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Explore all Fishing Holes & Trips in NYC & Vicinity

Jump to Fishing Holes & Trips in: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Upstate NY, Pennsylvania

There are literally thousand places to fish in and around NYC, whether you have your own equipment or need to borrow it. (We noted that). Shorter trips (think half day max on charters, or on your own rental) and on the shore are best for younger kids, older kids might want to go on a longer boat ride!

PLEASE NOTE:

  1. You need permits for freshwater fishing and /or (mostly free, but necessary) registration for saltwater fishing for yourself (and some kids (16+) in some places). Read about them here.
  2. Catch and release means no fish for dinner (release immediately) and no barbed hooks or lead sinkers. Especially and always in NYC Parks when freshwater fishing.
  3. Motorized boat rentals usually require a safety certificate from you or there will be a short safety instruction before your rental at the site. Inquire with individual outfitters, all states and businesses are a little different.
  4. For charter boats, pick ones in the bay or near the coast, as a lot of deep sea fishing will happen up to 100 miles off the coast and/or overnight. Most boats will have equipment for you and no permit is needed for anyone.
  5. Suffolk County Parks require a day permit for non-residents (if you don’t have a Green Key) that can be purchased at the location on the day of, in person.
  6. You can keep most saltwater fish. Except tuna, sharks and some other rarer species.
  7. Freshwater regulations are more complicated, the guides for seasons and types of fish (you can catch/keep) with minimum length and daily limits by state are here:

Other than that, here are the best places to catch the big one for the small ones, either because of easy catching, or something fun to do near-by:

MANHATTAN

  • Central Park– Freshwater. Rentals available. Fish at Harlem Meer, get equipped at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center…
  • East River Esplanade– Saltwater. Enter at 96th St and enjoy views of Randall’s Island and Long Island City…
  • John V Lindsey East River Park– Saltwater. Anywhere from this 1.5 mile shore front park…
  • West Harlem Piers– Saltwater. On Hudson River at 125th st where Fairway used to be…

BROOKLYN

  • Sea Queen VII– Saltwater. Nice crew and some shade aboard this 85 foot boat…
  • Prospect Park– Freshwater. Catch and release only. Best large mouth bass fishing in the city among other species…
  • The Marilyn Jean– Saltwater. A 70 foot party fishing boat that sails twice a week…
  • American Veterans Memorial Pier– Saltwater. Admire The Manhattan skyline from a pier at Bay Ridge Avenue and Shore Road…
  • Brooklyn Bridge Park– Saltwater. Offers fishing clinics and bait at Pier 5 and lots else to do around the park…
  • WNYC Transmitter Park– Freshwater. Cast your line from a recreational pier near Kent Street…
  • Red Hook Waterfront– Saltwater. Enjoy the views of New York Harbor from Valentino Pier, IKEA Quay, or Columbia Street Esplanade, with IKEA’s cheap food and fun near-by…

QUEENS

  • Kissena Park– Freshwater. Just make sure turtles don’t eat your bait…
  • Baisley Pond Park– Freshwater. Concrete Promenade or grassy areas for casting a line…
  • Broad Channel American Park– Saltwater. Sandy beaches or marshy shorelines…
  • Flushing Meadows Corona Park– Freshwater. Largest fishable lake in in NYC…
  • Alley Pond Park– Freshwater. The lake in the north-west section of the park is fed by springs…
  • Queensbridge Park– Saltwater. Anglers like the tides, but there are also playgrounds around for boredom busting…
  • Gantry Plaza State Park– Saltwater. Great views of Manhattan from the fishing pier and one of the city’s best playgrounds near-by at this Long Island City spot…

BRONX

  • Castle Hill Park– Saltwater. Both rocky and marshy shoreline with charming views…
  • Hunts Point Riverside Park– Saltwater. Fish from a pier in the brackish waters just upstream from the terminal mouth of Bronx River… playground near too..
  • Crotona Park– Freshwater. From the east side deck or from the paved paths for more solitary spots…
  • Pelham Bay Park– Saltwater. Rocky shoreline east of Aileen B. Ryan Recreational Complex is a good bet…
  • Van Cortlandt Park– Freshwater. Flat grassy spots or more forested sections by this gorgeous lake…

