Central Park, NY Fishing: A Whole New Way to Experience Manhattan

Central Park is one of the most-visited public parks in the United States, with over 25 million visitors per year. It is an important landmark in Manhattan and a great source of pride for New Yorkers. 

The park itself was opened in 1876, following a call for the creation of a public park in the city by William Cullen Bryant and Andrew Jackson in the 1840s. This was in response to how rapid its urbanization had become. The plan for the park is one of the first of its kind in the US to use landscape architecture techniques. The proposal that won out of the 33 that were submitted was made by Frederick Law Olmsted, who is considered the father of American landscape architecture, and Calvert Vaux who was Olmsted’s senior partner. One of the defining characteristics of the plan was how it preserved the features of the terrain on which the park was to be built. 

Today, the park is known not just for its size but also for the diversity of its terrain. Walking around the park will give you an idea of just how wildly diverse it can be, ranging from grassy flats, slopes, glens, to steep ravines. Apart from its natural features, the park is known for its number of seemingly endless attractions, including the Central Park Zoo, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, its open-air theater and bandshell, sports fields, and playgrounds, along with the many fountains and monuments that dot the park. It also has several walking and biking paths that will allow visitors to enjoy the sights with ease.

Apart from all these, the park fosters a great fishing community centered around its three small lakes. For anglers visiting Manhattan wishing to introduce their kids and loved ones to the joys of fishing, visiting Central Park should be high up on your list.

Central Park Fishing

Many New York City visitors may think that they have to venture out of Manhattan if they want to get their fishing gear out. The good news is, you only need to go to Central Park to get your freshwater fishing fix. The park has three productive water bodies where you can fish from springtime till fall. If you don’t have your gear, you can even borrow bamboo fishing poles, free of charge as long as you present a valid picture ID at The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center from Tuesdays till Sunday. 

Another thing to note is that fishing on Central Park is on a strictly catch-and-release basis. You do not need a permit to fish here unless you’re with a group of 20 or more. You do need a valid NYS fishing license if you’re 16 or older. If you borrow poles at The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, you will receive strict instructions on how to fish in the park. But just in case you’re bringing your own, do note that the park prohibits the use of barbs on hooks, lead sinkers, and overhead casting rods. The best gear to bring would be a standard light to medium rod with a six- to ten-pound test. They also advise not to use bread products, hotdogs, and other food similar to those as bait as they can be harmful to the wildlife in the water bodies and the environment. The best way to know if your bait is allowed within the park is to buy them from the Discovery Center. Anglers are also advised not to wade in the water or trample on the shoreline and to stick to the paths and ramps to avoid damaging the water and the grass.

Of the three water bodies in the park, Harlem Meer offers the best fishing. Harlem Meer is situated in the northeast corner of Central Park, just north of the Conservatory Garden and east of the North Woods. The best way to reach it is by taking the 2/3 train to 110 Street Station Central Park North. It is surrounded by a great variety of trees including cypress, black locust, oak, ginkgo, and beech trees. It is known for its youth fishing program, so it’s a great place to introduce your kids to fishing. The lake is fairly shallow, with depths of up to 5 to 7 feet. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, yellow perches, grass carp, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, and pike and is a great place to fly fish or tenkara fish. The best time to fish in the lake is just before sunset. If you’re targeting bass, try using a soft plastic bait or reaction baits like crankbaits or jerkbaits during summer. Pumpkinseed, crappie, and bluegill are best lured with live worms on a bobber. Do note, though, that Harlem Meer can sometimes have harmful algae growth during summers which can be dangerous.

Another big water body where you can fish in Central Park is Central Park Lake. The Lake is situated right at the heart of the park and is quite a picturesque water body. The most accessible way to access it is via the 72nd Street Station. It measures 18 acres and is pretty shallow at 4 to 6 feet. It hosts diverse aquatic habitats with its unique shoreline, making it a great place for several freshwater fish species. It’s the best place to target yellow perch, black crappie, and bluegill, as well as the occasional largemouth bass. It can get crowded with rental boats depending on what time you get to it.

Finally, the third freshwater body in Central Park where you can fish is called The Pond, situated at 102nd Street. Not to be confused with an actual swimming pool right in the vicinity. It is more serene compared to the other two fishing spots because of its location below street level. It is more of a bird watching spot, but it can also be a great place to fish, especially if you want to do it away from the crowds.

Top 10 Fish Species in Central Park NY

The top 10 fish species to catch in Central Park, NY are largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, grass carp, pumpkinseed, golden shiner, catfish, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, and green sunfish.

Seasonal Fishing

The best months to fish in Central Park is from April to October to coincide with the catch-and-release program of the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, with peak seasons from June until September. The park, of course, follows the open seasons for the fish species in its waters. Largemouth bass can be caught starting the third Saturday of June until December, while fish species such as black crappie, yellow perch, and sunfish are open for fishing all year round. 

Experience the Best of All Worlds at Central Park 

With so many diverse attractions within Central Park, it’s possible to spend more than a day within its premises. Here are just a few ideas:

1.Visit the Central Park Zoo

Home to more than 130 species, this zoo was designed to mimic the environment of the animals that call it home. These animals include the red panda, at least four species of penguins, lemurs, snow leopards, fruit bats, and a great variety of bird species.

2. Have a Picnic Under the Cherry Blossom Trees

Around spring, for a few weeks, the cherry blossom trees in Central Park are in bloom over on Cherry Hill, Reservoir, Pilgrim Hill, Cedar Hill, among other locations. There are two kinds of cherry blossoms here — the Yoshino Cherries and the Kwanzan Cherries.

3. Pay Homage to Shakespeare

There are some monuments dedicated to the Great Bard in the park. They include the lovely and off-the-beaten-path Shakespeare Garden sitting right between the Swedish Cottage and Belvedere Castle. On 66th Street, you will find a statue dedicated to him. But if you want a true Shakespeare experience, make sure to visit the Delacorte Theater which hosts the annual Shakespeare in the Park, one of the park’s most popular summer attractions.

4. Fall in Love with Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Right on the Upper East Side, on the aptly named Museum Mile, stands one of the most popular art museums in the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Yes, there’s a museum right in Central Park. 

5. See the Entire Park on Different Kinds of Tours

Go on a horse carriage tour, a bike tour, a walking tour, or a fitness tour of the park. There are plenty of ways to see everything the park has to offer.