Willowbrook Lake

A stone's throw from the heart of the famed Staten Island Greenbelt, Willowbrook Lake offers relaxed fishing in a tranquil setting. This shallow, foot-shaped lake offers a variety of shorelines, including weed beds, shallow slopes, fallen trees and small coves. Some larger bass may be found lurking in the brush! A nearby carousel and plenty of open space make this an excellent location to take that young first timer.

Physical Features:

Area: 4.89 acres
Shoreline Length: 0.43
Maximum depth: 4-5 feet

Access:

The park is located next to the College of Staten Island off of Victory Blvd and Richmond Ave in Staten Island.

From Manhattan

Take a train to South Ferry Terminal in Manhattan. Take the Staten Island Ferry to Staten Island and transfer to bus S62. Exit at Morani St in Staten Island and walk south on Morani St to the lake.

From Brooklyn

Take the R train to 85th St in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Exit the subway and take bus S95 or S53 on 4th Ave between 86th St and 87th St toward Staten Island. Exit at Victory Blvd in Staten Island and transfer to the S62 bus on Victory Blvd going west. Exit Morani St in Staten Island. Walk south on Morani St to the lake.

Fish Species:

American eel, bluegill, brown bullhead, golden shiner, goldfish, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass and common carp.

Fishing:

To catch a good-sized largemouth bass, try a soft plastic bait like a plastic worm Texas or wacky rigged. In summer try reaction baits such as topwater lures, crankbaits, jerk baits, spinnerbaits, or swimbaits. Bluegill, pumpkinseed and bullhead can be caught using a bobber and live worms. Remember to tamp down all barbs on hooks as New York City regulations require the use of barbless hooks.

Regulations:

Special regulations apply. See Special Fishing Regulations for NYC.

New York City Department of Parks and Recreation rules require the use of non-lead weights and barbless hooks

Fishery Highlights and Reports

Data from a fall 2022 boat electrofishing survey shows an improvement in the largemouth bass population of Willowbrook Lake compared to a 2020 survey. Bass catch rate and relative weights were higher than previously found, while sunfish were captured in similar numbers. A significant finding was the lower number of carp observed in 2022 compared to the number captured in 2020. Full findings can be found in the Willowbrook Lake Technical Brief (PDF).