Coastal conditions
Inlet · New York · New York Marine District
Shinnecock Inlet is a Long Island barrier-inlet fishery spanning jetties, ocean surf, and bay-side water. Striped bass and bluefish are the primary targets, with summer flounder, tautog, and black sea bass also supported.
Gale Warning
Severity: Moderate
Gale Warning issued October 20 at 5:51AM EDT until October 21 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Begins Oct 20, 2026, 6:00 AM · Ends Oct 21, 2026, 6:00 PM
Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.
Fair
BetaConditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.
Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.
Do Not Go
Safety gate
An active marine warning affects this destination.
See the active alert cards above for official details.
Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.
Updated Oct 20, 2026, 7:43 AM
Marine Buoy
Marine Buoy selected
Source
Regional buoy measurements may differ from protected or nearshore conditions at this destination. Significant wave height is not shoreline surf or breaker height.
Updated 1 hr 3 min ago
Updated 1 hr 3 min ago
Updated 1 hr 3 min ago
Updated 1 hr 3 min ago
Marine Buoy
Marine Buoy selected
Water temperature
Window Oct 13, 2026, 7:43 AM – Oct 20, 2026, 7:43 AM (rolling 168 hours)
Water temperature over the past 7 days. 284 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 8:10 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 6:40 AM Range 62.6°F to 63.9°F.
Available observations were broadly steady.
284 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 8:10 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 6:40 AM
New York · New York Marine District · Shore
Approximately 36 miles away
Connecticut · Southern New England · Harbor
Approximately 37.7 miles away
Connecticut · Southern New England · Sound
Approximately 40.8 miles away
Falling
Next low tide
Oct 20, 2026, 8:36 AM
In 53 min
0.9 ft MLLW
Previous
High · Oct 20, 2026, 3:31 AM · 2.6 ft MLLW
Following
High · Oct 20, 2026, 3:49 PM · 2.9 ft MLLW
Tide station at destination
Shinnecock Inlet open coast · NOAA 8512354
Current predicted speed is not available for this interval.
Next: Max ebb · 8:48 AM · 2.3 knots
Following: Slack · 12:44 PM · 0.0 knots
Current prediction station at destination
Shinnecock Inlet · NOAA ACT3536 · 0.1 mi from destination
Planning note
These values are tidal-current predictions, not real-time observed currents. They describe conditions near this prediction station rather than the entire surrounding coastal area.
Data coverage
This station provides max-current and slack-water events, but not a continuous current-speed timeline.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Shinnecock Inlet jetties, ocean surf, and bay side
A barrier-inlet fishery spanning inlet jetties, ocean surf, and the bay side. Each side of the inlet has different current, wave, and access constraints.
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Bass, bluefish, and summer flounder are the primary warm-season mix, with tautog and black sea bass on appropriate hard structure.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Striped bass
PrimaryMorone saxatilis
Currently in a typical seasonal window
Typical seasonal window: MAY — NOVEMBER
Bluefish
PrimaryPomatomus saltatrix
Currently in a typical seasonal window
Typical seasonal window: JUNE — OCTOBER
Summer flounder
PrimaryParalichthys dentatus
Typical seasonal window: MAY — SEPTEMBER
Tautog
SecondaryTautoga onitis
Currently in a typical seasonal window
Typical seasonal window: APRIL — MAY; SEPTEMBER — NOVEMBER
Black sea bass
SecondaryCentropristis striata
Currently in a typical seasonal window
Typical seasonal window: MAY — OCTOBER
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Typical October approaches include surf and inlet-seam casting and jetty structure and bay-edge fishing for Striped bass and Bluefish.
Surf and inlet-seam casting
Work plugs and soft plastics in beach troughs or inlet seams from secure legal access.
Best for
Modes
Setup
Jetty structure and bay-edge fishing
Fish hard jetty bottom or controlled bay-side drifts for structure species and flounder.
Best for
Modes
Setup
Surf and inlet casting setup
Longer shore setup for plugs and soft plastics.
Used for
Jetty and bay-bottom setup
Bottom tackle for jetty structure and bay-side flounder edges.
Used for
Common lure and fly families associated with this month’s techniques.
Pencil-style surface plug
LureSurface · Sweep, twitch, pause
Work across current seams and keep the plug on top without excessive splash
Minnow-style swimming plug
LureShallow to midwater · Steady, twitch, pause
Cast across seams and let the plug track with the current
Soft-plastic paddle tail
LureShallow, Midwater, Variable · Steady, twitch, jig
Swim steadily through seams or hop lightly near bottom transitions
Reef and structure jig
LureBottom · Jig, slow
Maintain near-bottom contact without burying the jig in snags
Tautog jig
LureBottom · Jig, slow
Keep the jig close to structure and move it in short lifts
General seasonal guidance, not a live recommendation, product endorsement, or guarantee of success.
Use designated public beaches, jetties where open, and lawful bay-side launches; respect posted access and navigation restrictions.
Jetty rocks, strong inlet current, breaking surf, and boat traffic are significant hazards.
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
Editorial and agency sources supporting this fishery profile. Live and predicted conditions use the separate Data Sources section.
Inlet · New York
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Tide predictions
Tide station at destination · 0.4 mi from destination
Predicted tidal currents (max/slack)
Current prediction station at destination · 0.1 mi from destination
Regional marine observations
Regional marine station · 55 mi from destination
Coastal and marine hazard alerts
Planning limitation
Coastal conditions can vary over short distances. Predictions and remote observations are planning information, not guarantees of access or safety.