STATEN ISLAND

  • Clove Lakes Park-Freshwater. There are vegetation breaks along the shoreline for fishing…
  • Lemon Creek Park– Saltwater. A park at the SI’s south shore…
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach– Saltwater. Catch the fish entering and leaving the Hudson Estuary from Ocean Breeze fishing pier…
  • Willowbrook Park– Freshwater. A serene setting great for beginners and families… has a carousel and archery range too…
  • Wolfe’s Pond Park– Both freshwater and saltwater. Fish on the interior or on the beach of this park…

WESTCHESTER

  • Cross River Reservoir– Freshwater. A perfect spot, on the river, for a quiet family afternoon “among lush vegetation”…
  • Bronx River Parkway Reservation– 13 mile linear park. Try Bronxville Lake or Crestwood Lake. Easy street parking…
  • Tibbetts Brook Park– Calm waters, a waterfall to look at and a water park near-by…
  • Willson’s Woods– Oldest Westchester park with the charm that comes with it…
  • Blue Mountain Reservation– Two lakes right off the parking lot are a good bet…
  • Wampus Pond Park– One of the premier fishing spots in the county with boat rentals available…
  • Ward Pound Ridge Reservation– This county’s largest park has shallow pools and sparkling streams for a perfect day of fishing…
  • Westchester Parks Fishing Locations and Species

LONG ISLAND

  • Jones Beach State Park– Everything you need is close by. Fishing is at Pier 10 (with bait shop right there) or new pier at Green Island, or take a trek to a more isolated West End II Beach…
  • Captain Lou Fleet– 110-foot boat leaving from Freeport for half day trips beginning in May…
  • Blydenburgh County Park– Freshwater. Catch and Release only, but rowboat rentals available at Stump Pond…
  • Hempstead Lake State Park– Fish from two stocked ponds, South or McDonald…
  • Long Beach– Magnolia Pier is a hot spot on the bay side of Magnolia Blvd… and there’s a great beach, boardwalk and playground on the other end of the blvd…
  • Seaford Town Dock– Small “no railings” dock great for a quick trip in a quiet setting…
  • Port Washington Town Dock and Walkway– Watch the boats, people, or the sunset on Manhasset Bay while casting a line…
  • Wantagh Park– The fishing pier just beyond the marina is open year around and has great views…
  • Belmont Lake State Park– Trout in the spring and bass in the summer in addition to rowboat, kayak and pedal boat rentals and playgrounds…
  • Captree State Park– Two large piers to fish or catch crabs on land, or catch one of the many boats (part of the largest public fishing fleet on LI) for saltwater fishing (Captree Fleet)… plus a great overlook to enjoy the view…
  • Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium– Rentals Available. Catch and keep fishing program in addition to the aquarium…
  • Osprey Fleet– A kids fishing tour for ages 7+…
  • Montauk Point State Park– Fish on the beaches is especially fun with an after-hours permit… maybe you’ll even see a seal or two… but maybe for older kids…
  • Orient Beach State Park– Swim in the bay, fish from the shore on this easternmost park in Long Island North Fork…
  • FishingBooker Guide to LI Fishing

CONNECTICUT

  • Candlewood Lake– Freshwater. One of the largest man-made lakes in US, there’s a swimming beach in Squantz Pond State park too. Rent pontoons at multiple locations (google it)…
  • Highland Lake– The Marina at Highland Lake rents fishing boats and kayaks… Resha and Holland beaches near too…
  • Norwalk Pier (+Captain William Clark Fishing Pier)– Public fishing pier, with beach near-by…
  • Lake Zoar– 23 miles of shoreline to explore, or rent a boat…
  • Bantam Lake– Sandy Beach is near-by for bored ones…
  • Burr Pond State Park– Has Kayak/Canoe rentals and a swimming beach in addition to great fishing…
  • Factory/ Wire Mill Pond– You are likely to catch something as it is stocked with kids in mind…
  • DEEP/Trout Stocking Parks and Maps– Freshwater. Areas that get frequently stocked with trout and make it way easier for the little fishers to catch something, great interactive maps too…
  • DEEP Fishing Guide

