What Old Inlet offers and when to fish it

Old Inlet sits on the eastern edge of Fire Island, between Brookhaven and Moriches Bay, and it's one of the quieter tidal inlets on Long Island's south shore. The inlet itself is narrow and shallow in most places, but it holds striped bass and weakfish during spring and fall migrations, and it's a reliable summer spot for fluke and small blues. The real draw is that it stays calmer than the open ocean beaches nearby—the inlet mouth faces west into Great South Bay, so you get protection from the Atlantic swell.

Timing matters here more than at most inlets. Spring run (April through May) brings striped bass moving east toward their spawning grounds; fall (September through October) brings them back west. Weakfish show up in the same windows. Summer fluke fishing peaks in June and July, when the water warms and the bay flats hold good numbers of keeper-sized fish. Winter is slow—most anglers move to deeper water or switch to other methods.

Key Takeaways

  • Old Inlet is a shallow, protected tidal inlet best fished during spring and fall migrations when striped bass and weakfish move through.
  • Access is limited to boat launch at nearby Brookhaven town ramps or private boat owners; there is no direct shore access to the inlet mouth itself.
  • Summer fluke fishing on the bay flats inside the inlet can be productive in June and July, especially on slack tide and the first hour of the outgoing tide.
  • Tidal flow is strong during peak ebb and flood; fish the slack water and the first hour of movement for the most consistent action.
  • A New York State fishing license is required for all anglers; saltwater registration is not required but a boat registration is if you launch your own vessel.

How to reach Old Inlet by boat

There is no public shore access directly to Old Inlet itself. Your only option is to launch a boat from one of the Brookhaven town ramps and run across Great South Bay to the inlet. The closest launch is at Brookhaven town's Forge River ramp in Moriches, about 3 miles west of the inlet. From there, you cross the bay at idle speed—the water is shallow and marked with channel buoys, and running fast in the wrong spot will ground you.

If you don't own a boat, charter captains working out of Moriches and Center Moriches regularly fish Old Inlet for striped bass and fluke. A half-day charter typically runs four to six hours and costs between $400 and $600 for a small group, though prices vary by season and captain. Call ahead to confirm they're running and to book a spot; many fill up during the spring and fall runs.

The inlet mouth is marked by a jetty on the west side and a natural sandbar on the east. The channel between them is roughly 100 yards wide at high tide and narrows considerably at low tide. Approach at idle speed and watch the water color—darker water is deeper. If you're unfamiliar with the inlet, go at high slack tide on your first trip; the current is weakest then and you'll have the most water under the hull.

Striped bass and weakfish in spring and fall

Spring stripers (April and May) move through Old Inlet on their way to spawning grounds in the Hudson River and other northern rivers. They're not stopping to feed heavily—they're in transit—so you need to be in the right place at the right time. Fish the inlet mouth itself, especially the deeper water along the west jetty and the channel edges. Use live bunker or herring if you can get them; if not, large shads (5 to 7 inches) and eels work. Fish the slack water and the first hour of the outgoing tide, when baitfish are funneled through the inlet and stripers are keyed in.

Fall stripers (September and October) are the opposite—they're feeding hard on their way south, and they'll stay in the inlet longer. The same locations work, but you'll have better action on the incoming tide in fall, when baitfish are pushed into the bay and stripers follow. Weakfish show up in both seasons but peak in October; they prefer smaller baits and lighter tackle, and they're more active on the flats inside the inlet than at the mouth itself.

Water temperature is the trigger. Stripers and weakfish move through when the water hits the mid-50s in spring and drops back to the mid-50s in fall. If the water is still in the 60s in late April, the run hasn't peaked yet. If it's still in the 60s in early October, you're early. Check the water temperature at a nearby NOAA buoy or ask a local tackle shop—they track it daily.

Summer fluke fishing on the bay flats

Once the water warms in June, stripers and weakfish leave the inlet and move to deeper offshore water. Fluke move in to take their place. The best fluke water is on the shallow flats inside the inlet and across the bay—depths of 8 to 15 feet. Fluke are bottom feeders and they like sand and mud, so avoid the grass beds and stick to the open flats.

Fish the slack water at high tide and the first hour of the outgoing tide. Fluke bite best when the water is moving slowly or not at all; strong current pushes them off the bite. Anchor or drift slowly over the flats, using a light jig (1/4 to 1/2 ounce) tipped with a small squid or shrimp, or a live killie if you can catch them. Keeper fluke (19 inches) are common in July; June fish tend to run smaller.

