Bield: fish

Inshore migration calendar

Long Island Sound & New York Bight migration calendar.

  • Northeast
  • New York
  • 5 species tracked

Long Island sits at the funnel point of the Atlantic migration — both spring-run fish heading north and fall-run fish heading south concentrate here. Montauk Point in late October is one of the most famous striped bass blitzes in the country.

Verify with the agency before fishing

Fishing regulations change every season. This page is a summary maintained by Bield — bag limits, exact dates, and species-specific rules must be verified with New York DEC Marine Fisheries before each trip.

What's running now

August on the water.

5 active species

Map

Long Island Sound & New York Bight hotspots.

Productive locations

  • Montauk Point
  • Plum Gut
  • Shinnecock Inlet
  • Long Island Sound buoys

Active this month

  • BluefishPeak
  • Striped BassGood
  • Summer FlounderGood
  • Black Sea BassGood
  • WeakfishFair

All species

Sorted by current month.

  • BluefishPomatomus saltatrix
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering offshore South Atlantic. Typical water temp: 40–46°FFeb — Absent Not in northern waters yet. Typical water temp: 42–48°FMar — Absent Spring run not yet up. Typical water temp: 46–52°FApr — Possible Earliest fish in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 52–58°FMay — Good Spring blues with bunker schools. Snapper blues in back bays. Typical water temp: 58–64°FJun — Peak Peak summer fishing for blues throughout New England Sound. Typical water temp: 64–70°FJul — Peak Same — blitzes off the rocks and beaches. Typical water temp: 68–76°FAug — Peak Big choppers on bunker schools; snappers thick in bays. Typical water temp: 70–78°FSep — Peak Fall run begins — big fish on the move with bait. Typical water temp: 64–72°FOct — Good Fall blues hot — coincident with striper run. Typical water temp: 56–64°FNov — Fair Last of the migration pushing south. Typical water temp: 50–58°FDec — Absent Most fish have departed. Typical water temp: 44–52°F
    Best months: June · July · August · September

    Big choppers on bunker schools; snappers thick in bays.

    Top lures: Metal-lipped poppers, Diamond jigs, Cut bunker chunks (wire leader)
    Full Bluefish calendar for Long Island Sound & New York Bight
  • Striped BassMorone saxatilis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering south of NJ. Typical water temp: 38–44°FFeb — Absent Few fish in northern coastal waters. Typical water temp: 38–44°FMar — Possible First scattered fish arriving in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 42–48°FApr — Good Spring run building — fish chasing bunker and herring schools. Typical water temp: 48–54°FMay — Peak Peak spring run. Big migratory fish along the beaches and inlets. Typical water temp: 54–60°FJun — Good Spring run dispersing; resident summer fish settling in on structure. Typical water temp: 60–66°FJul — Good Summer pattern — early and late tide windows; fish hold deeper midday. Typical water temp: 64–72°FAug — Good Late summer holdovers on structure. Schoolies in the back bays. Typical water temp: 64–74°FSep — Peak Fall run begins — bait migrations trigger feeding blitzes. Typical water temp: 60–68°FOct — Peak Peak fall fishing — Montauk, Block Island, the Race all hot. Typical water temp: 54–62°FNov — Good Fall run pushing south. Last of the heavy migration along the beaches. Typical water temp: 48–56°FDec — Possible Late stragglers; most fish have moved south. Typical water temp: 40–48°F
    Best months: May · September · October

    Late summer holdovers on structure. Schoolies in the back bays.

    Top lures: Live menhaden, Soft plastic shads on jigheads, Bucktail jigs
    Full Striped Bass calendar for Long Island Sound & New York Bight
  • Summer FlounderParalichthys dentatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Offshore wintering. Typical water temp: 38–44°FFeb — Absent Same. Typical water temp: 40–46°FMar — Absent Migrating inshore but not yet present. Typical water temp: 46–52°FApr — Fair First fluke arriving in southern parts of region. Typical water temp: 52–58°FMay — Good Spring inshore migration — fish on sand. Typical water temp: 58–64°FJun — Peak Peak summer fluke fishing — bay channels and beach drops. Typical water temp: 64–72°FJul — Peak Same — doormats holding tight to structure breaks. Typical water temp: 70–78°FAug — Good Summer pattern continuing. Typical water temp: 72–80°FSep — Good Fish beginning offshore migration. Typical water temp: 66–72°FOct — Fair Last of the fluke moving offshore. Typical water temp: 58–64°FNov — Absent Fish have moved offshore for winter. Typical water temp: 50–56°FDec — Absent Offshore. Typical water temp: 44–50°F
    Best months: June · July

    Summer pattern continuing.

