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J-Bay saves the day and the trip!

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  • J-Bay saves the day and the trip!

    I planned to fish on a return trip from dropping off my daughter in Mass. and made arrangements to target NJ on my way home to MD. Despite growing up in Huntington, I was unfamiliar with the waters I had in mind.


    I reached out to the brotherhood of kayak fisherman through the kfa-ny.org forum and James (Onelastcast) responded. I explained that my current plan was to fish Raritan Bay, but I wanted to explore other possibilities that might be more protected from the NE winds that were forecast. He graciously offered the information I needed to hear to change my current plan.


    I rearranged my logistics and started driving from Worcester, MA at 4am. The car was pointed towards Jamaica Bay.


    The intel James shared was that many monster fish were being taken on Tube and Worms. I, of course, forgot to pack any tubes, so I hit Crossbay Bait & Tackle on the way to the launch and stocked up on new tubes and a dozen live sandworms. I pushed away for the launch at 830am to a cresting tide, light NE winds and 59 degree water.


    I set out and quickly discovered crowded water of both kayakers and boaters, mostly snagging and live lining bunker. This is not a familiar practice to me, so I trolled the perimeter of the pack and picked up a personal best Bluefish at 27” while I watched and learned. I caught another 20" blue just as I finally connected with James on the water.

    Soon after the tide went slack and the winds picked up. There was a long lull before the bite returned. It had been a slow day for everyone, unlike the prior two, when there were many fish to be had.

    Eventually the winds laid down and there was sporadic chatter on the radio of individual fish being picked off. A 32" here, a 37" there. I really wanted in on the fun. I hadn't put in all the efforts to make this trip happen to come away without a Rockfish. I had come close to calling it a day when another report of a bruiser being caught pulled me back out for another loop.


    As I worked a ledge along the beach, I had a strong takedown. it was a healthy fighter and, initially, I wasn't sure if it was a blue or striper. All I could see was that it was making a snarled mess of my second line. I would gain ground and then she would dive deep and make the drag sing falsetto.


    When I finally got her up, I knew that this was going to be my new personal best. While I have been kayaking for years, I have only been fishing stripers for about 10 months. I had been working hard to crack into the 30" club. I've had plenty of high 20" fish, so it was good to get the monkey off my back


    I hauled her into the boat and she measured in at 33". Not a monster, but more than enough to put a smile on my face that lasted the rest of the day.


    I made one last pass and picked off another strong fish in the high twenties, but as I was grabbing the hook, she shook it in the instant I was about to haul her aboard.


    I kept at it for another hour, but ended the day with only 4 fish. I am not complaining. Not in the least. I will take 4 fighters over a bunch of our Chesapeake residential schoolies any time.


    The following day, I executed my original plan of hitting Raritan Bay to search of big bluefish, but came up empty. The blues that had been smashing bunker for weeks hadn’t come into the bay for 3 days prior to my arrival….


    The day after, I tried Delaware bay near Lewes and again came away stinking of skunk….


    As it turns out, James not only put me on 2 new PBs, but he saved my entire trip! I will long be appreciative of his generous assistance to make that happen. It seemed that he took almost as much pleasure at my catching fish as I did!


    Needless to say, I will be back! Where else can you catch big fish and find real NY bagels and pizza?

    G0021888.jpgDSCN3946.jpgG0017034.jpgG0021943.jpg
    Last edited by EMSer; 05-27-2016, 08:40 AM.
    Bruce

    Hobie PA 14
    Wilderness System, Thresher 155

  • #2
    Congrats on the personal bests. The fight of those ocean-run fish compared to our bay fish is incredible. Jamaica Bay has afforded me my personal bests as well.
    <insert witty comment here>

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    • #3
      Bruce,

      Congratulations on ANOTHER successful quest for big fish.

      Your ability to find the monsters and better yet, to get them in your boat, is amazing.
      Mark
      Pasadena, MD


      Slate Hobie Revolution 13
      Hidden Oak Native Ultimate 12
      Lizard Lick Native Ultimate FX Pro

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      • #4
        Originally posted by MetroMan View Post
        Congrats on the personal bests. The fight of those ocean-run fish compared to our bay fish is incredible. Jamaica Bay has afforded me my personal bests as well.
        aint that the truth! any idea why? lack of oxygen in the bay make them lazy? post spawn and they havent recovered yet until they get north?
        sigpic

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        • #5
          How long doe J-Bay stay productive? Is it a migration run fishery that hosts residential schoolies when the big girls leave or do big fish stick around for a while?
          Bruce

          Hobie PA 14
          Wilderness System, Thresher 155

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          • #6
            Congratulations Bruce! Great report and beautiful fish!

            Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
            -Mustafa
            ابو مسقوف AbuMasgouf (Aboo-Mas-goof ): Fish Roast Papa
            2016 Hobie Outback
            2012 Hobie Revolution 13
            "Be humble to whomever you learn from and whomever you teach."-- Imam al-Sadiq (as)

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            • #7
              Congratulations Bruce! Well worth the trip
              2015 OLIVE HOBIE OUTBACK
              2013 OLIVE HOBIE OUTBACK
              2013 OCEAN KAYAK TRIDENT 13


              JEREMY D

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