Bayside Anglers Group Ltd.

Bayside Anglers Group Ltd. was founded in 1994 as a fishing club and shortly thereafter was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In addition to organized fishing trips, competitions, and social events, our club is dedicated to the promotion of environmentally sound recreational fishing practices and stewardship of our aquatic resources. To this end, we have developed a number of free community events to reveal to our neighbors the world class fishing at their doorstep, and to give them the opportunity to join us in preserving it. These events are important to the community, especially in a city like ours where just a small percentage of residents recognize the superb natural resources that abound. Only after they recognize the existence of our fertile estuary can they learn to value it and thus be motivated to protect it. Our community is one of diversity, and many recent immigrants are astounded at the potential of our fishery, but unclear about rules and regulations. We instruct our participants not only on the techniques of catching fish, but also on the conservation laws that must be followed to maintain the delicate balance of users and wildlife.

Many New Yorkers have unpleasant misconceptions about our waters. Like other industrial cities, many of our waterways were seriously damaged by sewage, debris and commercial pollutants, but an unswerving effort to reverse this situation has paid off big time. Waters now are cleaner than they have been anytime in over 100 years. New Yorkers need to see for themselves that Mother Nature has reasserted herself, and right in their own backyards. You don’t need to live in Mayberry to bike to the ol’fishin’ hole, and that big’un might well swim within sight of the Statue of Liberty.

“Bayside Anglers Waterfront Day”: An Earth Day Celebration

Every April since 1994, we have hosted a spring cleaning of our beloved Little Neck Bay shoreline. We spend the day clearing a winters worth of floating debris from the nearly 3 mile stretch of public shoreline. The lasting effect of our past clean-ups has enabled us to expand the scope of this event from just the reed covered wetlands at the back of the bay to all of Joe Michaels Mile, the Fort Totten jetty, then on to Little Bay Park and to the sea wall at Utopia Parkway. This event brings together other fishing clubs, local residents, businesses, schools, colleges and various community groups as well as unaffiliated friends of the environment from all over the tri state area.

“Bayside Anglers Family Fishing Festival” at Kissena Park Pond

In June we host Our Annual Family Fishing Festival. This event is scheduled in conjunction with the state “no-license” weekend. We invite children and their parents to Kissena Park Pond for a day of catch and release fishing. Raffles, prizes, and giveaways add to the excitement as we introduce a new generation to our favorite pastime. Children are given lessons on how to use their tackle, bait their hooks, and most importantly how (and why) to release their fish. Trophies are awarded for the three largest caught fish. We supply the bait, tackle, and expertise as we help children (and some parents) catch their first fish. It’s a memory that lasts a lifetime and it’s an honor for us to be able to share in it.

“Little Bay Park Shoreline Clean-up”

The later part of July finds us at our mid-summer Little Bay Park Shoreline Clean-up. Once again we are clearing floating debris and trash that has accumulated along the rocky shoreline, but along a smaller stretch than our spring event. This particular area collects debris blown from the adjacent recreational parkland, and so it benefits from a mid-season “touch up”.

“Bayside Anglers Snapper Derby” at Bayside Marina

Our Annual Bayside Snapper Derby in late August puts kids on Bayside Marina Pier on the hunt for snapper bluefish with all bait and gear provided by the club. This fun and exciting event gives children from the neighborhood the opportunity to engage in saltwater catch and release fishing for trophies, prizes and giveaways. Trophies are awarded for the most caught fish. Many of our young participants have never fished before, and many of them leave marking the derby as the day they caught their first fish ever.

The Bayside Anglers Group is out on the water almost every day. We strive to set an example to promote conservation, sportsmanship, and the camaraderie of fishermen, but mostly we are out there to catch fish and have a good time. If this is the kind of club you might like to be a part of, why not come to one of our monthly meetings and introduce yourself?

All general meetings are open to the public.

Our general club meetings are held at 7:30 PM on the first Tuesday of every month at M.S. 158 Marie Currie Middle School 46-35 Oceania St. just 3 blocks south of Northern Blvd in Bayside Queens.

Occasionally we hold general meetings in a different location. If you are interested in attending one of our general meetings, it would be a good idea to contact our Club President to verify the meeting location.