Kayak Fishing After Sandy

[kayak1]

My Family has been in Lavallette now for over 50 year's and for me I have had 48 of those great years fishing the back bay and beach front from Point Pleasant to Island Beach State Park.

Looking back through the years over on the Island the beach would change a little each year with sand bars and deep cuts and the back bay never really changed all that much from year to year.

While fishing the surf you could look down and see the pier in Seaside and walk over the dunes along the beach.

I always had a good game plan when going out fishing the surf or bay......I always knew where to park my truck.....I always  knew what docks held fish and what street ends the residents would not mind me fishing at 3:00 am.

The last 2 months we have been working hard on the house in Lavallete to get the family back home......The drive over the bridge down Rt.35 is bad enough to see just what damage Sandy has done.

I have been looking over some aerial pictures from before the storm and after Sandy washed over the Island....and Its all gone.

So for 2013 and looking forward in life....I will enjoy what I have today.

Kayak-1

[ped579]

I hear you loud and clear Dave.  I have been in Toms River for 52 years now and have enjoyed living on a lagoon for many of those years.  It is going to be something new to venture out this Spring to see how things have changed.

I know you enjoy going out after dark and I can imagine what changes have taken place all over the bay. This year will be a year of getting to know an old friend all over again.  I am looking forward to getting back on the water but I am not looking forward to all the changes that have taken place.

They are talking about doing some dredging in the bay and I am just wondering how far they will go.  If they do it right and by right if they map the floor of the bay first to locate the debris and then clean up that mess first and then dredge the channels I can see the bay being a place where we can safely begin to boat again.  Time will tell.

Hoping to be able to get out with you one day this year.

Happy Catching

Paul

[kayak1]

I was over the Mantoloking Bridge yesterday on my way down to Lavallette for the first time after the storm.....

The ride down Rt.35 going South I was blown away on the damage in Mantoloking and Normandy Beach.....

But what got me was the amount of sand that washed down from the ocean and is in the bay.....Some areas that had 2-3 feet of water are filled in sand.

These are the things you see on TV in other States......WOW.....Now I know just how they feel.

Kayak-1

[kayak1]

I was told that Ortley Beach has a total of 50 homes that are missing.... along with the cars in the drivways....... I know in just Lavallette there is tons of foating wood and objects.

I'm not 100% sure what fishing is going to look like in the spring.

Kayak-1

[IrishAyes]

Going to be a lot of new structure in the bays and rivers due to the storm. There will be cuts and holes where there were no cuts and holes before. Debris will be plentiful. 'Be very careful' will be the catch phrase of the day.

[paul-e]

Read that Capt. Kris of Fish Stix hit a partially submerged house or the entire roof of the house, floating 3 miles out in the ocean this week.
All were OK and the boat is fine.

Be careful out there guys.

[ped579]

It is going to be an eerie feeling to be on the bay this summer.  I for one am looking forward to get back on the bay but apprehensive as to what I will find out there.

The fish finder will be working overtime that is for sure.  I wonder if the DEP is going to use satellite's to find the debris in the bay or rely on side scan sonar to locate things like cars and boats that might be in the deeper channels.

I am sure this summer will be very trying for everyone.  Patience is the word I would use for now.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Floatsup]

I usually don't head out south, but I'll let you know how Long Branch - Seabright - Highlands area go. I'm so jonesing to go out, just too cold for me.

[ped579]

Unless you have a dry suit going out now would be foolish anyway.  I will wait till the water begins to warm up a bit before venturing out for this old guy.

Plus I have to clean up the boats before I can use them again.  Sandy made a pretty good mess of them as I had to wait till they removed some trees for me to get to them.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Floatsup]

I hear you Paul. I do have a dry pants, and a decent top, but still, you get your hands wet, or a wave to the face funtime goes right out the window. LOL Anyways cheers guys.

[kayak1]

Paul.... speaking about cleaning up the gear. I put the Yak in my garage along with my boat and trailer thinking it would be safe.

so we loaded the boat with things we didn't want to get wet if the water came up that high.

After the storm past and we made it back to Lavallette......I was so happy we put the the stuff in the boat to keep dry......Right.....Wrong everything in the boat got soaked. I never put the drain plug back in after washing it and pulling into the garage.

I just was not thinking that day.

Kayak-1

[ped579]

Stuff happens Dave.  Both our boats are fine as far as I can see.  So I think I will begin to get rid of the boredom and start the slow process of getting them ready for the season ahead.  I just about stripped everything off them for the winter so it will take some time to put things bace onto them.

I am not sure what to add this year as money is a bit tighter this year.  I'll see.

Happy Catching

Paul