What You'll Find at Long Sands Beach

Long Sands is a public beach that runs roughly a mile along York's waterfront, and it holds fish year-round—though the species and where they sit changes with the season. The beach faces east into the Atlantic, which means you get a clean drop-off and consistent structure that attracts striped bass, mackerel, and bluefish depending on the month. The sand itself is hard-packed near the waterline, which makes wading easier than it sounds, and there's a gradual slope that keeps you in fishable water without needing to wade out past your waist for most of the year.

Summer brings the biggest crowds and the most predictable fishing. Stripers move into the shallows to feed on sand eels and silversides, and you can sight-cast to them on calm mornings before the beach fills with swimmers. Fall is when mackerel show up in serious numbers—they'll hammer small metal jigs and spoons, and the water is cold enough that you can fish most of the day without the sun beating you down. Winter fishing is quieter but productive if you know what to look for: stripers still patrol the deeper water just beyond the break, and you'll have the beach mostly to yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Long Sands faces east with a gradual sand slope, making it accessible for wading anglers who want to reach deeper water without heavy gear.
  • Summer stripers feed in the shallows on sand eels and silversides, especially in the first two hours after sunrise before swimmers arrive.
  • Fall mackerel runs are reliable and aggressive on small metal jigs and spoons, with water temperatures that let you fish comfortably all day.
  • Parking is available at the beach entrance, but arrive early in summer or plan to walk from overflow lots on nearby streets.
  • No special permit is required to fish from the beach, but Maine saltwater fishing regulations apply to all species you keep.

Access and Parking

Long Sands Beach has a dedicated parking lot at the main entrance on Long Beach Avenue. In summer, this lot fills by mid-morning on weekends, especially on warm days when swimmers are out. If the main lot is full, you can park on nearby residential streets—Long Beach Avenue itself has street parking, and several side streets a block or two back have open spots. The walk from overflow parking is short enough that it's worth the trade-off for may provide access.

There is no fee to park or to fish the beach. The beach itself is open year-round, though lifeguards are on duty during summer months (roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside the swimming season, you have the beach to yourself, which is when the fishing can be best. Access to the water is unrestricted—you can walk straight down from the parking area or from any point along the beach.

Summer Stripers in the Shallows

From June through August, striped bass move into Long Sands to hunt sand eels and silversides in water that's often less than four feet deep. The best window is the first two hours after sunrise, before swimmers arrive and before the water gets too warm. Fish the edge of the sandbar where it drops off slightly—usually 30 to 50 yards out—and cast parallel to the beach rather than straight out. Stripers will be moving along that break, feeding as they go.

Use small soft plastics (3 to 4 inches) rigged on 1/4-ounce jig heads, or live sand eels if you can get them from a local tackle shop. A 7-foot medium-light spinning rod with 8-pound braid gives you the sensitivity to feel the bottom and the backbone to set the hook. Retrieve slowly and let the lure work the drop-off—stripers in summer are feeding but not desperate, so a natural presentation beats a fast retrieve. Early morning is non-negotiable; by 9 a.m. the swimmers are in the water and the fish have moved deeper or left the beach entirely.

Fall Mackerel and Bluefish

September and October bring Atlantic mackerel into the shallows, and they are aggressive hunters that will hit almost anything small and shiny. The water cools down, which means you can fish most of the day without worrying about the heat or the fish moving to deeper water. Mackerel will take small metal jigs (1/2 to 1 ounce), spoons, and even small soft plastics. They're not picky, and they're fast—you'll often hook multiple fish in a single session.

Bluefish often show up alongside the mackerel, especially in late September and early October. Bluefish are stronger and more aggressive than mackerel, and they'll test your drag. Use slightly heavier jigs (3/4 to 1 ounce) and be ready for a fight. The same 7-foot medium-light rod works fine, though if you expect bluefish you might step up to 10-pound braid to handle the teeth and the head shakes. Cast out and retrieve steadily—both mackerel and bluefish respond to movement, and you don't need to be subtle.

Winter and Spring Fishing

Winter stripers are deeper than summer fish, but they're still there. From November through March, focus on the deeper water just beyond the break—usually 6 to 10 feet out. The fish are less active in cold water, so use live bait when you can: live mackerel or herring will outfish artificials most of the time. A simple fish-finder rig with a 2 to 3-ounce sinker will keep your bait on the bottom where the stripers are hunting.

Spring (April and May) is a transition period. Water temperatures are rising, and stripers begin moving back into the shallows to feed before they head offshore for the summer. You'll see a mix of winter and summer patterns—some fish still deep, others starting to hunt the flats. Use both live bait and small soft plastics, and fish the edges of the sandbar where deep and shallow water meet. Spring can be inconsistent, but when the bite turns on it can be fast.

Tackle and Gear Setup

A 7-foot medium-light spinning rod with a 2500 to 3000-size reel is the standard setup for Long Sands. Pair it with 8 to 10-pound braid for better sensitivity and easier casting of light jigs. Add a 12 to 15-pound fluorocarbon leader (about 18 inches) to handle the abrasion from sand and rocks. This setup handles everything from summer stripers to fall mackerel without needing to swap rods.

Bring a small tackle bag with a variety of jig heads (1/4 to 1 ounce), soft plastics in natural colors (pearl, chartreuse, white), a few metal spoons, and a small net if you plan to keep fish. A pair of wading shoes with good grip will save your feet on the hard sand, and polarized sunglasses will help you spot fish in the shallows. If you're fishing early morning or late evening, a headlamp is useful for rigging and landing fish.

Regulations and What to Keep

Maine saltwater fishing regulations apply at Long Sands. Striped bass have a minimum size of 18 inches and a daily limit of one fish per angler (this can change, so check the current Maine Department of Marine Resources regulations before you go). Mackerel have no size limit and no daily limit, so you can keep as many as you want. Bluefish have a 12-inch minimum and a 10-fish daily limit.

You do not need a special permit to fish from the beach, but you should carry your Maine saltwater fishing license if you're keeping fish. If you're fishing for stripers specifically, check the current regulations—they change year to year, and the limit of one fish is designed to protect the population. Catch-and-release fishing requires no license, so if you're just fishing for the experience you can do that without paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fish Long Sands during the day in summer?

Technically yes, but the fishing is poor once swimmers are in the water. The fish move deeper or leave the beach, and the crowds make it unpleasant. Early morning (before 8 a.m.) is when the fishing is good. If you want to fish during the day, come back in fall or winter when the beach is empty.

Do I need to bring my own bait?

No. Several tackle shops in York and nearby towns sell live sand eels, mackerel, and herring during the season. If you're fishing artificials (jigs and spoons), you don't need bait at all. Live bait is most useful in winter when stripers are deep and less active.

What's the best tide for fishing Long Sands?

The incoming tide is generally better because it pushes baitfish into the shallows and brings stripers with them. The outgoing tide can be good too, especially if you fish the deeper water beyond the break. Fish the tide that works with your schedule—the difference between a good tide and a poor one is usually smaller than the difference between fishing at dawn and fishing at noon.

Is there a better beach nearby if Long Sands is crowded?

Short Sands Beach is just north of Long Sands and often less crowded, though it's smaller and has less gradual slope. Ogunquit Beach is a few miles south and holds similar fish, but parking is harder to find. If Long Sands is packed, Short Sands is worth trying, or come back to Long Sands at a different time of day or season.

Can I fish at night?

Yes. Night fishing for stripers can be productive, especially in summer when the water is warm and the fish are active. Bring a headlamp and be aware that the beach is unlit and can be disorienting in the dark. Fish the same areas you would during the day—the sandbar break and the deeper water beyond it.