (common by-catch in summer)
  • Offshore (seasonal): tuna, mahi, sharks (special rules; many species release-only)
  • Freshwater: trout (stocked rivers/ponds), largemouth bass, pickerel, sunfish

Where to fish

Surf & jetties (public access):

  • Montauk Point State Park
  • Shinnecock Inlet
  • Cupsogue & Smith Point (Fire Island)
  • Robert Moses & Jones Beach (various fields)
  • Captree Island shoreline
  • Orient Point
  • Greenport area piers
  • Port Jefferson Harbor access points.

Piers/party boats/charters:

  • Captree State Park (dozens of boats)
  • Freeport’s Nautical Mile
  • Montauk Harbor
  • Shinnecock
  • Port Washington/Manhasset Bay
  • Port Jefferson.

Freshwater standouts:

  • Connetquot River (permit/reservation fly-fishing)
  • Carmans River
  • Belmont Lake/Argyle Lake
  • Massapequa Preserve
  • seasonal trout-stocked ponds across Nassau/Suffolk.

Licenses & regulations (read first)

  • Saltwater: Anglers 16+ must be on the NY Recreational Marine Fishing Registry (no-fee).
  • Freshwater: NYS fishing license required (age 16+).
  • Before keeping fish: Always check current NYSDEC seasons, size & bag limits (they change). Some species (many sharks, billfish, etc.) are prohibited to harvest or have strict rules.

Tip: Tide matters. On many beaches, two hours around a tide change (especially the flood) can be prime.

Safety & etiquette

  • Non-skid footwear on rocks
  • wader belt in surf
  • PFD on boats
  • give space on jetties
  • pack out trash
  • respect private property & posted shellfish closures.
Long Island Fishing Calendar — Typical Activity by Month Static chart showing common inshore species on Long Island and which months typically have prime or fair action. Not a regulations chart. Long Island Fishing Calendar Typical activity by month (● prime • ○ fair). Always check NYSDEC for current seasons, size & bag limits before keeping fish. Prime Fair Species Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Striped Basssurf/boat Bluefishsurf/boat Fluke (Summer Flounder)inlets/bays/ocean Porgy (Scup)LI Sound/reefs Black Sea Basswrecks/reefs Weakfishbays/channels Tautog (Blackfish)rock/structure False Albacore / Bonitolate-summer blitzes Winter Flounderselect bays Cod (Offshore)winter wrecks Typical windows vary by location (Sound vs. ocean, bays, inlets) and conditions. This is not a regulations chart — verify current NYSDEC seasons, size & bag limits before harvest. © LongIslandGuide.com — please credit and link back if you share.