Raritan Bay kayaking this Spring...

[JimmyMas]

Looking for anybody that wouldn't mind fishing with me this Spring in the Bay for Striper's. Never Kayaked the bay and any help with safety and where to launch from would be great. Are there any Kayak only fishing clubs that have scheduled GTG's? Thanks in advance. Jim

[AndyS]

Look up Paul Eidman of Reel Therapy charters, he can point you in right direction.

[Michael82929]

Start small and venture as you get comfortable..

Start in the april timeframe in the backbays off of keyport...

lots of stripers there in the spring... and you dont need to venture too far out. Also you will not have to deal with strong currents back there.

Once you are more comfortable, then you can start venturing out to the channels and such..

My biggest worry would be getting run over... Bunch of idiots drives boats if you ask me..

I would stay away from the hook for a while until you are seasoned... During the May timeframe - I can walk from boat to boat one mile out without getting my feet wet.

[Michael82929]

Start small and venture as you get comfortable..

Start in the april timeframe in the backbays off of keyport...

lots of stripers there in the spring... and you dont need to venture too far out. Also you will not have to deal with strong currents back there.

Once you are more comfortable, then you can start venturing out to the channels and such..

My biggest worry would be getting run over... Bunch of idiots drives boats if you ask me..

I would stay away from the hook for a while until you are seasoned... During the May timeframe - I can walk from boat to boat one mile out without getting my feet wet. This is all while dodging that one idiot who feels the need to drive 25 mph between them all.

[mlp1986]

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[kmaty]

One thing i would like to add put a high flyer bright orange flag maybe 6ft above your head not always idiots driving the big boats who are at fault. Granted your weekend warriors will run you down in a heart beat but even us guys that know and respect yhe water cant see a baby blue colored kayak with say a sun glare. Bay is easier to see however i was with my uncle a few time beating it back north in the ocean and sure as s%#t come over the top of a wave and look down at a kayak Lucky we were goin slow b.c of conditions but if we were in ahurry it would made front page of the paper all we needed to see was a flag and coulda veered away. Safty first!

[torchee]

Stay away from the boats. Somehow they can never see a 13 ft piece of yellow plastic with a 200 lb man sitting on it.

The mornings aren't bad. They boats out early tend to have experienced fisherman who pay attention.

A weekend afternoon???? OMG!! It's amazing they don't kill each other.

Not to mention some are not sober and speeding.

I'm out every Sunday b4 dawn somewhere in the bay. Staten Island is a great place to launch as well. Some years the bay bite is better there as well.

[Skunk City]

Jimmy I don't know about the bay, but when you are ready to hunt down some RR Walleye and Tigers, you know I am down.

[JimmyMas]

Thanks for all the info and advice. Skunk you've caught most of the big fish in NJ last year already. Why don't ya come adventure to the salt with me. maybe we can even pull FASTEDDIE away from Canal Road for a day or two in the Spring.

[FASTEDDIE29]

My Kayak is not suitable for the bay but maybe I'll have a new one by then. Sure I'll pull myself away from the Hot Spot for a day or two. I'm always down for something new. Can't leave the spot for too long, I've gotta feed my pet Tigers, Eyes, Hybrids and Stripers!!!!!:D

[ScowardNJ]

I've launched out of Leonardo, no worries as long as you have an idea of what the wind conditions are.

[thyer]

I'm mostly a fresh water kayak fish guy but want to try getting into salt. Never did it myself because being alone out there in Jersey waters doesn't strike me as the safest thing to do. It's crazy enough when you're on a boat but a kayak is just a piece of drift wood to some. I'm up for it though....

That being said what are the launches like inside the bay? Shouldn't be dealing too much surf correct?

[torchee]

I'm mostly a fresh water kayak fish guy but want to try getting into salt. Never did it myself because being alone out there in Jersey waters doesn't strike me as the safest thing to do. It's crazy enough when you're on a boat but a kayak is just a piece of drift wood to some. I'm up for it though....

That being said what are the launches like inside the bay? Shouldn't be dealing too much surf correct?

Pick a calm day and the launch is cake.

[phil]

im planning on fishing raritan bay in the spring. there are a ton of websites for kayakers to meet up. i promised my wife i will never go out without my pfd, in bad conditions and never alone. the pfd was true, the others not so much LOL.