Shelter Island - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

army guy · 06-28-2014, 05:30 AM

Going to launch at Shelter Island this morning. Looking for bass. Had good luck in past in grass by the pier. Any recommendations?

Rufus · 06-28-2014, 10:22 AM

Army Guy...it's the craziest thing. There are spots in SD Bay (and everywhere else) that consistently produce fish for me. And then there are the surprises.

I fished the bay last weekend with nice choivies. Worked my ass off with a beautiful incoming tide for some shorts and barely legal bass, butts and the proverbial lizard fish.

In three hours I was out of chovies, then the tide went slack. I was screwed, so I started throwing plastics on my way back to the SI ramp. In short order I had half a dozen dinner fish. All caught within a 1/4 mile of the ramp. Go figure.

You know, I used to have a diesel boat and would think nothing of running down to the 425 or to the 181. Then I got smarter and stopped running over fish to find fish. Then I got real smart and sold the big boat and bought a yack. Now I work every inch of water under my yack and enjoy the livin' shift out of my time on the water.

Ya, there are honey holes in SD Bay, but for the most part I've caught just as many dinner fish were and when I wasn't expecting them.

Work the water, don't ignore areas because you've never caught any fish there. Change baits often. You'd be surprised at what you'll catch. And most of all, enjoy your time on the water!

Mad Daddy · 06-28-2014, 01:02 PM

Change baits often. You'd be surprised at what you'll catch. And most of all, enjoy your time on the water![/QUOTE]

X10

jorbon · 06-29-2014, 09:08 AM

I've been catching huge sand bass in the area in front of the pier. I would paddle out past the pier west of it, and drift past the pier using flukes. No shorties so far!

Aaron&Julie · 06-29-2014, 11:35 AM

Just a note, the new law has the minimum length for all bass at 14 inches, with no more than 5 kept total, i.e. 3 sand bass+2 calicos, etc.
Have fun.

J.Mac · 06-29-2014, 09:26 PM

I've never eatin a spottie and I wouldn't reccommend it either. Sd harbor is one of the dirtiest. Very little water circulation. And if eating fish is why youre out there, it's probably cheaper to buy a couple filets at the grocery store than it is to fish that day (all expenses included)

Catch n release

Dail14 · 07-01-2014, 04:50 PM

The liver is considered a fatty tissue that acts as the filter of the body. It breaks down all poisons and toxins found in the body that he body is capable of metabolizing. That is why most drugs cause liver damage. The body collects them there and they either are metabolized or dit there and cause problems.

army guy · 07-01-2014, 09:23 PM

I launched late in the afternoon because I had to wait for a relative. Family fished the pier and caught 3 sand bass. Afternoon wind and choppy water made the trek around the harbor challenging on the outback. I was the only kayak out there late Saturday afternoon. No fish for me. The worse day of fishing is better than the best day of work.

I've launched many times from SI and found that there is sand bass on the bottom in the grass near the pier and plenty of Spanish mackerel at about 6 ft depth if you want it. And the tidal current is fairly strong. I didn't know about the issue of the cleanliness of the water there. Thanks for all the feedback.

JDW · 07-02-2014, 01:51 PM

Hi Army guy, I was in the Army too. My mos was 11b. What was yours? Here are some links i found about eating fish from the bay and mission bay...

http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/sandiegobay.html

http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/missionbayfish.html

Hope that helps!

JDW

Rufus · 07-05-2014, 01:02 PM

Oh ya, the fish in San Diego Bay glow in the dark and will give you herpes.

If I were you I'd fish Oceanside or Dana Harbor and leave SD Bay and the fish to those of us who are immune from that sort of silly talk.

(Snerk)

06-28-2014, 05:30 AM	#1
army guy Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 14	Shelter Island Going to launch at Shelter Island this morning. Looking for bass. Had good luck in past in grass by the pier. Any recommendations?

06-29-2014, 11:35 AM	#5
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Just a note, the new law has the minimum length for all bass at 14 inches, with no more than 5 kept total, i.e. 3 sand bass+2 calicos, etc. Have fun. __________________ "Never say die"

07-02-2014, 01:51 PM	#9
JDW Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 57	safe to eat fish in. SD Bay? Hi Army guy, I was in the Army too. My mos was 11b. What was yours? Here are some links i found about eating fish from the bay and mission bay... http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/sandiegobay.html http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/missionbayfish.html Hope that helps! JDW

07-05-2014, 01:02 PM	#10
Rufus Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Ocean Beach Posts: 90	SD Bay Oh ya, the fish in San Diego Bay glow in the dark and will give you herpes. If I were you I'd fish Oceanside or Dana Harbor and leave SD Bay and the fish to those of us who are immune from that sort of silly talk. (Snerk)

06-28-2014, 10:22 AM	#2
Rufus Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Ocean Beach Posts: 90	Army Guy...it's the craziest thing. There are spots in SD Bay (and everywhere else) that consistently produce fish for me. And then there are the surprises. I fished the bay last weekend with nice choivies. Worked my ass off with a beautiful incoming tide for some shorts and barely legal bass, butts and the proverbial lizard fish. In three hours I was out of chovies, then the tide went slack. I was screwed, so I started throwing plastics on my way back to the SI ramp. In short order I had half a dozen dinner fish. All caught within a 1/4 mile of the ramp. Go figure. You know, I used to have a diesel boat and would think nothing of running down to the 425 or to the 181. Then I got smarter and stopped running over fish to find fish. Then I got real smart and sold the big boat and bought a yack. Now I work every inch of water under my yack and enjoy the livin' shift out of my time on the water. Ya, there are honey holes in SD Bay, but for the most part I've caught just as many dinner fish were and when I wasn't expecting them. Work the water, don't ignore areas because you've never caught any fish there. Change baits often. You'd be surprised at what you'll catch. And most of all, enjoy your time on the water!

06-28-2014, 01:02 PM	#3
Mad Daddy Father of two Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Corona Posts: 22	Change baits often. You'd be surprised at what you'll catch. And most of all, enjoy your time on the water![/QUOTE] X10

06-29-2014, 09:26 PM	#6
J.Mac Junior Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 12	I've never eatin a spottie and I wouldn't reccommend it either. Sd harbor is one of the dirtiest. Very little water circulation. And if eating fish is why youre out there, it's probably cheaper to buy a couple filets at the grocery store than it is to fish that day (all expenses included) Catch n release

07-01-2014, 04:50 PM	#7
Dail14 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 123	The liver is considered a fatty tissue that acts as the filter of the body. It breaks down all poisons and toxins found in the body that he body is capable of metabolizing. That is why most drugs cause liver damage. The body collects them there and they either are metabolized or dit there and cause problems.

07-01-2014, 09:23 PM	#8
army guy Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 14	I launched late in the afternoon because I had to wait for a relative. Family fished the pier and caught 3 sand bass. Afternoon wind and choppy water made the trek around the harbor challenging on the outback. I was the only kayak out there late Saturday afternoon. No fish for me. The worse day of fishing is better than the best day of work. I've launched many times from SI and found that there is sand bass on the bottom in the grass near the pier and plenty of Spanish mackerel at about 6 ft depth if you want it. And the tidal current is fairly strong. I didn't know about the issue of the cleanliness of the water there. Thanks for all the feedback.