Long Island NY Fishing Guide — Great South Bay, North Fork & Long Island Sound
Long Island offers some of the most diverse saltwater fishing on the East Coast — from the protected back bays of Great South Bay to the rocky shorelines of Long Island Sound to the offshore canyons reachable from Captree and Shinnecock. Stripers, fluke, sea bass, tautog, false albacore, and bluefin tuna are all on the menu within a single season. (For the eastern tip of Long Island, see our separate Montauk fishing guide.)
Why Long Island?
Long Island sits at a unique geographic crossroads — the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Long Island Sound to the north, Block Island Sound to the east, and the inlets of Fire Island, Jones, Moriches, and Shinnecock providing fast saltwater access. The fishery spans light-tackle fluke and sea bass in the bays, surf casting for stripers on barrier beaches, offshore canyon fishing for tuna, and a famous late-summer false albacore run.
Top Target Species
Striped Bass
The signature species. Great South Bay holds spring schoolies (April-May) and bigger fish in fall (October-November). The surf from Robert Moses through Fire Island produces blitzes during the fall run. Plum Gut and the rips of Block Island Sound hold trophy stripers year-round.
Fluke (Summer Flounder)
Great South Bay, Peconic Bay, and the south shore beaches in 30-80 feet produce excellent fluke from late May through September. Bucktail-and-Gulp combos, three-way rigs with strip baits.
Sea Bass
The inshore artificial reefs (Smithtown, Moriches, Shinnecock) and offshore wrecks of Block Island Sound hold black sea bass — particularly strong in fall on the deeper structure.
Tautog
The rocky shorelines, jetties, and offshore wrecks produce tautog (blackfish) — peak fall and spring. Green crab baits on light tackle around structure.
False Albacore — Late Summer Run
The Moriches and Shinnecock inlets and Plum Gut produce one of the great East Coast light-tackle fisheries — albies on epoxy jigs and metals from late August through October.
Offshore — Tuna, Mahi, Marlin
Hudson Canyon and Atlantis Canyon (90-110 miles offshore) hold yellowfin, bluefin, white marlin, and mahi in summer and fall. Long runs but world-class fishing.
Best Fishing Spots
Great South Bay
The historic Long Island bay fishery — protected by Fire Island, fed by the inlets. Stripers, fluke, blues, weakfish (recovering), and winter flounder.
Fire Island Inlet
The main outlet for Great South Bay — striper rips on outgoing tide, bluefish blitzes, and seasonal big game.
Long Island Sound (Western)
The North Shore from Western LI through Port Jefferson — rocky shorelines, striper rips, fluke, scup, and tautog. Eatons Neck and Sunken Meadow are productive shore-access spots.
Peconic Bay & The Forks
The Peconic system between the North and South Forks — striper, fluke, blues, and an emerging weakfish recovery. Beautiful protected fishing.
Plum Gut & Block Island Sound
The pass between Plum Island and Orient Point — one of the most current-driven striper spots on the East Coast. Trophy fish on outgoing tide.
Shinnecock Inlet
The eastern major south-shore inlet — albies, blues, stripers, and offshore access.
When to Fish — Seasonal Breakdown
January–February: Limited — tautog and sea bass on offshore wrecks when seasons open; verify NOAA cod openings.
March–April: Spring tautog peak; first stripers in Great South Bay; winter flounder in the bays.
May–June: Striper arrives in force; fluke season opens; sea bass on inshore wrecks.
July–August: Peak summer — fluke, sea bass, sound stripers, canyon tuna.
September–October: FALSE ALBACORE peaks; fall striper migration; bait pods everywhere.
November–December: Striper migration south; last tautog before winter; final canyon trips on weather.
Charters & Resources
Charter range: $650–$900 inshore (Great South Bay, Sound); $1,000–$1,800 canyon tuna; $700–$1,100 nearshore wrecks; $450–$700 party-boat day trips.
Bait & Tackle: J&H Tackle (Patchogue, 631-475-9818); Causeway Bait & Tackle (Wantagh); Eddies Bait & Tackle (Babylon); Camp-Site Sports (East Patchogue); Wego Fishing (Southhold).
Public Boat Ramps: Captree State Park (Great South Bay), Bay Shore Marina, Heckscher State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park (north shore), Port Jefferson ramp, Greenport (North Fork), Shinnecock public ramp.
Regulations
New York saltwater regulations apply — verify current NYS DEC rules. Striped bass slot typically 28-31″, 1 per day. Fluke 19″ minimum, 4 per day. Sea bass 16.5″ minimum, 10 per day. Tautog seasons strictly regulated — verify each year. NYS recreational marine fishing license required.