Find a Fishing Buddy in New York City
New York City is one of the great overlooked saltwater fisheries in the country. Striped bass run right past the skyline every spring and fall, fluke (summer flounder) stack up in Raritan Bay and the harbor through the warm months, and blackfish, black sea bass, and porgy fill in the shoulder seasons. From the party boats out of Sheepshead Bay to a kayak in Jamaica Bay to the rocks at Breezy Point, there is world-class fishing within a subway ride of Manhattan. MyFishingBuds connects NYC-area anglers so you can split a charter, share a boat, or find a partner who knows the tides in the harbor.
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When to fish New York City
The calendar is driven by the striped bass migration. The spring run pushes through Raritan Bay and the western Long Island Sound in April through June, and the famous fall run — blitzing bass and bluefish chasing bait down the beaches — peaks in October and November. Fluke season runs roughly May through September (check current NY size and season limits, which change yearly). Blackfish (tautog) fishing is best in the fall around the harbor rockpiles and wrecks, black sea bass and porgy fill the summer, and the Hudson River holds a spring striped bass spawning run above the George Washington Bridge.
→ Today's best fishing times in New York City (sunrise, sunset & moon)Top species
- 🎣 Striped Bass
- 🎣 Fluke (Summer Flounder)
- 🎣 Bluefish
- 🎣 Blackfish (Tautog)
- 🎣 Black Sea Bass
- 🎣 Porgy (Scup)
Where to fish
- 📍 Raritan Bay
- 📍 Jamaica Bay
- 📍 New York Harbor / East River
- 📍 Western Long Island Sound
- 📍 Hudson River
Local tips for New York City
The Sheepshead Bay party-boat fleet in Brooklyn is the cheapest way onto the water — open boats run for fluke, sea bass, and stripers daily and cost a fraction of a private charter. For shore anglers, Canarsie Pier, the rocks at Breezy Point, the Coney Island pier, and the Battery all produce striped bass and bluefish on the run. Kayak anglers do well in Jamaica Bay for stripers and fluke. Because tide timing makes or breaks a harbor trip, pairing up with a buddy who fishes the area regularly is the fastest way to learn the windows.
🪪 New York fishing license
Anglers fishing in New York City need a valid New York fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See New York license prices →New York City fishing FAQ
Do I need a fishing license to fish in New York City?▾
For saltwater (the harbor, bays, and ocean), New York does not sell a paid license but you must enroll — for free — in the NY Recreational Marine Fishing Registry before you fish. For freshwater (the Hudson above the salt line, reservoirs, and city lakes), you need a paid New York fishing license. See our New York license guide for current prices and enrollment links.
When is the striped bass run in New York City?▾
There are two. The spring run moves through Raritan Bay and the western Long Island Sound from April into June. The fall run — the bigger event — peaks in October and November as bass and bluefish blitz bait down the beaches and through the harbor. Both are prime windows to find a partner and get on the fish.
Where can I fish from shore in New York City?▾
Canarsie Pier (Brooklyn), the rocks and jetties at Breezy Point, the Coney Island fishing pier, Battery Park, and much of the Bronx and Queens shoreline all produce striped bass, bluefish, fluke, and porgy depending on the season. Jamaica Bay is the best all-around shore and kayak fishery in the five boroughs.
What is the cheapest way to fish New York City by boat?▾
The Sheepshead Bay party boats in Brooklyn — open (“party”) boats charge per angler for fluke, sea bass, blackfish, and striper trips, far cheaper than a private charter. Splitting a six-pack charter with a buddy or two is the next step up when you want more room and a targeted trip.
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