7 Docks And Piers To Fish On Long Island - The Fisherman

7 Docks And Piers To Fish On Long Island

dock
The month of August is a great time to his a local dock or pier.

August on the docks and piers can be hot! Here are seven that feature hot fishing too.

Growing up, a good portion of my fishing came from off a local dock. I used to either ride my bike or get a ride down to it. These local docks hold a plethora of fish throughout the season but year after year, August always seemed to be a hot month to be at the local dock. Realistic catches during this summer month included snapper blues, kingfish, blowfish, porgies and the occasional summer run weakfish. And if you like to go crabbing, know that August can be one of the best months to head down to a local dock with a net and scoop up some of these summer treats as well.

One question I was always asked through the years was where to go. Not everyone knows of the local docks that are fishing friendly and will provide you and your family with a good experience. In this feature I’ll be discussing ten spots around the island that you can bank on for great dock fishing this month.

Canarsie Pier

Located right off the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, Canarsie Pier has been a staple on the western end of Long Island when it comes to fishing. During the month of August you can find a mix of species at the pier with even the possibility to catch a striper or bluefish during the summer heat. Canarsie Pier includes a parking lot, a fishing pier, restrooms, a picnic area, a playground, and a kayak launch. The pier is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Cars are allowed from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you ride public transportation, take the L train to Rockaway Parkway, then transfer to the B42 bus to get to the pier.

Cararsie Pier
Cararsie Pier. Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service

 

Tanner Park Pier

Tanner Park dock is located at 1 Tanner Park in Copiague. This town of Babylon location has amenities such as food services and restrooms to make for a more enjoyable fishing experience. If you have a Town of Babylon sticker you can park for free or if you don’t you can pay a fee and park in the lot. Bob’s Bait & Tackle is located up the block form the dock. The owner Bob says the fishing at the location in the month of August consists of bottom fishing for kingfish and blowfish with a nice mix of snappers and crabs. For the bottom species, Bob recommends using a small piece of clam of Fishbites on a tiny hook. For the snappers, a good old fashioned spearing on a hook under a float will do the trick. For additional info be sure to give him a visit before hitting the dock for fishing.

Tanner Park
Tanner Park. Photo Courtesy of Google Maps.

Cedar Beach Pier

Aside from the excellent fishing inside the harbor and along the actual Cedar Beach, the Cedar Beach pier located at the end of Harbor Beach Rd. in Mt. Sinai gives anglers excellent opportunities to fish the beautiful, newly dredged entrance to Mt. Sinai Harbor. A new rock jetty directly to the north of the pier helps attract additional marine life for better odds at catching. You can stop at Ralph’s Fishing Station to get the latest intel on what to use at the pier during the month. Typical catches include porgies, fluke, snappers, sea robins and schoolie stripers during the month of August. A town of Brookhaven parking sticker will allow you to park here or you can pay a parking fee if you are a non-resident to access this area.

Cedar Beach Pier
Cedar Beach Pier. Photo courtesy of town of Brookhaven.

Mascot Dock

This dock is locally called Patchogue Dock but its official name is Mascot Dock. The dock was rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy and outfitted with bait stations, new benches and small cleats for tying crab lines to. Snappers and the occasional summer weakfish make a showing at the dock during the month. Both small tins and spearing on a hook under a float work for both species. On the bottom you can find excellent kingfish and blowfish fishing by using tiny pieces of clam or sandworm on a hook and a 1-ounce sinker. The closest tackle shop to the dock is J and J Sports. The staff at the shop is very savvy on fishing the location and will always put you in the right direction. The nice thing about the dock is it’s open to anyone until 5 p.m. After that you will need to be a Village of Patchogue resident to park at the dock.

Mascot Dock
Mascot Dock. Photo courtesy of village of Patchogue.

Bergen Dock

This West Babylon dock is located at the end of Bergen Ave. and sits right by Bergen Bay Docks tackle shop which provides fuel, bait, tackle, ice and even a deli if you get hungry. So weather you want to go fishing off the dock at the end of the road for a mix of summer species or you need to visit the tackle shop for fishing or boating necessities or ask the owner Scott a question, this is a great location to keep in mind. Parking restrictions are in place for non-residents at the fishing pier.

Bergen Dock
Bergen Dock. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.

John J. Fritz Memorial Park Pier

Located within Smith Point County Park, this pier offers amazing fishing opportunities all season long. But specifically during the month of August you can encounter good fluke fishing here if you want to bounce the bottom with a bucktail jig tipped with a Gulp or Fishbites bait. Snappers and cocktail blues hit the pier during the month and they can be caught on Kastmasters, Sidewinders or snapper poppers. Spearing works for the snapper blues too. Weakfish can be a little more common in this area during the month so don’t be surprised if you see one at the end of you line after a fight. To access the park, simply take William Floyd Parkway south, crossing the drawbridge over Narrow Bay, bear left around the traffic circle and you’re at the park. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there is a fee to park. However, if you get to the park before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m., anglers have the pleasure of using the pier and parking, free of charge. Not far from the location is Dick’s Bait & Tackle located at 286 Neighborhood Rd. in Mastic Beach. Rich, the owner, knows all the ins and outs of fishing the pier and will put set you up with the proper rigging for whatever seasonal species you’re looking to target.

John J. Fritz
John J. Fritz Memorial Park Pier. Photo courtesy of Michael Caruso.

Ponquogue Pier

The old Ponquogue Bridge or now known as Ponquogue Pier can be one of the most productive piers when it comes to catching an array of different species. August can see stripers, bluefish, fluke, porgies, snappers at the usual visitors but the bridge can also see some southern visitors at well. Divers have seen cubera snapper, sheepshead and various tropical fish among the pilings. If you’re looking for a month of August slam, this may be the location for you to try. Parking on the north side is free in the designated parking area and no permit is required. However, once the spaces are filled, you cannot park there. A permit is required for parking on the more expansive south side, where any Town Trustee Boat Launch Permit or Town Parks and Recreation Full-Season Resident, Non-Resident or Senior Citizen permit will suffice. Non-residents can purchase a Boat Launch/Parking Permit from Southampton Town at 6 Newtown Road in Hampton Bays (631-728-8585). Scott Jeffrey of East End Bait and Tackle in Hampton bays is a person to see if you are interested in learning local intel on the pier. Give his shop a visit for a wealth of information and the correct rigs for the spot.

Ponquogue Bridge
Ponquogue Bridge. Photo courtesy of town of Southampton.

Related

author

Inshore Tuna: South Jersey Checklist

Put these 7 hot, midrange spots in your pocket for the season ahead!

denise

Stock Report: NJ’s Rainbow Redux ‘24

Gear up for trout season kick-off on April 6. 

weakfish

Wondering Over Weakfish: Return Of Tiderunning Surf Phantoms

What’s actually more rare, the weakfish or the weakfish angler?