Stripers help

[Crazy Joe]

Hi all. New member here. I'm an avid fly fisherman but never fished the surf for stripers. I'm looking to purchase a new outfit for my[FONT=arial, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=arial, sans-serif]endeavour. Am I better off with a two handed rod or a regular rod? I have a reel with a 10 weight sinking line that someone gave me so I'm thinking a 10wt rod is what I'll get but I'm not sure. A friend of mine gave me a kayak so I was thinking of using that off Sandy hook. Am I in the right place or am I better off fishing from the shore?
Other than that it seems like this is a good time of the year. I could go into a shop and ask questions there but figured Id get some advice before I went into the shop this way I'm not laughed at.
Other things I'm pretty sure i'll need are a stripping net and some flies. Am I better off making my own stripping net or purchasing a William Joseph or something long those lines?

All of your help is appreciated. Looking forward to hearing from some experienced salt water fly fishermen.[/FONT]

 

[lightenup]

A kayak off Sandy Hook sounds interesting....Pay attention!!!!!!!

 

[Crazy Joe]

A kayak off Sandy Hook sounds interesting....Pay attention!!!!!!!

Hey man thanks for the reply. Is it not safe? Seriously, should I go somewhere else?

 

[Oliver10]

Hey man thanks for the reply. Is it not safe? Seriously, should I go somewhere else?

I have been in a kayak in the bay side of sandy hook. There is a lot of current at times so be careful. I use a 10wt single handed rod with a sinking line. The best place to fly fish is currently closed due to the government shut down. You want to go to Sandy hook and hike all the way to the the false hook and fish the ocean side. The park is shut, i would not try and kayak around the tip because the current really does rip around there.

 

[Crazy Joe]

I have been in a kayak in the bay side of sandy hook. There is a lot of current at times so be careful. I use a 10wt single handed rod with a sinking line. The best place to fly fish is currently closed due to the government shut down. You want to go to Sandy hook and hike all the way to the the false hook and fish the ocean side. The park is shut, i would not try and kayak around the tip because the current really does rip around there.

Freakin shutdowns. I think i'll save the kayak for next year and just wade the shoreline. I picked up a half a dozen popovich specials . What do you use for a stripping basket?

 

[Oliver10]

Freakin shutdowns. I think i'll save the kayak for next year and just wade the shoreline. I picked up a half a dozen popovich specials . What do you use for a stripping basket?

The beach, or the surf. The lines gets tangled around my feet often enough that I should use one but I don't bother. It is a long hike out there.

I use my kayak at union beach. the current there is much less daughting. I have only caught blues from it there though.

 

[iflifish]

I have one of the original Orvis baskets, purchased back when they only cost $39.99 or so, now they're like $80.00. :beingsick:

This guy has what looks like a better basket for less money, he was running a special on them but I think that expired already...

Blackbox Stripping Basket ? Rexfly

 

[lightenup]

Hey man thanks for the reply. Is it not safe? Seriously, should I go somewhere else?

There can be a nasty rip out there...my buddy almost wrapped his boat around a bell buoy...there is also a LOT of boat traffic.....big ones....

 

[iflifish]

And kayak fish don't count anyway... :down:

 

[jcstikfish]

If you're going to be fishing from a kayak primarily, go with a single handed rod. As others have mentioned, there can be a lot of boat traffic coming and going around the tip of the hook. Current is always a factor as well.

Be safe.

~James

 

[Petergoodman]

Have not done the kayak thing, but a couple thoughts from what others have told me as well as non-kayak comments:

If you have not fished from a kayak before, try it out on calm water first to see how the whole casting, etc. thing works for you - including what to do with the line. If I was fishing from the beach would always have a stripping basket to keep things from getting tangled - same issue from a kayak to consider. Some kayaks are I understand more friendly here than others.

Check with someone who knows about rigging the kayak for fishing. You want at least one rod holder set up for fly rod, as well as other stuff. Maybe search this site for "kayak fishing" for advice and PM someone who seems to know what they are talking about. Check other sites focused on kayak fishing. Sure way to ruin your day is to drop your rod off the side...