Small blues (8 to 12 inches) also show up on the flats in summer, especially in July and August. They're fun on light tackle but not worth keeping. If you're catching a lot of small blues and few fluke, move to deeper water or wait for the tide to change.

Tides, currents, and the best times to fish

Old Inlet has a strong tidal current because it's the main water exchange between Great South Bay and the Atlantic. At peak flood (incoming tide), water rushes into the bay at 2 to 3 knots. At peak ebb (outgoing tide), it rushes out just as fast. This current concentrates baitfish and predators, but it also makes fishing difficult if you're not positioned right.

Fish the slack water—the 30 to 45 minutes around high tide and low tide when the current stops. During slack water, baitfish aren't being swept through the inlet, so stripers and weakfish move in to feed. The first hour of the outgoing tide is also productive, especially in fall, because baitfish are being pushed into the bay and predators follow.

Avoid peak flood and peak ebb unless you're specifically targeting the current seam—the line where fast water meets slower water. Baitfish congregate there, and so do stripers, but you need a heavy jig or sinker to stay on bottom, and you'll lose a lot of tackle. Most anglers find it easier to fish the slack water and the first hour of movement.

Tackle and bait for Old Inlet

For stripers and weakfish, bring a medium-action spinning rod (6 to 7 feet) spooled with 15- to 20-pound braid. Braid casts farther and holds bottom better in current than monofilament. Tie a 2- to 3-foot fluorocarbon leader (20 to 30 pounds) to reduce visibility in the clear inlet water. Use a barrel swivel to connect braid to leader—it prevents twist and makes leader changes quick.

Live bait is the gold standard: bunker, herring, or eels for stripers; smaller shiners or silversides for weakfish. If you can't get live bait, large shads (5 to 7 inches) and soft plastics work. For fluke, a light jig (1/4 to 1/2 ounce) tipped with squid or shrimp is standard. Bring extra jigs—you'll snag bottom in the shallow flats.

A boat with a shallow-draft hull (18 to 22 feet) is ideal. The bay averages 4 to 6 feet deep, and the inlet mouth is 6 to 10 feet at high tide. A center console or open boat gives you room to move and cast. If you're chartering, ask the captain what tackle to bring; most provide rods and reels, but bringing your own gives you more control.

Regulations and licensing

New York State requires a fishing license for all anglers 16 and older. You can buy a one-day license for about $10 or a seven-day license for about $20 at most tackle shops or online through the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website. Saltwater registration is not required in New York, but your boat must be registered with the state if you're launching your own vessel.

Striped bass have a minimum size of 18 inches and a daily limit of one fish per angler (as of 2024; check the DEC website before you go, as regulations change). Weakfish have a minimum size of 12 inches and a daily limit of five fish. Fluke have a minimum size of 19 inches and a daily limit of four fish. Possession limits are the same as daily limits—you can't keep more than the daily limit even if you fish multiple days.

Fire Island is part of the Fire Island National Seashore, but fishing is allowed in the inlet and the bay. There are no special restrictions for anglers, but respect posted signs and stay out of swimming areas during daylight hours in summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fish Old Inlet from shore?

No. The inlet mouth is surrounded by Fire Island National Seashore, and there is no public beach access. You must fish from a boat. The closest shore fishing is at Westhampton Beach or Moriches Bay, both several miles away.

What's the best tide for stripers in spring?

Fish the slack water and the first hour of the outgoing tide. Stripers are moving through the inlet quickly in spring, so you need to be in the channel when they pass. The outgoing tide pushes baitfish out of the bay and into the inlet, which triggers feeding.

Do I need a boat to fish Old Inlet?

Yes. There is no shore access. You can launch your own boat at the Brookhaven town ramp in Moriches, or book a charter captain who runs out of Moriches or Center Moriches. Charter trips typically run four to six hours and cost $400 to $600 for a small group.

What size fluke should I keep?

Fluke must be at least 19 inches to keep. Measure from the tip of the mouth to the tip of the tail. Most fluke in Old Inlet in June run 16 to 18 inches; July fish are larger and more likely to be keepers.

Is Old Inlet better than other south shore inlets?

Old Inlet is smaller and shallower than Moriches or Shinnecock, so it's calmer and easier to fish in a small boat. It's best for spring and fall stripers and summer fluke. If you want bigger stripers or want to fish in rougher water, Moriches or Shinnecock are better choices.