The state of New York includes many of the Mid Atlantic region’s most iconic saltwater fishing areas including Long Island Sound, South Shore, Montauk Point, The Race, Block Island Sound, Hudson River, Staten Island, Raritan Bay, and others.
Long Island provides access for inshore activities as well as access to the open Atlantic Ocean. At the island’s eastern tip is Montauk Point, home to the state’s largest commercial and recreational fishing fleet.
Water exiting Long Island Sound via the East River merges with the Hudson River to form Upper New York Bay before flowing thru the Narrows between Staten Island and Brooklyn on its way to Lower Bay. Lower New York Bay merges with the Atlantic Ocean between Long Island and Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
Emptying into the bays and sounds of New York are numerous rivers, creeks, and small tributaries which provide important habitat for American shad, hickory shad, river herring, striped bass, white perch, American eels, Atlantic sturgeon, and other species.
The variety of saltwater fish found in New York’s inshore waters is quite extensive. Popular species include striped bass, weakfish, fluke, winter flounder, bluefish, cod, haddock, pollock, hake, whiting, scup (porgy), tautog (blackfish), croaker, spot, sharks, bonito, and others.
Farther offshore, anglers encounter tuna, dolphin fish, wahoo, blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish, swordfish, and pelagic sharks.
Related Information
Montauk New York Saltwater Fishing