Fort Wadsworth Fishing Map

Staten Island Unit Home Page | Fort Wadsworth Home Page

Salt water fishing is allowed on the beach at Fort Wadsworth along the strip that runs parallel to USS North Carolina Road at the southern end of the park. The shoreline under the Verrazano Bridge and adjacent to Battery Weed and the Torpedo Pier is closed to fishing.

No special fishing license is required from the National Park Service to fish at Gateway National Recreation Area, but those 16 and older must enroll in the free New York Recreational Marine Fishing Registry, and all New York State fishing regulations apply. Shellfishing is not allowed due to health concerns stemming from contaminated shellfish in the park waters.

While no special fishing license is required from the National Park Service to fish at Gateway National Recreation Area, a permit is required to park in certain parking lots that cater to fishermen. Such permits are valid throughout the entire park, so you don’t need to buy one for each park unit or a specific location. However, these permits are not valid for all parking lots. For example, a fishing parking lot permit is not valid for parking in beach parking lots that require a permit, such as those at Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis Park Beach. Keep in mind that the permit is a parking permit, not a fishing permit. It is not required if you walk, bike, or get dropped off at a fishing location. The permit is good for both daytime and nighttime parking (where nighttime parking is allowed).

In regards to Fort Wadsworth, you only need a parking permit if you fish after hours (9 PM to 6 AM). The closest place to the beach is a two-dozen car roadside parking lot just past the Camp Gateway Staten Island campground at the corner of USS North Carolina Road and Range Road. Do not park in the campground parking lot unless you are a registered camper because you will receive a ticket.

Permits are only available for purchase online at Recreation.gov (if this link does not work, go to Recreation.gov and search for Gateway NRA Fishing Access permits). They are typically only sold from March 1st through April 30th and for a few weeks in September (sale periods are subject to change). Regardless of when you purchase a permit, it is only valid until March 31st the following year. There is no pro-rated fee. Furthermore, there is a limited number of permits for sale.

While you purchase the permit online, you must take your receipt to a specified location within the park to redeem it for an actual parking sticker. Locations are given on Recreation.gov. You need one permit for each of your vehicles. They are not transferable.



The National Park Service’s website is confusing when it comes to figuring out the convoluted fishing parking lot rules. If you fish regularly throughout the park, my advice is to stop trying to figure out when and where you can and cannot park and just buy the fishing parking lot permit, that way you don’t have anything to worry about.

Back to the Top