Long Island’s protected bays and salt marshes support blue crabs, but the best trip starts at a verified public pier—not a private marina or roadside bridge.
Captree State Park
New York State Parks documents two large fishing piers for crabbing and fishing at the east end of Jones Island.
DEC public-access map
Use New York DEC’s marine boat-ramp and fishing-access map to find present public facilities along Great South Bay, Moriches Bay and Long Island Sound. A launch dock may restrict stationary fishing.
License and limits
The New York recreational marine registry is not required solely to harvest crabs. Current hard-shell blue-crab minimum is 4½ inches and the daily crab limit is 50; egg-bearing crabs may not be retained. Pot users must follow terrapin-excluder and marking rules.
Horseshoe crabs
Horseshoe crabs are separately regulated and ecologically important. Do not use old language from this site that treated them as casual food or implied unsafe preparation.
Current NY saltwater and crab rules · NY marine public access
Official sources checked August 13, 2026.