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38-acre Long Bay fishing map with NOAA survey-composite MLLW contours (100% measured, 100% assessed), source-traceable measured chart and habitat spots, six regional fish profiles, two forage calendars, connected ramp access and current DPNR/NPS rules. The water tops out around 38 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; 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:
Traced from the shoreline, Long Bay runs 38 acres with 1.9 miles of edge. An index of 2.2 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 41% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Call it 0.4 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Cay Bay, 1 mi west of here.
Come spring, look for atlantic tarpon tight to the bank in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 27 ft of water and rates good come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A heavy paddletail or a swimbait in pass current is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (21 ft) | 4-6 inch paddletail, Suspending baitfish plug |
| Summer | 4 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Heavy paddletail, Swimbait in pass current |
| Fall | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Mullet-profile swimbait, Surface plug |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Slow-rolled paddletail, Suspending plug |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: jack crevalle in 2 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 35 ft before dropping to 5 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in about 27 ft of water that rates good for jack crevalle in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a pencil popper or a casting spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (21 ft) | Surface popper, Metal jig |
| Summer | 3 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Pencil popper, Casting spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Topwater walker, Metal jig |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Compact metal jig, Slow-rolled paddletail |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellowtail snapper in 5 to 38 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 38 ft through summer, 6 to 38 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 27 ft range, good in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a micro jig or a small paddletail gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Small bucktail, Light vertical jig |
| Summer | 5 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Micro jig, Small paddletail |
| Fall | 5 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Small vertical jig, Baitfish streamer |
| Winter | 6 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 80 ft | dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Small jig worked deep, Bucktail |
Spring mutton snapper on Long Bay hold shallow, usually 5 to 38 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 5 to 38 ft in summer, 6 to 38 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Surveyed channel edge — drop-off, 27 ft, good for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a heavy bucktail or a vertical jig.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 65 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Bucktail near bottom, Paddletail |
| Summer | 5 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 80 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Heavy bucktail, Vertical jig |
| Fall | 5 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 75 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Bucktail + strip, Slow vertical jig |
| Winter | 6 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 90 ft | dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Slow jig, Bottom bucktail |
Spring great barracuda on Long Bay hold shallow, usually 2 to 38 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 38 ft in summer, 3 to 38 ft once it turns cold. Put Surveyed channel edge first on the milk run — a drop-off near 27 ft that grades good for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a fast swimbait or a spoon.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 45 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Fast tube lure, Long minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 55 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Fast swimbait, Spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 55 ft | dawn & midday | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Mullet-profile plug, Tube lure |
| Winter | 3 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 65 ft | midday & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (27 ft) | Long minnow plug, Fast jig |
Early season gray snapper (mangrove snapper) use the shallows, holding in 3 to 22 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 38 ft. Put NOAA charted pier first on the milk run — a dock line near 12 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small bucktail or a paddletail and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 22 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (12 ft) | Small paddletail, Jighead + shrimp imitation |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (12 ft) | Small bucktail, Paddletail |
| Fall | 5 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (12 ft) | Small vertical jig, Jighead + paddletail |
| Winter | 7 to 38 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 45 ft | midday | NOAA charted pier (12 ft) | Small jig worked slowly |
Count 7 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Surveyed channel edge, sits near 27 ft.
Access data: USVI DPNR Coastal Zone Management — Public Access Map. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for U.S. Virgin Islands waters are set by the U.S. Virgin Islands DPNR (current fisher handbook) — and special regulations can apply to Long Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official U.S. Virgin Islands fishing regulations →
Long Bay is about 38 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target atlantic tarpon, jack crevalle, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, great barracuda, gray snapper (mangrove snapper) on Long Bay. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
NOAA charted pier is the top-rated area: a dock line in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for gray snapper (mangrove snapper) in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For atlantic tarpon, 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 Long Bay is regulated by the U.S. Virgin Islands DPNR (current fisher handbook). Check the official U.S. Virgin Islands regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cay Bay 1 mi · East Gregerie Channel 1 mi · Crown Bay 2 mi · Limestone Bay 2 mi · West Gregerie Channel 2 mi · Magens Bay 2 mi · Bolongo Bay 2 mi · Krum Bay 3 mi · Druif Bay 3 mi · Tutu Bay 3 mi · Flamingo Bay 3 mi · Lindbergh Bay 3 mi
See how Long Bay stacks up: best gray snapper (mangrove snapper) lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands · best atlantic tarpon lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands · best jack crevalle lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands · best yellowtail snapper lakes in U.S. Virgin Islands
Browse all U.S. Virgin Islands fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (MLLW; 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.