Don't limit yourself to Sandy Hook with the kayak. You have already discovered Raritan Bay, but some other areas to consider might be inside Manasquan Inlet, the bay side of Island Beach State Park including the Sedge Islands, and if the water is calm and you are confident with the kayak, toss it in the surf if you see birds working just out of casting range.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

As others said, stay out of the kayak for now until you master basic casting of the 10 weight and get to know the currents and boat traffic. I kayak fish the Hook and have for years, but there are a few factors you need to consider beyond fishing in a lake or pond. As for a stripping basket, don't spend more than a few $$. Buy something from WalMart or the like and add (cut or drill) holes for either a belt or a bungee cord (I prefer the bungee cord myself) to place around your waist. I drill about 12 small holes the size of weed whacker monofillament line and glue in about 2" lengths of the mono into each hole. That keeps your line in place as you strip it in. Don't try to fish without a stripping basket. You'll just get frustrated. You can sometimes get away with it on the bay side, but not in the ocean waves. I don't like baskets with drain holes as they are quickly bailed when you get hit with a wave by tipping the basket against your waders. If you're on a big jetty and getting hit with wave spray often, then I use a different basket and one more like a small laundry basket that is full of holes instead as it will drain quickly.

 

[Crazy Joe]

Thanks for all of the helpful information. I didn't have time to purchase or make a stripping basket but think I might take Rusty's suggestion and build my own for a few dollars. I tried my luck over in Lavallete with my buddy. I woke up at 3:00am and was on the beach before the sun came up and stayed for 3 hours. Not much was happening and I left empty handed. My friend was using lures and he caught a few small fish. I forget the name of them.
It was really bad not having a basket. I didn't think not having one would be so bad but man stepping on my line and the line getting buried in the sand made fishing a very difficult affair. I'll never do that again without the basket.

 

[trico mike]

They here get out and get some. This one wasn't caught on the fly but they are around

 

[cingras53]

You are getting way ahead of yourself. first learn to fly fish for stripers from the beach. Then join SurfTalk. It is a great site for salty dogs. Then think about a kayak after you know what you're doing.

 

[golden beetle]

Let me suggest you take a look at Sag Harbor.

Just Google it, and live the dream.

 

[Oliver10]

I like to put my yak in the navesink. There is a small parking lot for 3-4 cars by the star. you can haul it down some shitty wooden stairs and kayak up and under the bridge there is good flow and depth under the bridge. You can also put on waders and wade up and under the bridge and get to some deeper water. you have to stay in the water once you get under the bridge because it is posted.

 

[iflifish]

Crazy Joe - I've got a 9ft 10wt 2pc Sage RPLXi that I would be interested in selling, complete with its factory aluminum tube and rod sock. Has some good karma as it's caught its share of stripers, king salmon, etc. but still in great shape. New it cost around $450, I would be asking $225 including shipping. (Reel in pic not included).

 

[NJFred]

Hi all. New member here. I'm an avid fly fisherman but never fished the surf for stripers. I'm looking to purchase a new outfit for my[FONT=arial, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=arial, sans-serif]endeavour. Am I better off with a two handed rod or a regular rod? I have a reel with a 10 weight sinking line that someone gave me so I'm thinking a 10wt rod is what I'll get but I'm not sure. A friend of mine gave me a kayak so I was thinking of using that off Sandy hook. Am I in the right place or am I better off fishing from the shore?
Other than that it seems like this is a good time of the year. I could go into a shop and ask questions there but figured Id get some advice before I went into the shop this way I'm not laughed at.
Other things I'm pretty sure i'll need are a stripping net and some flies. Am I better off making my own stripping net or purchasing a William Joseph or something long those lines?

All of your help is appreciated. Looking forward to hearing from some experienced salt water fly fishermen.[/FONT]

Now is a perfect time to start in the suds. hook is great. I use a single 9 wt and it works great. Get a 10 wt rod to match that reel. Or a nine if it's rated for nine as well. 9 helps as it's easier on the casting arm. You'll be tossing a lot of casts. Definitely get a stripping basket. A must. Start with Lefty streamers in blue and chartreuse. Size 1/0 to 2/0. I catch 95 percent of my fish with those. You might buy a sink tip line rather than a totally sinking line. I like this as it is best of both worlds. Head to North beach and walk toward NYC. Haven't fished out of a boat there. Others have warned about the current and rips. Be careful. Good luck.