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788-acre bay near Queens. The water tops out around 43 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Flushing Bay draws 788 acres inside 7.4 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.9) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. Figure 2 mi of water from one end to the other, 1.2 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Queens County. For a second option, Rikers Island Channel lies 2 mi northwest.
Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 13 to 43 ft in summer and finish the year down in 13 to 43 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 38 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (4 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 13 to 43 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (38 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Secondary point (4 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft | midday | Deep basin (38 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluefish in 3 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow feeding flat, a feeding flat in the 11 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (11 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (2 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Shallow feeding flat (11 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (38 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Come spring, look for summer flounder (fluke) tight to the bank in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 13 to 43 ft. Start at Shallow feeding flat. It's a feeding flat holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in midday and early morning. A bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (11 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (11 ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 11 to 43 ft | midday | Deep basin (38 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft | midday | Deep basin (38 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
The chart marks 17 structure features on Flushing Bay; the deepest is Deep basin at about 38 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. 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 Flushing Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Flushing Bay is about 43 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder (fluke) on Flushing Bay.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 38 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 Flushing Bay 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.
Rikers Island Channel 2 mi · Kissena Lake 3 mi · Harlem River 5 mi, NY/NJ · Oakland Lake 5 mi · Eastchester Bay 5 mi · City Island Harbor 7 mi · Manhasset Bay 8 mi · Grassy Bay 10 mi · Prospect Park Lake 10 mi · Buttermilk Channel 10 mi · Echo Bay 11 mi · Green Brook Pond 11 mi, NJ
See how Flushing Bay stacks up: best striped bass lakes in New York · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes in New York · best bluefish lakes in New York
Browse all New York fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). 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.