Fishing at Gateway National Recreation Area

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Alone on the Beach

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What comes to mind when you think about fishing? Patience, relaxation, challenge, and memories are a few words often associated with fishing. You will find all that and a sense of stewardship, conservation, and preservation on this page. We want you to have an enjoyable time during your visit, and for those who come after you to fish. Take some time to explore, learn what the park has to offer and learn your responsibilities before casting a line or flicking a fly into the water.

Fishing Access Permits

Saltwater fishing is the only type of fishing allowed at Gateway.

No license is required for saltwater fishing, but there is a saltwater registry for both New York and New Jersey.

• NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry
• NY Recreational Marine Registry

Permits are required to park in many places throughout the park. Permits are also required to park after hours at any part of the park. Off road vehicle parking permits are required for the Breezy Tip Point. They are also valid in other areas of the park where the fishing/parking permit is honored (paved lots only). Two Wheel Drive parking permits are required at locations and times listed below.

Parking/After Hours Access for Fishing/2 Wheel Drive (SAHO, JABA, STIS)

Fishing Access Permits provide after hours and parking access for fishing at designated locations throughout Gateway.
Permits for the 2022 season are available at www.recreation.gov through April 30, 2022. More information can be found on the 2022 permits page.

Sandy Hook Unit

Permits are required for after hours fishing (8 pm - 6 am).

Staten Island Unit

• Permits are required at all times to park in Crooke's Point (Great Kills Park).

• Permits are required to park after hours in any Staten Island Unit. (9 pm - 6 am).

Jamaica Bay Unit
Permits are required at the following Jamaica Bay Unit sites:

• 222nd Street Fishing Lot Breezy Point: Parking Permit for Fishing Access Only; all times
• Sand Lot, Breezy Point: Parking Permit for Off-Road Vehicle Fishing Access Only; all times
• Riis Landing Parking Permit for Fishing Access or NPS Programs Only: All Times
• 193rd Street Fishing Lot, Fort Tilden: Parking Permit for Fishing Access Only; all times
• Yacht Club Lot, Fort Tilden: Parking Permit for Fishing Access Only; all times.
• Shore Road East, Fort Tilden: March 15-September 15: No parking or vehicular access
• 169th David Road Parking Area; Fort Tilden: March 15 - September 15: No Parking 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Parking by Fishing Access Permit Only from 9 p.m. - 6 a.m.
• Fort Tilden Interior Post Area - All Parking Lots: March 15 - September 15: Parking by Picnic Permit, Garden Permit, Fishing Access Permit, or other authorized use.
• Aviation Road Fishing Parking Lot, Floyd Bennett Field: Parking Permit for Fishing Access Only; all times
• Bay 3 East Parking Lot Jacob Riis Park: May 15 - September 15: Parking for NPS staff and accessible parking only 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Accessible parking requires parking fee. Parking-After Hours Fishing Permit required from 8 p.m . - 6 a.m.

Off-Road Vehicle Permits (Jamaica Bay Unit, Breezy Point Tip)

The Breezy Point Tip Off Road Vehicle (ORV) Permit for Fishing is a specialized permit necessary to access the sand road, sand lot and Breezy Point shoreline for the purpose of fishing. These are available in limited numbers. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is required. All-wheel drive vehicles are not recommended. Vehicles with 4-wheel drive and high clearance are best suited for off road driving due to the soft and sandy conditions.The ORV permit is also valid in other areas of the park where the fishing/parking permit is honored (paved lots only). 2022 Off Road Vehicle permits are sold out.

 

Fishing Regulations

Fishing regulations for Gateway National Recreation follow 36 CFR 2.3 and those set by the States of New York and New Jersey.

Additional restrictions have been established:

• Fishing is prohibited in non-tidal waters. Non-tidal waters include all fresh waters in the park.
• The shoreline under the Verrazzano Bridge and adjacent to Battery Weed and the Torpedo Pier is closed to fishing.
• Fishing is prohibited on lifeguard protected beaches when lifeguards are on duty. This includes 50 yards up the beach from the red lifeguard flags marking the ends of the protected swim areas.
• Fishing is prohibited within 150 feet of posted shorebird nesting areas.
• Due to health concerns, shellfishing is prohibited in all park waters. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New York Department of Environmental Conservation has closed and "condemned" certain waters to the harvesting or collecting of shellfish. The waters around the park are included in this closure.
• Net fishing is prohibited on swimming beaches and within 100 feet of swimming beaches.

Fish Consumption Advisories in National Park Waters

The Environmental Protection Agency, states, territories, and tribes provide advice on fish and shellfish caught in the waters in their jurisdiction to help people make informed decisions about eating fish. Advisories are recommendations to limit your consumption of, or avoid eating entirely, certain species of fish or shellfish from specific bodies of water due to chemical or biological contamination.

Fish is part of a healthy balanced diet, but eating wild fish and shellfish caught in park waters is not risk free. Parks are “islands”, but the much larger “ocean” that surrounds them affects the natural resources inside a park. Other aquatic toxins are the result of natural biological processes. Also, chemical contaminants that originate outside of park boundaries can come into parks.

Mercury is an example of a toxin originating outside a park that can find its way into a park. Mercury exists naturally in some rocks, including coal. When power plants burn coal, mercury can travel in the air long distances before falling to the ground, usually in low concentrations. Once on the ground, microorganisms can change this elemental mercury to methyl mercury. This type of mercury can build up in animal tissues, and it can increase in concentration to harmful levels. This high concentration can occur in large predatory fish - those often pursued and eaten by anglers. Studies have shown that fish in some National Park System waters have mercury levels that may be a concern to people who regularly eat a lot of fish.

• NJ Fish Advisories
• NYC Region Fish Advisories

Fishing Throughout the National Park Service

We invite you to visit the Fish and Fishing website for more information about fish and fishing in the National Park Service. You will learn about conservation, different fish species, and parks that offer fishing.