Fish guide
Stingrays (hazard)
Atlantic, southern, cownose and butterfly rays.
Common incidental summer catch here: cownose rays (some over 50 lb) on the South Shore, in Shinnecock Bay and the western Sound, and bullnose rays in the South Shore bays. Listed so you can identify them; not a target.
Showing the fish for Long Island, NY.
Season in Long Island
OTW: an enormous population of cownose rays on the South Shore and hundreds in Shinnecock Bay, plus bullnose rays at the Meadowbrook Bridge, in August 2020; cownose rays sliding into Northport and the western Sound in August 2026. Summer only in the reports found. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| South Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Virginia Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Outer Banks | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Upper Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Middle Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
South Shore bays and inlets, Shinnecock Bay, Northport and the western Sound in July and August.
Bottom, in the wash and trough.
Handling
- Venomous barbed tail spine
Shuffle your feet when wading. Never handle the tail. Cut the line as close as you can rather than trying to unhook a ray. A sting needs hot water and medical attention.
Keep or release
Release.
Typical: unknown. Large: A 50 lb cownose ray hooked at Jones Inlet (2020 report).
New York (marine waters) limits
No state limit entry.
Last checked 2026-10-17. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. New York State DEC fishing regulations.
Sources
- On The Water: Long Island and New York Fishing Report, August 13, 2020 (Angler knowledge)
- On The Water: Long Island and NYC Fishing Report, August 20, 2026 (Angler knowledge)