🎣 8 curated fishing spots
🗺️ Interactive map
📍 Community places
New York City sits directly in the path of the Atlantic striped bass migration, and the harbor's piers, bays, and beaches — from Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay to the Rockaway peninsula — turn into some of the busiest striper fishing in the country each spring and fall, all reachable by subway.
Anyone fishing saltwater in New York, including the tidal Hudson for striped bass, needs to enrol in the state's free Recreational Marine Fishing Registry — no paid licence is required. Striped bass have strict slot limits that differ between the Hudson River and marine waters, and only non-offset circle hooks are allowed when using natural bait.
Fishing Spots
The 8 best fishing spots in New York City
All spots are curated and mapped — click any card for the full story, or open the map to explore.
New York City #1
American Veterans Memorial Pier, Bay Ridge
A public pier in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, jutting into the Narrows with the Verrazzano bridge and Manhattan skylin…
Read more →
New York City #2
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn
A sheltered tidal bay in south Brooklyn, historically the launch point for the city's party-boat fleet and sti…
Read more →
New York City #3
Pier 84, Hudson River Park
A public pier at West 44th Street in Manhattan, built for exactly this kind of city fishing, with the Hudson's…
Read more →
New York City #4
Jamaica Bay, Rockaway
A broad tidal estuary behind the Rockaway peninsula, with miles of shoreline and piers giving easy shore acces…
Read more →
New York City #5
Raptor Point
A shoreline fishing spot at Floyd Bennett Field within Gateway National Recreation Area's Jamaica Bay Unit; an…
Read more →
New York City #6
16th Street Park Dock
A boat launch and waterfront walkway at 16th Street Park (G. Thomas DiDomenico Park) in Bayonne, NJ, on Newark…
Read more →
New York City #7
Duck Pond
A well-stocked freshwater pond in Hudson County, NJ, popular with anglers for channel catfish, largemouth bass…
Read more →
New York City #8
Public Dock
A fishing dock on Overpeck Creek at Overpeck County Park in Bergen County, NJ, where anglers fish for largemou…
Read more →
Practical Info
Planning your visit
Best timeSpring (April–June) and fall (September–November) for the striped bass runs through the harbor; summer is best for fluke in the bays.
Getting thereJFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports connect to most of the world. Every spot listed here is reachable by subway, bus, or the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about New York City
Do you need a licence to fish in New York City?
No paid licence, but a free Recreational Marine Fishing Registry sign-up is required for anyone 16 or older fishing saltwater or the tidal Hudson for striped bass.
What fish can you catch in New York City?
Striped bass are the headline run each spring and fall, fluke (summer flounder) fill the summer months in the bays, and bluefish and winter flounder round out the catch depending on the season.
Where are the best fishing spots in New York City?
The American Veterans Memorial Pier in Bay Ridge for the striper run, Sheepshead Bay for summer fluke, and Pier 84 in Hudson River Park for a central Manhattan session. See the full list of spots below or open the map to explore.
Can you fish in New York City without a boat?
Yes — every spot listed here is a pier, bay shoreline, or beach, all fished without a boat.
When is the best time to fish in New York City?
Spring and fall for the striped bass runs through the harbor, and summer for fluke in the bays.
Explore New York City on the map
See all 8 fishing spots pinned on an interactive map — and add your own discoveries.
Roadmap
More features coming
🌤️Weather & Bite Alerts
Coming soon
📖Species Guides
Coming soon