NJ Kayak Fishing - Tips and Trips

[kayak1]

Its on guys..... Bay or Ocean.... We had some large Bunker schools in Ocean Beach late in the day Monday.... The back country of the bay is just crazy with some kepper bass.....

How about in your area?

[SeaFlea]

Wish I could contribute but there aren't too many bass or blues in the Deptford Mall.
Big Timer Creek, local water shed for the Delaware, is as tidal as the day is long but not a fishery by any means... 

[DAK]

Dang boyscouts/cubscouts/softball/baseball/4H club/fixing up the house! Tryin to find time to get out is like finding an honest politician...

[ped579]

I hear you loud and clear.

I have my new toy but trying to find the time to use it lately has been crazy.  I was hoping to get out a little today but the wind here has been brutal.  Wind gusts over 30mph and sustained winds from 10 to 15.  Plus the threat of rain for a while starting possible tonight is a total bummer.

Well at least I won't have to do outside work...

[DAK]

Hey Paul that must be like torture. I know I do that every winter - I get a new toy, rod, reel, or something, and have to stare at it until spring comes. Hope you get to enjoy yours soon!

Remember, take it slow at first and put yourself in some small water until you get a feel for your abilities. Enjoy!

[ped579]

I had the boat out last Sat for a while just to get use to the feel and making sure of my self getting in and out.  I have to say my confidence factor has gone up quite a bit.  I was able to sit on the gunwale and feel very comfortable in getting out and up.  I think, at least for me, the Quest is just the boat I was looking for.  I went across boat wakes and it was a piece of cake as long as I head into the wake.

Today I am working on having the kayak hanging off the ceiling in the garage by using pulleys and I am making a sling for it so it does not hang off the bow and stern eyelets.  It will be supported from underneath as though it was on a rack.

Now if I can only get a beak to get it out and fish off it.

[SeaFlea]

Paul,

Hanging the 'yak from the ceiling on pullies is a great space saving idea!! Slings will protect the hull's shape.

Heading into the wake is the safest, as you gain more experiance you'll be able to run parralell with them (within reason).

[barrell]

I had the boat out last Sat for a while just to get use to the feel and making sure of my self getting in and out.  I have to say my confidence factor has gone up quite a bit.  I was able to sit on the gunwale and feel very comfortable in getting out and up.  I think, at least for me, the Quest is just the boat I was looking for.  I went across boat wakes and it was a piece of cake as long as I head into the wake.

Today I am working on having the kayak hanging off the ceiling in the garage by using pulleys and I am making a sling for it so it does not hang off the bow and stern eyelets.  It will be supported from underneath as though it was on a rack.

Now if I can only get a beak to get it out and fish off it.

1/3 back from both ends. Nightime is the rightime to fish now. Just cut back on your sleep

[ped579]

That is what I figured.  I will have only a 6' span between eye hooks and with pulleys it should be real simple to get it up and out of the way.

As far as night fishing I do not feel ready yet to venture out.  I have only had the kayak out twice so far.  It is early morning or just before dark for me right now.  I will get there and once I feel confident I will be out any time I can get a free couple of hours.

[kayak1]

March and April things where looking good for us back bay kayak fishing..... Things seem to have fell apart for some reason....

I cant find any good bait....The bunker are not as active as last month.

It seems that after the red worm hatch the fishing just slowed down to nothing in this area of the bay..... Going North this weekend.... need to feel a good bend in the rod..........

[ped579]

I have no doubt as to why, the bay used to be salt water now with all this damn rain it is a freshwater lake.  Maybe we should try for largemouth bass instead of stripers.   

[barrell]

Try bridges at night. I had 11 on friday. 4 on saturday and 5 on sunday. The new pro anglr spoiled me rotten. I am never getting in a narrow kayak again unless the launch forces me to.

[kayak1]

Saturday.... Was up in the Raritan Bay off of Belford..... We left the beach at around 5:00am in some very heavy Rain and fog...... Its crazy just how shallow the water is.....We fished in 10 feet of water at first light with clams....not even a hit.....Then found some deep water of 25 feet..... not a fish..... then at around 9:ooam the wind just stopped and the sun came out...... and so did the fish.....not great but we didn't do bad.....we had 2 bass and tons of big blues.....better days ahead

[SeaFlea]

Sounds like a decent day... "tons of blues" will at least pique your interest! Any size to the bass?

[Hotrod]

Try bridges at night. I had 11 on friday. 4 on saturday and 5 on sunday. The new pro anglr spoiled me rotten. I am never getting in a narrow kayak again unless the launch forces me to.

  Nice Fish

[kayak1]

The bass we caught where all small.... But the blues are those big one in the teens....It was great to have 2 rods going at the same time.... 1 with the bunker chunk...the other with a popper.

I will be doing some weakfishing this weekend down our way.....also we had some large schools of bunker working just off the beach front all day Sunday and Monday.... These are all good signs that of a great spring bass run of big fish on the ocean side......

The fishing will then turn to night fishing in the bay..... To ocean fishing during the day chasing those bunker pods...... This is one of the best times to have a ocean kayak.... There is nothing better then being right in the center of a large school of bunker.... with 25-45 pound bass blowing through the school and your 6 inches off the water.... This is one site that never gets old..... See you on the water

Dave

[ped579]

Good report Dave,  I was hoping to get out today but Murphy just rose again.  I have a leak in the upstairs bathroom and now I have to cut part of the downstairs ceiling to get to it and replace the sheetrock.  This blows...

[kayak1]

Well it was on before the big blow on Monday night..... Sunday and Monday where just all out nuts for ocaen kayak fishing.... the surf was just right with some small waves to get out and back in.....

The bunker where all over the surf.....with some nice bass feeding heavy.... Now is the time to put some very large bass in your kayak and feel what its like to land a 40 plus pound fish in a kayak.... you will be hooked for life.... Hope to see ya on the water

Dave

[SeaFlea]

With a "rehersal dinner" to attend this evening and the wedding to attend tomorrow I doubt that I'll be in any shape to get out over this weekend...    Next weekend is another 'snafu' since I'll be "on-call" all day Saturday. I just can't catch a break(!), muchless a fish!
S'ok though... You all keep catching 'em and I'll keep on reading about it! Good to see y'all are catching and posting!!

[kayak1]

The weather is not looking all that great.... the ocean was very rough today with some big waves.... your not missing anything right now....next weekend may just be a different story

The bait guys are doing all the fish from the surf....