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522-acre Bay Ridge Channel fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (100% measured, 100% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 51 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The outline encloses 522 acres, worked by 5.8 miles of shoreline. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 0% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 2.6 mi, about 0.5 mi across. Its nearest charted neighbour, Red Hook Channel, is 2 mi to the north.
Start shallow in spring: striped bass sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 15 to 51 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 50 ft. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 42 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 15 to 51 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (42 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (42 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Early season bluefish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 20 ft. Summer is a 5 to 30 ft game here, winter a 15 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is BAY RIDGE AND RED HOOK CHANNELS channel edge — channel edge, NaN ft, fair for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | BAY RIDGE AND RED HOOK CHANNELS channel edge (NaN ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | BAY RIDGE AND RED HOOK CHANNELS channel edge (37 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (28 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (37 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Spring puts summer flounder (fluke) in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 51 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 42 ft, rated prime for fall summer flounder (fluke). Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. A bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted pier (NaN ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 12 to 45 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (42 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (42 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
Start shallow in spring: black sea bass sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 13 to 51 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 51 ft. Top water on the chart: NOAA charted pier, a dock line in the NaN ft range, fair in spring. Fish it in midday and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted pier (NaN ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 13 to 51 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted pier (NaN ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 13 to 51 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (42 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft | midday | open water | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
When the water first warms, tautog (blackfish) slide up into 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 51 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted pier: a dock line around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 15 to 51 ft | midday | open water | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Structure-wise the chart holds 37 features, led in depth by NOAA charted pier at roughly 4 ft.
Access data: New York State DEC — Boat Launches (FishNY). Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New York waters are set by the New York DEC (saltwater fishing) — and special regulations can apply to Bay Ridge Channel specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Bay Ridge Channel is about 51 ft (16 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder (fluke), black sea bass, tautog (blackfish) on Bay Ridge Channel.
Surveyed channel edge is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 42 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Bay Ridge Channel is regulated by the New York DEC (saltwater fishing). Check the official New York regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Red Hook Channel 2 mi · Pierhead Channel 2 mi · Buttermilk Channel 3 mi · Prospect Park Lake 3 mi · Gravesend Bay 4 mi · Coney Island Channel 6 mi · Sheepshead Bay 7 mi · Rockaway Inlet 8 mi · Lower Bay 8 mi · Island Channel 9 mi · Weequahic Lake 10 mi, NJ · Beach Channel 11 mi
See how Bay Ridge Channel stacks up: best striped bass lakes in New York · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes in New York · best bluefish lakes in New York · best black sea bass lakes in New York
Browse all New York fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 100% measured, 0% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.