Queens, NY Fishing: Angling in One of the Most Diverse Areas in America

The largest of the five boroughs in New York, Queens is located in the easternmost part of the state and is coextensive with Queens County. It is adjacent to Brooklyn, Long Island and Nassau County. Currently the fastest growing and developing borough, it is home to 150 different cultures, making it one of the most ethnically diverse urban areas in the state, even the world. In 1683 when there was the Province of New York, Queens was established as one of the 12 original counties. Presumably, it was named after English Queen Catherine of Braganza. In 1898, Queens became a borough during the consolidation of New York City. 

Queens can satisfy every desire because of its very diverse economy with the district boasting rich art, food, tourism and cinema industries. Getting around Queens is very easy as its transportation industry is also substantial, with John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport based in the district. Many notable people hail from Queens, from hip-hop artists, jazz artists, musicians, poets and other people in entertainment and the arts. Furthermore, the borough has fostered African American culture and has been at the center of the punk rock movement. The borough is home to and surrounded by many waterways that act as drainage areas, borders as well as places for various recreational activities including fishing. Anglers can take advantage of the fact that Queens also possesses small islands with miles of beaches also found in the borough, some areas like Jamaica Bay connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Queens, NY Fishing

Because of Queens’ location that makes it sit alongside large bodies of water, even having some within its area, anglers will have no issue finding great saltwater, freshwater, onshore or offshore fishing spots in the borough. Anglers visiting Queens can also reap the benefits of being in one of the most diverse areas in the country, having the opportunity to do many other things outside of angling. 

Anglers wanting to do some deep sea fishing can book fishing charters that are readily available in Queens. The southernmost part of the borough sits between Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean where most charters take fishers on their angling trips. Jamaica Bay’s salt marshes have some of the most biologically productive ecosystems that make it possible to host a variety of fish species. The bay is also an estuary that also has a freshwater source for its semi-enclosed coastal body. Striped bass, bluefish, fluke or summer flounder, Atlantic menhaden, bonito, mullet, weakfish, albacore, pink dentex, black sea bass, tub gurnard, tautog, and southern puffer are among the fish found in the bay. Techniques like fly fishing, popping and baitcasting prove the most effective when targeting fish there. Most fishing done in the bay is accomplished using watercraft like boats or kayaks but some fish can also be caught from the shore as some swim in shallow waters. Most fish are best found where there is vegetation or algal blooms as bait also congregate in those areas. Anglers will also have the most luck-catching game where the water is warmer. Shallow mudflats, flats, sodbanks, and channels also prove as good areas to go to as a ton of fish forage in those areas. The mouth of the bay sees some great action as well while inside the bay, fishing can be relatively slow.

Those planning a fishing trip when they visit Queens will have the chance to fish in the Atlantic Ocean, located just south of the borough, where they can either fish near the coast or set out to the sea. Some of the species that can be caught near the shores are Atlantic menhaden, black sea bass, Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic herring, and Atlantic cod. Further out, anglers can also target species like American eel, bluefish, striped bass, and weakfish. Anglers looking to do some surf casting can travel to Rockaway Peninsula where Rockaway Beach is located just south of Jamaica Bay or north of the Atlantic Ocean. It is more commonly known as the Rockaways, where one can enjoy the tranquility while hooking fish like flounder, striped bass, bluefish, and sea robin from the sandy beaches or marshy shorelines.

Freshwater anglers can find several great spots in Queens as well. In the southwest bordering with Brooklyn, one can find Newtown Creek which is an estuary that flows into the East River. Freshwater fish like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, common carp, creek chub, brown trout, and black bullhead. There are some boat access points as well as fishing areas onshore available for people who want to catch fish from the estuary. Crabbing is also popularly done in the creek along with boating tours, canoeing, kayaking, and scuba diving. Separating Queens from the Bronx, there is East River, another viable freshwater spot but its salinity levels vary depending on the tides and time of day. The river hosts a variety of fish including oyster toadfish, white perch, Atlantic needlefish, crappie, American eel, striped bass, and fluke. Occasional sightings of sizable goldfish have also been recorded due to locals discarding unwanted pets. The river is a great spot for urban fishing wherein its vast shorelines can accommodate anglers who mostly do spinning, tackling, and baitcasting in the area. Bait stations are in development by the river as well to support the angler community.

More freshwater fishing action can be found at Flushing Bay and Flushing River which are also connected to the East River. They can be found in the north of the borough and also have a section of saltwater as the river’s waters flow out to the bay. In the bay, saltwater species like striped bass, bluefish, tub gurnard, summer flounder, pink dentex, tautog, Australasian snapper, and alligator gar can be found. Near the river’s mouth at its northernmost part is a saltwater wetland that hosts similar fish. The freshwater section is mostly in the river where it connects to Meadow Lake that has native species like American eel, largemouth bass, northern snakehead, and white mullet. Other fish found in the river include smallmouth bass, black crappie, and dusky smooth-hound. 

In the entirety of New York, there is a fishing tournament called the 5 Borough Fall Brawl where anglers catch the largest fish from any public body of water in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, Bronx and Queens all month-long in October. The winner is determined by who catches five fish whose sizes are collectively measured and totalled. Queens also holds various fishing tournaments for children.  

Top 10 Fish Species in Queens, NY

The top 10 fish species in Queens, New York are striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder, Atlantic menhaden, weakfish, black sea bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, and American eel.

Seasonal Fishing

Before anglers start to go fishing in Queens, it’s advisable to check with local fishing regulations as New York has specific regulations for both saltwater and freshwater angling. In Queens’ surrounding waters like Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, April and May are best months to fish as grass shrimps arrive and act as the primary food source for predators like Atlantic menhaden, bass, bluefish, summer flounder and weakfish. June and July are also productive months for flats and creeks where small crabs occupy drawing in big bass, bluefish and fluke. Bonito are best caught in August, when there’s a mass exodus of baitfish while later that month one can also catch albacore. In September, anglers can still catch menhaden as well as mullet. For freshwater species like largemouth and smallmouth bass, the open season is from June to November with the rest of the year being catch and release only. 

Hit the Streets of Queens, NY

People will never run out of things to do in Queens because it’s the largest and fastest developing borough in New York. Its diverse offerings will satisfy every taste. 

1. Book a Fishing Charter

With urban fishing on the rise and Queens’ favorable location near bodies of water, anglers can easily find and book fishing charters that can help them have a more productive fishing trip. Boat rental services, as well as bait stations, are also easily accessible throughout the district.

2. Explore Culture, Art and History

Queens is the home of many famous museums and cultural institutions, ranging from historical, to scientific and from conventional art galleries, to graffiti exhibits. People can visit establishments such as the MoMA PS1, the Museum of the Moving Image, New York Hall of Science, Noguchi Museum, Queens Botanical Garden, Queens Museum of Art, and much more.

3. Enjoy Other Sports

Queens has a great sports culture as well as it is the home of the New York Mets baseball team, the site of the US Open tennis tournament, and is where the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and Citi Field are located which host a variety of sporting events. The New York Racing Association also operates out of Queens through the Aqueduct Racetrack at South Ozone Park.