Fort Tilden Fishing Map (click to enlarge)

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Jamaica Bay Unit Home Page | Fort Tilden Home Page

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Saltwater fishing is allowed on the beach at Fort Tilden, in Jamaica Bay in the undeveloped area between the Breezy Point and Roxbury neighborhoods, and at Riis Landing. 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 fishing parking lot permit is required to park in certain lots that cater to fishermen. Such permits are valid throughout the entire Recreation Area, 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. In most cases, a sign at the entrance of a parking lot states what type of permit is required. 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).

Parking lot signage at Gateway Recreation Area states which type of parking permit is required

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 following is a list of dates and times when fishing parking lot permits are required at Fort Tilden. I am not sure what happens the rest of the year, but either no permit is required or the parking lot is shut and not open to anyone. (Nighttime is 8 PM to 6 AM unless noted.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN

• 193rd Street / Shore Road Fisherman’s Parking Lot (west side of Fort Tilden Beach)
  • Permit required at all times, year-round
• 169th Street / David Road Parking Lot (east side of Fort Tilden Beach)
  • Permit required for parking from 9 PM to 6 PM, year-round
  • No permit is required for daytime parking, though from March 15th through September 15th the parking lot is closed from 6 AM to 9 PM
• Shore Road East Parking Lot (east side of Fort Tilden Beach)
  • Permit required for nighttime parking from September 16th through March 14th
  • Parking lot is closed at all times from March 15th through September 15th
• Fort Tilden Interior Post Parking Lots
  • Permits required from March 15th through September 15th at all times

JAMAICA BAY

• Rockaway Point Yacht Club (west side of the bay)
  • Permit required at all times, year-round
• Riis Landing parking lot
  • Permit required at all times, year-round

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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 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.

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