Sandy Hook Bay

[rycher]

Thanks to everyone who takes time to help out a noob such as me. 

I fished this amazing bay this week and had a few questions re: fluking for anyone familar with the bay.

The questions are not to steal anyones honeyhole but to gather general info in taking out my kids vs going out with the guys in a 16 skiff. With limited time off from work and limited funds to boat fish too often, my efforts here are to maximize the few times a year i do go out.

1) Any peticular spots other than off the tip to drift? Hauling my 9 year olds out here to get bounced by party boats would have me too nervous to fish and probably have the wife calling in a second insr. policy on me.

2) Does the back area (off fair haven, in nave,shrews) stop producing fluke later in the season (aug.)? This info would help me for next year knowing to take the kids in june/July vs Aug.

3) Can the water be too deep/shallow for fluke if not a 'dropoff' spot?
 I am guessing drifting the 'drops' is best but @ times can cause more time re-drifting than fishing.

4) As a side note, in reading maps re: depth, how can I determine the distance between depths so i can guess-timate how far off the shore I would want to be? i am sure tide has abit to do with it in the bay but am curious

[Andys Delight]

Thanks to everyone who takes time to help out a noob such as me. 

I fished this amazing bay this week and had a few questions re: fluking for anyone familar with the bay.

The questions are not to steal anyones honeyhole but to gather general info in taking out my kids vs going out with the guys in a 16 skiff. With limited time off from work and limited funds to boat fish too often, my efforts here are to maximize the few times a year i do go out.

1) Any peticular spots other than off the tip to drift? Hauling my 9 year olds out here to get bounced by party boats would have me too nervous to fish and probably have the wife calling in a second insr. policy on me.

2) Does the back area (off fair haven, in nave,shrews) stop producing fluke later in the season (aug.)? This info would help me for next year knowing to take the kids in june/July vs Aug.

3) Can the water be too deep/shallow for fluke if not a 'dropoff' spot?
 I am guessing drifting the 'drops' is best but @ times can cause more time re-drifting than fishing.

4) As a side note, in reading maps re: depth, how can I determine the distance between depths so i can guess-timate how far off the shore I would want to be? i am sure tide has abit to do with it in the bay but am curious

Gonna be honest, the entire SH bay is pretty bouncy on Saturdays just from all the boat traffic.  With a couple 9 year olds in a 16 foot skiff I'd be nervous myself.  A pretty decent spot has been just east of the Earl Ammo restricted area.  But again, please be careful, there's alot of boat traffic there.  I've seen plenty of skiffs around there, that's not the worry so much as the 9 year olds. 

[CapBob]

Rycher

Can be tough w/o a sounder. You want to fish the channel edges, drop off lumps etc.

The Rivers procuce but are better in May/June.

Can still get good fish in the Shrewsbury River from the Highlands Bridge to the Bay. Tip of Hook near Bug Light and Coast Guard station 9don't get to close to station). The Terminal Channel, this is the channel heading into the Navy Peir, do not go inside the white Bueyss. Leaonardo Channel on the East side of the pier.


Still getting good fish in the Bay.

The rentals from Highlands let you go out as far as the tip of Sandy Hook to the NAvy Pier.


Hope this helps  Good Luck

Bob

[CapBob]

you can rent a bigger boat 20-22 ft at Schupps Landing in Highlands

[rycher]

Great info, thanks all.

I know enough to stay away on weekends since traffic is insane. Are Fridays included as insane or just a little busier? Thursday was great.

If kids are on the trip, I will either rent a bigger boat or keep the skiff closer to the marina or try the Shrews. Hiking out to the tip would be out for sure.

Having not known any area other than the tip as suggested to me by Schupps, the info here is priceless to me.

[BigAl13]

Ealry shallow fall deep that's how I usually work the flatties. There in the shallows all the time but the later in the season the doggies and robins make it hard.