Fishing in Jamaica Bay near Raptor Point at Floyd Bennett Field, Gateway National Recreation Area

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Jamaica Bay Unit Home Page | Floyd Bennett Field Home Page

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Saltwater fishing is allowed at Floyd Bennett Field from any of the beaches in the area of Raptor Point, the Mill Basin near the remote control airplane runway, the Seaplane Ramp near Hangar B, and at the end of Aviation Road, which is the first road to the right once you enter the park. Fishing along Ranger Road and at Dead Horse Bay (aka Bottle Beach) is no longer allowed. The entire area at Dead Horse Bay is closed due to contamination from radioactive waste materials.

Floyd Bennett Field Fishing Map

No special fishing license is required from the National Park Service to fish within 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 fishing at Floyd Bennett Field, permits are only required for the following times and locations:

DAYTIME

• Aviation Road Parking Lot year-round (Parking lot at the end of the road at the water, not the one near the Ranger Station.)

NIGHTTIME

• All parking lots year-round
• Nighttime is 8 PM to 6 AM

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.

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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 Gateway National Recreation Area, 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.

Fishing in Jamaica Bay at the Seaplane Ramp at Gateway National Recreation Area’s Floyd Bennett Field

Shore fishing near the Seaplane Ramp at Gateway National Recreation Area’s Floyd Bennett Field

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