    Top lures: Bucktail tipped with squid or Gulp!, Spro Bucktail Jig + curly tail, Live killifish (mummichog)
    Full Summer Flounder calendar for Long Island Sound & New York Bight
  • Black Sea BassCentropristis striata
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Offshore wintering. Typical water temp: 40–46°FFeb — Absent Same. Typical water temp: 42–48°FMar — Absent Closed season pre-migration. Typical water temp: 46–52°FApr — Possible Migration arriving in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 52–58°FMay — Good Spring sea bass on inshore wrecks and structure. Typical water temp: 58–64°FJun — Peak Peak inshore season — wrecks, reefs, and rock piles. Typical water temp: 64–70°FJul — Peak Same — best month for keeper-size fish on structure. Typical water temp: 68–76°FAug — Good Summer fish holding on structure. Typical water temp: 72–78°FSep — Good Fall season — fish active on structure. Typical water temp: 66–72°FOct — Fair Fish moving offshore. Typical water temp: 58–64°FNov — Absent Most fish have moved offshore. Typical water temp: 50–58°FDec — Absent Offshore wintering. Typical water temp: 44–52°F
    Best months: June · July

    Summer fish holding on structure.

    Top lures: Squid strips on hi-lo rig, Clam chunks, Diamond jigs
    Full Black Sea Bass calendar for Long Island Sound & New York Bight
  • WeakfishCynoscion regalis
    Fair
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Wintering off NC. Typical water temp: 40–46°FFeb — Absent Not yet in region. Typical water temp: 42–48°FMar — Possible Earliest scattered fish. Typical water temp: 50–56°FApr — Fair Spring arrival in southern bays — Peconic, Great South Bay. Typical water temp: 56–62°FMay — Good Best month historically — population currently reduced. Typical water temp: 60–66°FJun — Fair Fish moving onto deeper structure. Typical water temp: 64–70°FJul — Fair Summer fish on offshore structure. Typical water temp: 70–76°FAug — Fair Same pattern. Typical water temp: 70–78°FSep — Good Fall return to bays — feeding heavily before migration. Typical water temp: 64–70°FOct — Fair Fish moving south out of the region. Typical water temp: 56–62°FNov — Absent Most fish have departed. Typical water temp: 50–56°FDec — Absent Wintering south of region. Typical water temp: 44–50°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Same pattern.

    Top lures: Small soft plastics on light jigheads, Live shrimp under popping cork, Bay anchovy imitations
    Full Weakfish calendar for Long Island Sound & New York Bight

Month-by-month

Top 5 species, full year.

Quick reference for trip planning across the year. Each cell shows the typical migration status for that month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Striped Bass
Bluefish
Summer Flounder
Black Sea Bass
Weakfish
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes

Top species — the longer read.

Bluefish in Long Island Sound & New York Bight

Spring run begins in May; peak summer fishing through August; fall run on bait migrations September–October. Schools of choppers move with bait and are unpredictable year over year.

Striped Bass in Long Island Sound & New York Bight

Spring run pushes north through April–May; fall run southbound through September–November. Bait migrations (sand eels, herring, peanut bunker) trigger blitz windows. Resident summer fish stay on structure through the warm months.

Summer Flounder in Long Island Sound & New York Bight

Spring inshore migration from offshore winter grounds April–May; peak inshore June–August on sand and mud bottoms; fall offshore migration September–October.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone ANZ338

Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts that drive whether fish are feeding inshore or holding offshore.

State agencies

Bag limits, slot rules, and seasonal closures live with the agencies — verify before keeping fish.

Real-time migration alerts for Long Island Sound & New York Bight.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data, water-temperature readings, and your saved species list together — and alerts you when arrivals reach your home water.

Start free trial →

Nearby regions

Maine & New Hampshire Coast →Massachusetts, Cape Cod & Islands →Rhode Island & Connecticut Sound →All regions →