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359-acre Jones Inlet fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (99.62% measured, 99.81% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 33 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. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The drawn water covers 359 acres wrapped in 3 miles of bank. At index 1.1 the outline is almost a bowl — read the depth changes, not the shoreline. About 47% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 1.1 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.9 mi at the beam. If the bite dies, Sloop Channel is 3 mi to the northeast.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 33 ft, and winter fish settle into 10 to 33 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 18 ft, rated prime for summer striped bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 33 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 5 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 10 to 33 ft. Start at NOAA charted groin. It's a jetty / riprap holding about 10 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: summer flounder (fluke) in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 33 ft, wintering in 10 to 33 ft. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 18 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for midday and early morning. Summer baits: a bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jones Inlet channel edge (15 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 8 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 9 to 33 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (18 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
In spring, black sea bass run shallow here, mostly 8 to 33 ft. Summer keeps them at 8 to 33 ft, and they winter in 10 to 33 ft. NOAA charted groin is the standout, a jetty / riprap at roughly 10 ft, rated prime for spring black sea bass. Time it for midday and early morning. You won't need more than a bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 8 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 8 to 33 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Early season tautog (blackfish) use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 9 to 33 ft game here, winter a 10 to 33 ft one. The chart's best answer is NOAA charted groin — jetty / riprap, 10 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 9 to 33 ft | dawn | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 7 to 33 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 10 to 33 ft | midday | NOAA charted groin (10 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
11 pieces of structure are mapped here — Jones Inlet channel edge, around 30 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Jones Inlet specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Jones Inlet is about 33 ft (10 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 Jones Inlet.
Surveyed channel edge is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 18 ft of water that rates prime for summer flounder (fluke) 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 Jones Inlet 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.
Sloop Channel 3 mi · Middle Bay 3 mi · Reynolds Channel 4 mi · Merrick Bay 5 mi · Hewlett Bay 6 mi · South Oyster Bay 7 mi · Hempstead Lake 8 mi · East Rockaway Inlet 9 mi · Grass Hassock Channel 11 mi · Winhole Channel 12 mi · East Broad Channel 12 mi · Grassy Bay 13 mi
See how Jones Inlet 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.