South Shore · Point Lookout, NY
Sea Bass Fishing on Long Island
Black sea bass on the reefs and wrecks off Point Lookout. Half-day party-boat sailings — bait, tackle, rod and reel included.
The south-shore sea bass grounds
Black sea bass are structure fish — they stack up on the wrecks, rockpiles and artificial reefs that line Long Island's south shore. When the season opens the Super Hawk runs to the pieces the captain's been fishing for nearly four decades: sunken barges, the Rockaway Reef, and the natural bottom off Point Lookout that reliably holds keepers.
September and October are the standout months — cooler water, bigger fish, less crowding on the pieces. In-season we run half-day trips twice a day; off-season we schedule full-day trips out to the deeper structure when the weather cooperates.
What to expect on a sea bass trip
- Half-day trip — sail at 7 AM or 1 PM out of 1501 Lido Blvd, Point Lookout.
- Anchored or drift fishing directly over structure.
- High-low rig with green or pink Gulp, squid or clam — bait supplied.
- Rod, reel and tackle included — jigs welcome (BYO if you have them).
- Crew helps beginners drop, hook-set and unhook — a great mixed-bag day for kids.
- Keepers cleaned and filleted at the dock (tip-based).
Tips from the crew
Drop straight down and hold bottom. Sea bass sit tight to structure — a rig that drifts out of the strike zone won't get bit. Add weight if you're not feeling the bottom.
Set on the second tap. The first tap is usually a short-strike. Let the fish load up, then a firm lift-set puts the hook home.
Jig them if the bait bite slows. A 2–4 oz diamond jig with a plain teaser or bucktail worked slowly over the pieces picks off the bigger sea bass sitting above the pack.
Sea bass FAQs
Long Island sea bass fishing questions
When is sea bass season on Long Island?
New York's black sea bass season is split — a summer opening (typically late June) followed by a fall re-open into December. Peak numbers on the south-shore wrecks and reefs land in September and October when the water starts to cool.
What tackle catches black sea bass?
A 3–8 oz bank sinker on a high-low rig with green or pink Gulp, squid or clam belly is the standard. On the Super Hawk we supply the rod, reel and rig — bring jigs if you want to work them, sea bass hit diamond jigs and small bucktails aggressively.
What's the size and bag limit for sea bass in NY?
NYSDEC sets the size and bag limits per season and they change each year. The crew reviews the current keeper size on the boat before every trip. You fish under the vessel's party-boat permit — no personal license required.
How much is a Long Island sea bass trip?
Half-day sea bass trips sail twice a day in season. Call (516) 607-3004 for current pricing — the sailing schedule on the homepage shows which days are running.