New York City’s relationship with fishing reaches back long before Wall Street became shorthand for finance. For centuries, the waters surrounding what became the five boroughs supported fishing, shellfishing, maritime trade, and waterfront communities. By the 19th century, the Fulton Fish Market had become one of the city’s great commercial institutions, connecting New Yorkers with seafood arriving from local and distant waters.
Today, New York remains an unusually varied place to fish. Within the city limits, anglers can cast into Atlantic surf and tidal bays for migrating striped bass and bluefish, work protected harbor waters for summer flounder and porgy, or fish freshwater park lakes for largemouth bass, sunfish, and other species.
Whether you are carrying a saltwater surf rod or a light freshwater setup, the key is knowing where fishing is allowed and which New York State and city rules apply. Here is a guide to several of New York City’s most interesting fishing waters, along with the current regulations anglers need to know.
When Does Fluke Season End in New York?
For New York saltwater anglers, summer flounder—commonly known as fluke—is one of the major warm-weather targets. Under New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations in effect for 2026, the recreational fluke season runs from May 4 through October 15. The daily possession limit is three fish per angler. The minimum size is 19 inches from May 4 through August 1 and 19.5 inches from August 2 through October 15…