About Long Island Sound, NY

The Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. The sound is a partially enclosed body of water that is surrounded by land. Although it’s not included in the list of the biggest estuaries in the country, the Long Island Sound is still pretty huge, covering 1,300 square miles of water area (90 miles long and 20 miles wide), bordered by two states (Connecticut to the north and New York to the south), and boasting a 600-mile long coastline. The sound is also where the saltwater from the Atlantic meets the freshwater that mostly drains from the Housatonic, Connecticut, and Thames rivers.

With its rather strategic location, the Long Island Sound serves as a thoroughfare for boats, ships, barges, and ferries that transport both people and goods to and from major cities, towns, and communities surrounding the sound, making it one of the busiest waterways in the region. The habitats that surround the sound, as well as the diversity of plants that inhabit its waters and surrounding areas, allow the sound to support a wide array of marine life, including different types of fish and shellfish, which are, of course, harvested commercially and recreationally around this body of water.

Furthermore, the waters and shorelines of the Long Island Sound attract a number of visitors annually. Sunbathers and anglers, for instance, flock to the sound’s beaches and ports by the thousands while 30 to 50 thousand boats are estimated to be out on its waters on any given summer days.

All About Fishing in Long Island Sound, NY

Being an estuary, the Long Island Sound is where saltwater and freshwater mix, resulting in brackish water in which the water is somewhat salty but not as salty as the ocean. Estuarine ecosystems are also unique in a way that it provides a sort of a safe haven for a wide array of flora and fauna within its partially enclosed waters. This only means that the sound supports an abundance of marine life including different types of popular gamefish including striped bass, fluke, cod, bluefish, hickory shad, tautog, black sea bass, scup, kingfish, and amberjack. Now, these species can be caught just within the shallower parts of the water. If you head out to deeper waters near the mouth of the sound going to the Atlantic, you can catch some tuna, mahi-mahi, and even some occasional sharks like threshers and makos.

Fishing in the Long Island Sound can be done in a lot of different ways. You can do so inshore while basking in the sun on a beach or while you’re hiking along some of the sound’s grassy flat shores. There are also several fishing piers around the sound that you can take advantage of and land some great quarries. Notable fishing piers in Long Island, NY that face the sound include the piers in Stony Brook, Port Washington, and Harborfront Park that are right in the middle of the action.

Another way to experience Long Island Sound fishing in all its glory is by heading out offshore via a fishing charter. You can also join a fishing party where you can mingle with other anglers while slowly cruising along the sound’s relatively calm waters. If, however, you’re trying to get away from the crowd, you can always charter a private fishing boat. Then again, going fishing on a private charter will not only give you privacy but also allows you to choose a specific location and catch a specific target as well.

Fishing Seasonality

Long Island Sound fishing is said to be a year-round affair; although, of course, it will always depend on the weather condition, how you would want to go fishing, and if you’re going to be targeting a specific fish species. If you’re planning to fish onshore, flounder, cod, bluefish, weakfish, blackfish, black sea bass, fluke, and striped bass can be caught between the months of April and December.

For offshore fishing, different types of tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, and blue marlin can be targeted between July and October. On the other hand, different types of sharks such as mako, thresher, and blue sharks are said to be more active in the sound within the months of June and December.

Fishing Seasonality

Long Island Sound fishing is said to be a year-round affair; although, of course, it will always depend on the weather condition, how you would want to go fishing, and if you’re going to be targeting a specific fish species. If you’re planning to fish onshore, flounder, cod, bluefish, weakfish, blackfish, black sea bass, fluke, and striped bass can be caught between the months of April and December.

For offshore fishing, different types of tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, and blue marlin can be targeted between July and October. On the other hand, different types of sharks such as mako, thresher, and blue sharks are said to be more active in the sound within the months of June and December.

All About Fishing in Long Island Sound, NY

Being an estuary, the Long Island Sound is where saltwater and freshwater mix, resulting in brackish water in which the water is somewhat salty but not as salty as the ocean. Estuarine ecosystems are also unique in a way that it provides a sort of a safe haven for a wide array of flora and fauna within its partially enclosed waters. This only means that the sound supports an abundance of marine life including different types of popular gamefish including striped bass, fluke, cod, bluefish, hickory shad, tautog, black sea bass, scup, kingfish, and amberjack. Now, these species can be caught just within the shallower parts of the water. If you head out to deeper waters near the mouth of the sound going to the Atlantic, you can catch some tuna, mahi-mahi, and even some occasional sharks like threshers and makos.

Fishing in the Long Island Sound can be done in a lot of different ways. You can do so inshore while basking in the sun on a beach or while you’re hiking along some of the sound’s grassy flat shores. There are also several fishing piers around the sound that you can take advantage of and land some great quarries. Notable fishing piers in Long Island, NY that face the sound include the piers in Stony Brook, Port Washington, and Harborfront Park that are right in the middle of the action.

Another way to experience Long Island Sound fishing in all its glory is by heading out offshore via a fishing charter. You can also join a fishing party where you can mingle with other anglers while slowly cruising along the sound’s relatively calm waters. If, however, you’re trying to get away from the crowd, you can always charter a private fishing boat. Then again, going fishing on a private charter will not only give you privacy but also allows you to choose a specific location and catch a specific target as well.