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8,416-acre Napeague Bay fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (96.56% measured, 100% assessed), charted rock and wreck structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 62 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:
On the chart, Napeague Bay draws 8,399 acres inside 15.5 miles of shoreline, broken up by an island. Nearly circular (index 1.2), so the story is the bottom, not the bank. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 29% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 5.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 3.3 mi at the beam. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Fresh Pond (Hither Hills), 2 mi southeast of here.
Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 25 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. 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 | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (34 ft) | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (34 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: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 16 ft range, prime in summer. 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 (20 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (16 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Shallow feeding flat (20 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (34 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 20 to 60 ft. Start at Surveyed channel edge. It's a drop-off holding about 34 ft of water and rates prime come summer. 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 | Surveyed channel edge (16 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (34 ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 12 to 45 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (34 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (34 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
Come spring, look for black sea bass tight to the bank in 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 15 to 60 ft in summer and finish the year down in 19 to 62 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted underwater rock: a rock pile around 10 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is midday and early morning. A bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (10 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 15 to 60 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (10 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 16 to 62 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (10 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 19 to 62 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (10 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
In spring, tautog (blackfish) run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 35 ft before dropping to 19 to 62 ft for winter. Spring tautog (blackfish) concentrate at NOAA charted underwater rock, a prime-rated rock pile around 7 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (10 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (10 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 19 to 62 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (10 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
The chart marks 28 structure features on Napeague Bay; the deepest is Sharp break at about 37 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 Napeague Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Napeague Bay is about 62 ft (19 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 Napeague Bay.
Surveyed channel edge is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 34 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 Napeague 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.
Fresh Pond (Hither Hills) 2 mi · Fort Pond Bay 4 mi · Fort Pond 5 mi · Lake Montauk 7 mi · Big Reed Pond 8 mi · Three Mile Harbor 8 mi · Northwest Harbor 11 mi · Coecles Harbor 13 mi · Pettys Bight 14 mi · Fresh Pond (Shelter Island) 15 mi · Pipes Cove 17 mi · Fishers Island Sound 18 mi, CT
See how Napeague Bay 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; 97% measured, 3% 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.