anyone from Staten Island?
 

Just wondering about Great Kills. It is one of my favorite places to launch a Kayak for spring bass fishing.

Is it open? How badly damaged was it?

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

great kills took a beating.. if you talking about the parks in Gateway.. I heard that marina is not reopening.
and I dont even kmnow if the park itself will open this year

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

some marinas are ahead of schedule on there dock repairs....

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

Atlantis marina sounds like theyll be ready, and so will mansion marina from what I hear. But I don't think there will be any fuel in the harbor. Nichols (in gateway park) got a 3 year lease, so they are rebuilding as well.
Art

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

Interesting that I've heard of several places that are intending to re open but a lot of them will not have fuel for a while. I wonder how that will play out in terms of availability and price. Probably not good :(

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

I sure hope I can fish there this spring, I am getting anxious to hit the beach.

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

The fuel Dock that my buddy Vinny works at in Staten Island will be back open this spring. Its the first fuel stop on your way back in before Atlantis Marina tucked in.

All the docks are back and they are installing electric & water now in Atlantis Marina...

That is first hand information...

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

my girl lives up there we took a ride through great kills park last weekend it was open. anyone know anywhere to surf fish from up there? I am happy with sea robins & skates unless ya know where a tog spot is.

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

The city beaches are closed until Memorial Day. Anyone caught walking on the sand has been receiving $50 fines. I don't know about Great Kills as it is part of Gateway.

The best place to fish in Great Kills is Crooks Point. You need to get an access permit from the park station and there is a fee. I also do not know the status of if or when that section of the park will open.

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

I didn't know about the city beaches.

I guess I can't launch by sunset pier or midland beach???

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

If it's only a kayak why do you need to launch from a ramp. Can't you launch anywhere with water access?

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

I never use the boat ramp - usually launch from the point before dawn and troll the channel out to the bug light and back.

Usually back before any boat traffic builds. I've had great success there. old habits die hard

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

Also bunker in the harbor are available to liveline

my range is limited

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

It is a great spot to kayak and liveline but be very wary of increased boat traffic. Way too many people have no clue how to run a boat from my beloved Great Kills Harbor.

One of my friends had to save a kayaker from drowning last season after a weekend warrior blew through the channel doing 25 knots. He jumped off his boat into the water to rescue him.

Please also remember to run a flag high from your kayak that provides a better visual for the boaters who are actually paying attention. Between dodging the ever-present lumber, watching out for inexperienced boaters, giving the boats netting bait space, and looking for working birds it is sometimes tough to see the kayakers when they come around Crooks Point. I used to run my 13 foot Whaler out of GK when I was a teenager and was almost run down several times when netting bunker.....Low profile boats are really tough to see.

Good luck this season and wave when you see a green Henriques Express heading out with 2 bunker spoon rods in the rocket launcher. We'll give you a wide berth.

Re: anyone from Staten Island?
 

Agreed

my trips revolve around avoiding boats - especially weekenders

I start early in the dark (well lit up) on a bright orange kayak

and when the traffic builds at 8:00

I usually pack it in - unless the tide favors fishing the flats out in front of the bath houses

the boats spook the fish anyway