About Smithtown Bay, NY 

Smithtown Bay is located in Smithtown Suffolk County, New York. Smithtown Bay is northwest of the Long Beach Town Park and northeast of Short Beach. The town and the bay coincidentally are located in Long Island’s North Shore. Smithtown is in the western part of Suffolk County, with Smithtown Bay on its northern shores. A note for anglers visiting here is that there’s a census-designated place within Smithtown called Smithtown. Do not confuse the town with the hamlet within it. There are marinas and harbors within Smithtown that allow anglers to launch boats into the bay, or they can cast their lines on the beaches on the bay’s shores. 

The history of Smithtown and how it got its name comes from the town’s founding in 1655. Founded by Richard Smith, Smithtown was initially called Smithfield in honor of its founder. Local legends state that after he rescued the daughter of the local Native American Chief in the area, the chief promised that he would give him control of all the land that he could encircle while riding a bull. Supposedly, the territory that he got from this deal is now part of the modern Smithtown. A statue of the bull that Richard Smith rode was placed in Smithtown to commemorate this event. Lawrence Smith Butler, a descendant of Richard Smith, proposed the statue honoring his ancestor’s achievement. The unveiling of the statue occurred on May 10, 1941.  

All About Fishing in Smithtown Bay, NY 

One of the main attractions for anglers in the area is the artificial reef in the bay’s waters. Aside from this reef, the bay also has several wrecks beneath its waters and its sandy bottom is also rich with gamefish. Anglers will find striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluefish, tautog, and weakfish. Anglers can also catch fluke and porgy. 

Some of the best fishing spots in Smithtown Bay are on Long Beach, West Meadow Beach and Creek, and the Porpoise Channel. The popular fishing techniques used by anglers here are light tackle, bottom fishing, surfcasting, baitcasting, and drift fishing. With plenty of murky, brackish waters to hide from, anglers who want to catch the game fish use these techniques. Bottom fishing is the perfect way to catch fish hiding in the artificial reef beneath the bay’s waters, but light tackle also works just as well. Anglers can also do surfcasting in the Smithtown’s beaches, as game fish also appear in numbers there.

Anglers who are visiting the bay for the first time can hire the services of fishing charters. 

Fishing Seasonality

With so many game fish in its waters, it’s no surprise that anglers can go here throughout the year and expect a wonderful fishing experience. The peak season in Smithwater Bay coincides with the return of sand eels in the area’s waters. Although they’re called eels, sand eels aren’t eels, even though they possess an eel-like body. The arrival of these fish during the spring months of April, May, or June and the warming waters means that the area’s gamefish will appear in large numbers then. Expect to catch a lot of porgy from July to Mid-October and tautog in Mid-October. 

Fishing Seasonality

With so many game fish in its waters, it’s no surprise that anglers can go here throughout the year and expect a wonderful fishing experience. The peak season in Smithwater Bay coincides with the return of sand eels in the area’s waters. Although they’re called eels, sand eels aren’t eels, even though they possess an eel-like body. The arrival of these fish during the spring months of April, May, or June and the warming waters means that the area’s gamefish will appear in large numbers then. Expect to catch a lot of porgy from July to Mid-October and tautog in Mid-October. 

All About Fishing in Smithtown Bay, NY 

One of the main attractions for anglers in the area is the artificial reef in the bay’s waters. Aside from this reef, the bay also has several wrecks beneath its waters and its sandy bottom is also rich with gamefish. Anglers will find striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluefish, tautog, and weakfish. Anglers can also catch fluke and porgy. 

Some of the best fishing spots in Smithtown Bay are on Long Beach, West Meadow Beach and Creek, and the Porpoise Channel. The popular fishing techniques used by anglers here are light tackle, bottom fishing, surfcasting, baitcasting, and drift fishing. With plenty of murky, brackish waters to hide from, anglers who want to catch the game fish use these techniques. Bottom fishing is the perfect way to catch fish hiding in the artificial reef beneath the bay’s waters, but light tackle also works just as well. Anglers can also do surfcasting in the Smithtown’s beaches, as game fish also appear in numbers there.

Anglers who are visiting the bay for the first time can hire the services of fishing charters.