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Napeague Harbor

Suffolk County, New York. Napeague Harbor ends in Amagansett, New York. 2193933.86 miles (3530795.39 sq kilometers)

About The Napeague Harbor

All About Napeague Harbor, NY

The Napeague Harbor is located in a small community called Napeague, found east of East Hampton. The community of Napeague is sandwiched between the Napeague Bay to its north and the Atlantic Ocean to its south. The harbor is connected to the Napeague bay just to its north. The United States Census Bureau states that the area of Napeague consists of 3.7 square miles, with only 2.12% composed of water bodies. At some point during the last ice age, Napeague was submerged under the sea. Thousands of years of ocean drift caused the space to fill with sand. Thereby forming Napeague. 

Napeague as a community started when New England colonists, who settled on East Hampton pushed further east by buying land off of the Montauk tribe, as well as the rights to pasteurize there. Throughout the 18th and 19th century, the hamlet became an important source of economic growth with both the whaling and agriculture industry making tons of profit. Today, East Hampton, including Napeague and its harbor, is a popular vacation spot for people in New York City looking to experience rural life. 

Napeague Harbor Fishing Description

All About Fishing in Napeague Harbor, NY

As Napeague harbor was connected to its bay and in turn was in close proximity to the Long Island Sound and the Block Island Sound, the area was once part of a thriving commercial fishing community. The shift into the tourism industry has turned the area into a hotspot for recreational and sport fishing. That being said, there are a lot of fish for anglers, varying in skill level, to catch. The bluefish, black, and striped bass are the most common seawater game fish on the east coast. However, other fish species to look out for are the summer flounder, little tuny, and scup.

When attempting to catch these fish, the seasoned angler would opt to use a rod that’s around 7-8 ft in length, which is the preferred length in reeling in flounder, scup, black, and striped sea bass. Different techniques can be used when catching fish in the area. When catching scup it’s best to try bottom fishing or jigging. When catching little tunny, fly fishing can be used but another method is by trolling. Other than that fly fishing can be used most of the time. 

It’s also good to prepare lots of live bait like bloodworms, pinfish, squid, and minnow as the fish in the area are more responsive to them. Though fishing on a boat can be one preferred method, the fact that most of the game fish in the area can be caught onshore means that the harbor itself is a great place to catch fish. This is also because the Napeague Harbor is also a popular water sports attraction, meaning the waters can get a little crowded. 

Napeague Harbor Seasonal & Other Description

Fishing Seasonality in Napeague Harbor, NY

The best time to visit Napeague Harbor is during summer. All of the fish species mentioned above can be found in waters that are warmer in climate, with the exception of the striped bass which you can find along shores during dusk or dawn, when the waters are cooler. In terms of guidelines to follow when game fishing the most popular fish, the striped bass, the black bass, and the bluefish, are in open season, April to December, June to December, for the striped and black bass respectively, and all year long for the blue fish. The summer flounder is in season from early May to September and scups are available all year round except for anglers on a licensed charter, in which case they’re only available during the months of September to October.

Temperature and Optimal Seasons

Fishing Seasonality in Napeague Harbor, NY

The best time to visit Napeague Harbor is during summer. All of the fish species mentioned above can be found in waters that are warmer in climate, with the exception of the striped bass which you can find along shores during dusk or dawn, when the waters are cooler. In terms of guidelines to follow when game fishing the most popular fish, the striped bass, the black bass, and the bluefish, are in open season, April to December, June to December, for the striped and black bass respectively, and all year long for the blue fish. The summer flounder is in season from early May to September and scups are available all year round except for anglers on a licensed charter, in which case they’re only available during the months of September to October.

Napeague Harbor Fish Species

All About Fishing in Napeague Harbor, NY

As Napeague harbor was connected to its bay and in turn was in close proximity to the Long Island Sound and the Block Island Sound, the area was once part of a thriving commercial fishing community. The shift into the tourism industry has turned the area into a hotspot for recreational and sport fishing. That being said, there are a lot of fish for anglers, varying in skill level, to catch. The bluefish, black, and striped bass are the most common seawater game fish on the east coast. However, other fish species to look out for are the summer flounder, little tuny, and scup.

When attempting to catch these fish, the seasoned angler would opt to use a rod that’s around 7-8 ft in length, which is the preferred length in reeling in flounder, scup, black, and striped sea bass. Different techniques can be used when catching fish in the area. When catching scup it’s best to try bottom fishing or jigging. When catching little tunny, fly fishing can be used but another method is by trolling. Other than that fly fishing can be used most of the time. 

It’s also good to prepare lots of live bait like bloodworms, pinfish, squid, and minnow as the fish in the area are more responsive to them. Though fishing on a boat can be one preferred method, the fact that most of the game fish in the area can be caught onshore means that the harbor itself is a great place to catch fish. This is also because the Napeague Harbor is also a popular water sports attraction, meaning the waters can get a little crowded.