Fishing at Gateway National Recreation Area’s Miller Field

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Staten Island Unit Home Page | Miller Field Home Page

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Saltwater fishing is allowed anywhere along the .4 mile of beach at Gateway National Recreation Area’s Miller Field. No fishing is allowed from the jetty. Be sure to use the parking lot behind the two seaplane hangars off of New Dorp Lane.

Miller Field Fishing Map (click to enlarge)

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, a permit is required to park at certain parking lots within Gateway National Recreation Area. Permits are valid throughout the entire park, so you don’t need to buy one for specific park units. Each parking lot has a sign that states which type of parking permit is required. For example, a permit to use parking lots near popular fishing spots is not good for parking in a beach parking lot that requires a permit, such as those at Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis 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).

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.

In regards to Miller Field, you only need a parking permit if you fish after hours (9 PM to 6 AM).

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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.

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