It’s a fishing day

Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill fishing conditions · New York

Tonight 6 pm to tonight 3 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 55. Water is 61°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 22 mph out of the west by tomorrow at 6:00 am.

Small Craft Advisory until Sunday 6 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 47 for striped bass, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 474 pm
  2. 47
  3. 55
  4. 557 pm
  5. 55
  6. 55
  7. 5510 pm
  8. 55
  9. 55Sun
  10. 551 am
  11. 55
  12. 47
  13. 474 am
  14. 47
  15. 32
  16. 327 am
  17. 32
  18. 32
  19. 3210 am
  20. 32
  21. 32
  22. 321 pm
  23. 32
  24. 47
  25. 474 pm
  26. 32
  27. 32
  28. 327 pm
  29. 32
  30. 32
  31. 3210 pm
  32. 32
  33. 32Mon
  34. 321 am
  35. 32
  36. 32
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
61°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
16 mph

From the west

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:42 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

1% chance of rain

Air
62°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are New York regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

55MarginalTonight 6 pm to tonight 3 am

Water

61°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 fish at 28" to under 31", Apr 15–Dec 15 in marine waters. Non-offset circle hooks required when fishing with bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside bluefish's active range. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

61°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Inside summer flounder's active range. Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 3 a day (May 4–Aug 1); 19.5" minimum · 3 a day (Aug 2–Oct 15)

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. 3 fish a day: 19" minimum May 4–Aug 1, 19.5" Aug 2–Oct 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on summer flounder

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer29.74 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:42 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:30 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:10 pm–4:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. New York DEC has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A Fire Island National Seashore beach reached by ferry from Patchogue, with Great South Bay behind it. Striped bass and bluefish from spring through fall, best around dawn, dusk and the moving tide; summer flounder (fluke) over sand in summer.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Smith Point County Park7 mi · New YorkBest now until tomorrow 6 am
72Worth the trip
Robert Moses State Park15 mi · New YorkBest tonight 8 pm to tonight 1 amSmall Craft Advisory
55Marginal
Jones Beach State Park28 mi · New YorkBest tonight 7 pm to tonight 2 am
64Marginal
Ponquogue Beach28 mi · New YorkBest now until tomorrow 6 amSmall Craft Advisory
55Marginal
Sherwood Island State Park34 mi · ConnecticutBest tomorrow 2 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
75Worth the trip
Calf Pasture Beach34 mi · ConnecticutBest tomorrow 3 pm–10 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?

Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill have?

Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?

state agency regulations apply at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill tidal water?

Yes. Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.