Info Sought on NYC area

[Schoolie]

Hi,

My eldest daughter moved to Brooklyn last year. I recently paid her a visit, then drove her to JFK to catch a business flight to San Francisco.

As I was checking the map, I realized for the first time just how close she is to Rockaway Point, Jamaica Bay, and the Gateway Area. I have heard and read that there is decent fly fishing in those areas for Stripers, Blues and the other usual fly rod suspects.

Since I have access to free accomodations, I was thinking maybe I should take advantage, and make some trips down there this coming season.

Is anyone willing to share any info with me? Not looking for top secret specifics or honey holes (if there is such a thing in SWFF)... just basics, like what time of year is hot, general locations, best tides for a particular area (if anyone is kind enough to share a particular area), basic, general directions, parking, and access, are 4x4's allowed over sand, if so how do I get a permit....

Anything anyone thinks might be helpful and are willing to share is much appreciated. Feel free to respond via PM, since I know that keeps info off the open board. Discretion is, after all, the better part of valor!

I can reciprocate with info on the Farmington River, the lower Hous, CT and Rhode Island shorelines, or the Cape.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

[brushfly]

Dig around a bit, J-Bay has tremendous opportunities for the fly fisherman. Search this site and others. There's been articles written in SW Fly fishing mags as well. Going from what friends tell me, without a boat your somewhat limited to the shore along Rockaway, Breezy Point and the bridges but by boat, kayak or small craft you can get into everything from a great weakfish run beginning in April to ablies and bones, sometimes Skippjack and Bluefin very near shore. The backwaters around JFK and the surrounding marshes offer some great topwater and very fly friendly waters. When bunker are in some big bass can be on them first light or any time of day.

There are a number of guides for boat trips as well as a kayak guide or two who can get you on fish if you want to go that route. Seach again, One More Cast comes to mind but there's plenty of others. This fishery also will last right into the winter in regard to bass but it's on the outside anywhere from Breezy to Sandy Hook, NJ.

Wish I had more specifics to PM you but it's an excellent area, maybe second to Montauk in regard to Long Island opportunities. There's plenty of guy's on this board who fish this area specifically and hopefully they'll point you in better direction.

[Slappy]

J-Bay is host to one of the biggest kayak fishing tournaments in the northeast. This year's will be the weekend of May 16. If you kayak at all and want an intro to J-Bay, that is the time and place to do it. J-Bay can be big and windy in a kayak, so best to get experience with others there first.

[Capt. Danny Reich]

hi schoolie,
i work in jamaica bay, i'm a fly fishing guide. it is a great fishery, starting (depending on water temps of course) in april, and fishing well usually thru xmas. all of the areas you mentioned fish well. there are not a lot of wading opportunities there though, maybe some access from cross bay blvd. also breezy point can be good for that (but be careful... watch the tides and the onshore wind and swell. and wear corkers) and of course the beaches. you can get a 4x4 permit, i believe there is an office at robert moses... you can look it up online if you type "gateway national seashore" or something along the lines of "surfcasting at breezy point" (yes i know you're fly fishing but the access permit will be the same). i think they are around $50. (i could be wrong). as far as tides and spots, of course you are going to want to poke around and see what works. there are some places where you could swing flies on a falling tide around bridges... if you look at google earth it will probably make more sense. you could also fish the beaches and sometimes catch great fish in very shallow water (especially in late may/early june), and of course, huge blitzes in the fall.
good luck and i can help further email me at captdreich@yahoo.com
best,

danny