anyone from Staten Island?

[Capt. Debbie]

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

Originally Posted by torchee

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?

[torchee]

Originally Posted by Capt. Frank

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

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

[torchee]

Also bunker in the harbor are available to liveline

my range is limited

[Legacy]

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.

[torchee]

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