NEW JERSEY

  • Frank’s at Whale Creek– No license needed to rent a boat that can fit up to 6 people, fishing equipment rentals available as well…
  • Queen Mary– Family friendly and closest boat to the ocean, comes equipped with everything you need…
  • Miss Chris– A fully equipped boat offering morning or afternoon fishing trips in Cape May…
  • Rahway River Park– Stocked with trout… pond and river…
  • Ramapo County Reservation– This Bergen Counties largest park has a waterfall, easy and interesting hiking and it’s stocked with trout…
  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area– Try the Big Fat Brook, as it gets stocked every year… or here’s a helpful brochure about Fishing in DWG…
  • Raritan River– South Branch Raritan River will get a ton of restocking every year, but it’s a WMA…
  • Fishing Boat and Pontoon Rental places:
  • TakeMeFishing.org– Tons of ideas for best family fishing spots in NJ for all skill levels…

UPSTATE NY

  • Thomas Bull Memorial Park– Second largest park in Orange county park system, fish is stocked annually in pond, but bring your own bait and tackle…
  • Winding Hills County Park-a 40-acre lake and 4-acre pond, both stocked and you can fish from the shore on both… although they have small boats to rent…
  • Morgan Lake– Shore fishing is available at this Poughkeepsie location…
  • Sprout Creek– Public fishing stream stocked annually…
  • Rudd Pond– Easy access and abundance of large mouth bass… swimming area near as well in Taconic State Park…
  • Wilson Lake– Access from Kenneth Wilson DEC campground, fish from shore or from a rental rowboat…
  • Neversink River Unique Area– Definitely a hiking/wilderness area with great falls, but also a world-class trout fishing spot…
  • Lake Superior State Park– A great summer area with swimming beach and boat rentals in addition to fishing…
  • DEC Southeastern NY Fishing– Full List of fishing sites on DEC lands in South-Eastern NY

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Wallenpaupack Lake– Great vacation spot for a weekend… visitor center has a loaner program available for tackle for free… plus lots of other stuff around this 5700 acre lake… read this for a scoop…
  • Promised Land State Park– Loaners available as is the fishing pier, boat rentals, and it’s stocked…
  • Tobyhanna State Park– Loaners available and has a fishing pier…
  • Nockamixon State Park– Loaners available with ID and there’s a fishing pier at day use area, plus boat rentals….

MORE/SIMILAR

Fishing Permit Requirements

In general: You need a fishing license or a free registration if you are 16 or over. It can be done either online (print immediately), over the phone, or at license issuing agents (immediate). Unless you are fishing with a licensed business.

  • NY State: Under 16 NO License needed anywhere!
    • Fresh Water Fishing- 16 and over need a license; $5 for 1 Day, $12 for 7 days and $25 for 1 year, lifetime licenses available for residents. Discounts for seniors over 65. More info and how to get them at DEC License Website
    • Salt Water/Marine Fishing- 16 and older need a license. No fee, but you have to register at DEC Website
    • Other Notes-
      • Many places are catch and release only
      • You do not have to register if on board of a licensed fishing charter.
      • Don’t fish for sharks, tuna, lobster, crabs and shellfish without another special license!
  • New Jersey: Under 16 NO license needed anywhere!
    • Salt Water/Marine Fishing- 16 and older DO NOT need a license, but MUST REGISTER. No fee, but you have to register at New Jersey Department of Environmental Conservation Website
    • Other Notes-
      • You do not have to register if on board of a licensed fishing charter.
      • Don’t fish for sharks, tuna, lobster, crabs and shellfish without another special license!
  • Connecticut: Under 16 NO license needed anywhere!
    • 16 and over, Inland Only- Check prices and types and buy at DEEP Website
    • 16 and over, Marine Only- Check prices and types and buy at DEEP Website
    • 16 and over, All Waters- Check prices and types and buy at DEEP Website
    • NOTE: You might also need a trout stamp in some areas!
  • Pennsylvania– Anyone 16 and older needs one of the resident, non-resident or tourist licenses depending on location. All info at Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Note: You need an extra stamp for trout!

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