When Stripers Are Around Sheepshead Bay
The best windows for striped bass fishing out of Sheepshead Bay are May and June, then October into December, according to local operators. The Sheepshead Bay port page covers the run out, the inlet and where to read conditions, so this guide stays on the fish. The Northeast striper guide (see also the wider Atlantic Northeast guide) covers the coastwide migration. For timing here, the fleet’s schedule is the best evidence.
| Window | Months | What the local fleet shows |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | May and June | Gypsea private striper charters start in mid-May |
| Fall | October into December | Operators name it as the second peak |
| Night and evening | Through the windows | Midnight Fleet lists nightly striper trips. Sea Queen VII runs evening striper trips |
Party boats that sail after dark show when the fish are being caught, so plan your own trips to include evening and night hours.
Where Boats Run and the Grounds That Hold Fish
Boats out of Sheepshead Bay run to Jamaica Bay and New York Harbor, with structure at Rockaway Reef and bottom grounds off Sandy Hook and Coney Island. On The Water describes the port as situated near striper grounds nearby, "like Jamaica Bay and New York Harbor."
Two grounds have numbers you can plot:
| Ground | Depth | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Rockaway Reef (Rockaway Artificial Reef) | 30 ft | 4.2 nm SSE of Rockaway Inlet |
| Marilyn Jean bottom grounds (New York Harbor, Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, Coney Island) | 20 to 50 ft, depending on area | Varies by ground |
Jamaica Bay
Jamaica Bay is one of the striper grounds near the port, per On The Water, and one of the Marilyn Jean bottom grounds at 20 to 50 ft depending on area. It is the nearest named ground, which makes it a sensible first one to learn.
New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty
On The Water names New York Harbor as a striper ground, and it is also a Marilyn Jean bottom ground. An On The Water writer’s account has Gypsea fishing in front of the Statue of Liberty in July. That is one documented trip rather than a pattern.
Rockaway Reef
The Rockaway Artificial Reef site sits in 30 ft of water, 4.2 nautical miles south-southeast of Rockaway Inlet. Plot it relative to the inlet on Chart Contours before you leave the dock. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Sandy Hook and Coney Island
The Marilyn Jean fleet works bottom grounds at Sandy Hook and Coney Island, along with the Harbor and Jamaica Bay, at 20 to 50 ft depending on area. Set your drift for the depth of the ground you pick.
How Stripers Are Fished Locally
Locally, stripers are fished by drifting live eels at night and by jigging, with private charters running from mid-May. The striped bass guide covers general technique. This section covers what the port’s fleet does.
- Drifting live eels at night. The local method after dark, matching Midnight Fleet’s nightly trips and Sea Queen VII’s evening trips.
- Jigging. Sea Queen VII runs a Bass and Blues jigging trip.
- Private charters from mid-May. Gypsea runs private striper charters from mid-May, per On The Water.
Live Eels at Night
Eels are drifted after dark. The fleet’s night and evening schedule indicates when this fishing happens.
Jigging Bass and Blues
Sea Queen VII’s Bass and Blues trip puts bass and bluefish on the same trip. The coastal gamefish guides cover the overlap species.
Private Charters From Mid-May
Gypsea’s private striper charters start in mid-May, which lines up with the May and June window.
Who Fishes for Stripers Out of Sheepshead Bay
Five Sheepshead Bay operators list striped bass: Sea Queen VII, Captain Dave III, Marilyn Jean, Midnight Fleet and Gypsea. Their party boats and charters show the timing and grounds in practice.
| Operator | Boats and specs | Striper trips |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Queen VII | 85-foot boat, up to 80 passengers per the operator site (Sea Queen VII trip schedule) | Evening striper trips and the Bass and Blues jigging trip |
| Captain Dave III Fishing (captdaveonline.com) | Capt. Dave III, a 95-foot steel vessel per the operator site | Lists striped bass |
| Marilyn Jean Fishing (mj2fishing.com) | 70-foot Marilyn Jean IV, Marilyn Jean V and Captain’s Lady | Marilyn Jean striper trips on bottom grounds at 20 to 50 ft |
| Midnight Fleet (midnightfleet.com) | Captain Jeff and crew per the operator site, at Pier 1, Sheepshead Bay | Nightly striper trips |
| Gypsea Charters (fishgypseany.com) | Gypsea II and Lil’ Gypsea (35-foot, up to 6 private) | Private striper charters from mid-May |
The fleet’s night, evening and mid-May schedules line up with the same windows you would plan your own trips around.
FAQ: Striped Bass Fishing Out of Sheepshead Bay
When is the best time for striped bass fishing out of Sheepshead Bay?
May and June, then October into December, per the operators. Midnight Fleet lists nightly striper trips and Sea Queen VII runs evening striper trips.
Where do boats run for stripers?
Jamaica Bay and New York Harbor, plus bottom grounds at Sandy Hook and Coney Island in 20 to 50 ft depending on area.
How deep is Rockaway Reef and where is it?
30 ft, 4.2 nautical miles south-southeast of Rockaway Inlet.
Do Sheepshead Bay boats fish for stripers at night?
Yes. Midnight Fleet runs nightly trips and Sea Queen VII runs evening trips. The local method after dark is drifting live eels.
Which charters target stripers?
Sea Queen VII, Captain Dave III Fishing, Marilyn Jean Fishing, Midnight Fleet and Gypsea Charters. Gypsea runs private charters from mid-May on the 35-foot Lil’ Gypsea, which takes up to 6.
Where are the striped bass rules?
Waters off the port fall under New York rules. Check the New York regulations before fishing. Limits are not restated on this page.
