Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up free Sign inSign up freeSalt water depth chart
Today's read
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
243-acre Pettys Bight fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (99.51% measured, 100% assessed), source-traceable coastal structure, regional fish-survey occurrence, sourced forage timing and verified public access. The water tops out around 43 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 243 acres wrapped in 3.3 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.5) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 29% of this chart. Figure 1.4 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.5 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Orient Harbor, is 3 mi to the southwest.
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 13 to 43 ft before dropping to 13 to 43 ft for winter. Summer striped bass concentrate at NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth, a prime-rated channel edge around 40 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig most summer days.
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 20 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder (24 ft) | 3-6 inch paddletail, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (40 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Pencil popper, Baitfish swimbait |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (40 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Come spring, look for bluefish tight to the bank in 3 to 20 ft. They move out to 5 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder: a gravel shoal around 24 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is 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 | NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder (24 ft) | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder (24 ft) | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder (24 ft) | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (40 ft) | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: summer flounder (fluke) in 5 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 35 ft before dropping to 13 to 43 ft for winter. The spot to know is NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth, a channel edge in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for summer flounder (fluke) in fall. Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead 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 25 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA BlueTopo measured channel shoulder (24 ft) | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 8 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 11 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 45 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (40 ft) | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 60 ft | midday | NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth (40 ft) | Slow bottom rig + strip |
In spring, black sea bass run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 11 to 43 ft before dropping to 13 to 43 ft for winter. Spring black sea bass concentrate at NOAA charted underwater rock, a prime-rated rock pile around 25 ft. Fish it in midday and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser most summer days.
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 | 10 to 40 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 11 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 60 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 11 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 80 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 40 to 100 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Early season tautog (blackfish) use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 13 to 43 ft. Put NOAA charted underwater rock first on the milk run — a rock pile near 7 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab 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 | 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 (25 ft) | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 9 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Spring puts scup (porgy) in skinny water — 5 to 25 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 43 ft. NOAA charted underwater rock is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring scup (porgy). Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. A hi-lo porgy rig or a micro metal jig covers the summer program.
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 25 ft | dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Small hi-lo rig, Micro jig tipped with bait |
| Summer | 6 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | NOAA charted underwater rock (7 ft) | Hi-lo porgy rig, Micro metal jig |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | Compact vertical jig, Hi-lo rig |
| Winter | 10 to 43 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 50 ft | midday | NOAA charted underwater rock (25 ft) | Small slow vertical jig |
Pettys Bight also holds winter flounder (8 to 30 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 20 structure features on Pettys Bight; the deepest is NOAA BlueTopo measured inlet-channel depth at about 40 ft.
Access data: New York DEC — Suffolk County Boat Launch Sites. 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 Pettys Bight specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Pettys Bight is about 43 ft (13 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), scup (porgy), winter flounder on Pettys Bight. The list combines the water's survey records with habitat-filtered species from broader official evidence; those additions are plausible occurrences, not exact-water abundance or guaranteed catches.
NOAA charted underwater rock is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 25 ft of water that rates prime for black sea bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Pettys Bight 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.
Orient Harbor 3 mi · Coecles Harbor 6 mi · Pipes Cove 8 mi · Fresh Pond (Shelter Island) 8 mi · Northwest Harbor 9 mi · Three Mile Harbor 11 mi · Niantic Bay 12 mi, CT · Twotree Island Channel 12 mi, CT · Dodge Pond 12 mi, CT · Gorton Pond 13 mi, CT · Duck Island Roads 14 mi, CT · Napeague Bay 14 mi
See how Pettys Bight stacks up: best striped bass lakes in New York · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes in New York · best winter flounder lakes in New York · best bluefish lakes in New York
Browse all New York fishing maps. 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.