Saltwater Fishing
Recreational Fishing
The marine waters of New York host varied and exciting fishing opportunities for recreational anglers. Long Island is ideally situated so that both southern and northern fish species frequent our waters. You can fish for Atlantic cod, winter flounder and mackerel in the spring, or try your luck for bluefish, summer flounder and Spanish mackerel when school is out.
Anglers casting off the shores of Montauk, NY.
~Photo courtesy of NY SeaGrant~
Register Before Going Fishing
Make sure to enroll in the annual no-fee recreational marine fishing registry before going fishing in the marine and coastal district waters or when fishing in the Hudson River and its tributaries for "migratory fish of the sea" (e.g. striped bass).
Check Fishing Limits and Seasons
Before setting out on your fishing trip, check the fishing seasons and catch limits for marine fish, lobsters, and crabs.
Find a Boat Launch or Fishing Access Site
Locate the parks, agencies and municipalities that manage facilities with access to the water. Rules and fees that apply to facilities differ widely, so make sure you check with the appropriate authority before you travel. Also, check the Artificial Reefs webpage to identify where New York's artificial fishing and diving reefs are located.
View Angling Records
Check the records list to see the variety of local fish species and sizes that they can attain. In any given year, one or more of these records can be broken. Perhaps by you!
A commercial trawl vessel (left) and a commercial
fisherman offloading catch of loligo squid (right), a
popular commercial catch.
~Photos courtesy of NOAA~
Commercial Fishing
Visit our Commercial Fishing page to find commercial trip limits, quota allocation plans, and more! Also, check out the list of DEC's marine permits and licenses and the contact information for applying.
Don't forget to take a look at the Marine Fishery Landings and Statistics webpage to find out what marine life ranks at the top of New York's commercial landings. This information is based on data collected by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Marine Electronic Mailing List
DEC would like to ensure that fishermen take advantage of the abundant fishing opportunities available in New York waters, but also have current fishing information available to them. You can now subscribe to an electronic mailing list and receive information from the DEC Bureau of Marine Resources concerning new fishing regulations, upcoming fishery meetings and other current events concerning the local fishing industries. Upon subscribing to the mailing list, you will be able to receive fishing information quickly, sent directly to your e-mail address.
To subscribe to the NYS commercial fishing mailing list (commercial saltwater fishing information), complete the required information and submit your request to DEC. Recreational anglers can subscribe to Field Notes, the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources's e-mail newsletter, for current information on recreational fishing.
