Tag Archives: fishing

Hurricane Sandy deals NYC

Bravo New York! The tough will survive!

In the last week and a half you have endured many rigorous and high-stress challenges. I can only imagine what it is like to be there right now.

Like most hard-core outdoor enthusiasts, New Yorkers are just as hard-core as the rest! Considering the conditions you all have experienced in the concrete jungle recently such as no power, no transportation, loss of communications with little fresh food, water supplies low and no lights. Hopefully at least you can see the stars in the sky!

Over these last two weeks, many wonderful memories of all of you that I have fished with or worked with during our time in the Big Apple have been in mind. I wish you all warmth during these next few weeks as the weather continues to disrupt the flows!

Here are a few favorite pics from the last few years in good ‘ole NYC! And if you want to get out of there come on down to Port Aransas. We’re stocked up with redfish, trout, and yetis!

Coldest Cooler Yeti

Nothing is colder than Yeti cold!

 

Hooked’em good in Jamaica Bay, but let’em swim their way home.

Double Stripers

Jamaica Bay Demo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good thing I took the GPS coordinates for this spot!

Topper for the day

How to really rock Jersey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gateway National Wildlife Refuge, New York

Already miss this sonuva beach (Breezy Point NY)

 

The story behind how and on what this fish was caught will surprise you all. This fish has got nice color too!

 

 

 

 

 

1x Bass + 2x Bluefish

Hilarity ensued on this day. Great to have them onboard and inboard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

rough seas at breezy point new york

Sandy did much more

 

this is just a small problem compared to what Hurricane Sandy did to Breezy Point.

BFT offshore NY

We set sail one day this week at 4:15am and pointed the bow of a beautiful 35 ft Contender Southeast. She ate up the chop taking on an Eastern swell and a sturdy Southern wind wave. Steady as she goes, we made it to our first location at 6:45am to setup on the troll for Bluefin Tuna offshore New York City. With only two boats within sight on the horizon we put out an 8 rod spread. A good mix of lures in the water initially helped us fine tune spread as small bluefin tuna (avg 30-40lbs) began to show us their preferences. As the day wore on we shuffled the rig over to another location just 10-15 miles further ESE and into deeper water and sure enough the fish got a little bigger weighing in around 60-lbs. All in all, we went 7 for 10, releasing 6 fish to swim again.

NY BFT

a hefty 60# BFT

 

Wild Ocean WILD Mutants

Reports of eyeless creatures caught in fisherman’s nets, fish with tumors you can visibly see from the outside and crabs with no claws found in Gulf Of Mexico near popular shrimping grounds which also happened to be one of the highest impacted zones of the BP oil spill. What NEXT???

eyeless shrimp

BP Oil Spill mutating sea life???

 

 

Invaluable Valuables

There were notable days, and single notable catches. Each were spectacular in their own way due to the uniqueness of how the catch was made. What I find most intriguing about these mentionable catches is that it was what the FISH did that made it most exciting. Other times a particular catch stood out among the rest because of how much effort which can require not only a high physical level of endurance but also a mental endurance of epic proportions… Thus why the catch took the “blue ribbon”. The striped bass shown below blessed my father by giving him the privilege to battle this glorious specimen and it brings me pride knowing that my Pops had a chance to catch, battle, admire and release such a marvelous creature…

2011 record striper

The striped bass pictured above was caught and released on live menhaden during late June in the NY Bight vicinity. Because this fish bottomed-out a 30lb Boga, we only took her measurements (length & girth) and after using several different online calculators the estimated weight for all the calculators (including the online, IGFA calculator) came in at over 40lbs. I am so happy to know that this fish was released very lively, because returning the freedom of life that it had earned by surviving the ocean long enough to grow this big shows how life is resilient. This valiant effort that took place between fish and man can teach us all important lessons and the lesson is that any fish that is killed just so it can be “certified” as a record is a true waste! Letting a fish like this live so it can continue to contribute to the resource is most invaluable! I am certain that our future generations of children and their children would agree!

 
Keeping the hooks sharp
Captain Ken Jones
ken@kenjofly.com
361-500-2552

Fly Fishing Show

Fly Fishing ShowThe Fly Fishing Show is coming to Somerset NJ and it couldn’t have come at a better time!!! Luckily, it really hasn’t been all that cold. Nonetheless, the winter-time blues are here for sure because it has been at least three weeks since I last wet a hook…

One thing that makes this event so great is because of the venue. All under a single roof one could expect to run into many prominent names in the industry. My personal favorites are the kind folks at TroutHunter, Hatch Outdoors, Yellow Dog & Turneffe Flats

The grizzly guys at Bear’s Den have such an abundance of fly tying materials, it is completely overwhelming. If you find something you like, buy it immediately because if you set it down it is certain that the person behind you is going to snatch it right up the second you let go!

Another fantastic aspect of this event is that there are so many great journalists there such as Phil Shook, and conservation authors such as Carl Safina, you are certain to hear about some great fishing adventures! There is nothing like hanging out with fellow fly-fisherman telling each other outrageous and exagerated fish stories! It is truly entertaining and amazing at how many truths are stretched during an event like this! But of course, that is part of the thrill and excitement of fly fishing!

But most of all, I look forward to seeing the people that I have had the pleasure to meet, and those that I have had the good fortune to fish with. If you haven’t visited this event before, don’t let anything stand in your way, this year is a special one because of how many great deals these vendors are offering to customers! See you there!

Keeping the hooks sharp,
Captain Ken Jones
Kenjo Fly Fishing

 

 

Warming Trends

NY Stripers in July

Rockaway Striper caught in July

As the weather warms the water and the gulf stream continues to push its warm currents closer to shore, the fishing is heating up more than ever! Any given day, there have been opportunities to head out early and get on some really big bass, which are hanging around the remaining schools of bunker that are still present in NY Bight and Lower NY Harbor. This particular activity seems to be winding down as the water temperature begins to rise past the 70 degree mark.

Mahi Mahi visit NYC

These dolphinfish were very aggressive!

These Mahi-mahi came into the spread completely covered in solid blue neon colors! She hit the shotgun rigger and she put on a spectacular show! These fish are aggressive and travel in packs…

We will be hunting these beauties through the summer along with some school bluefin… Plan to use some hookless teasers to get’em on the fly!

With over 7 species of baitfish in the water and more on the way, there are great chances to have a fantastic summer run of spanish mackerel, bonito, skipjack tunas and certainly the false albacore.

Give me a call asap if you want to get out on the water!

Fishing Jamaica Bay

Nothing better than a NY Sunrise!

It is never too early!

Should have been there yesterday! Better be there tomorrow!

It is never easy to coordinate a NY lifestyle to accommodate a little fish action, but with a little bit of effort and spontaneity you can find yourself in a situation like this.

Have fun out there this Memorial Day weekend and remember to thank a serviceman or servicewoman for their dedication in keeping our country safe!