night fishing PLO on my yak?

[dson05]

Any advice? I've fished there plenty of times but not sure of the do's and don'ts for night fishing there. I was planning to launch and fish just off shore right around the pier. Any advice of a good spot and whatever info you guys might be able to give?

[Pinch]

Fish rely more on scent and vibration at night unless they are around light. Take a light.

[tufnik]

I've done night yak fishing before, not at PLO though. Personally, I would feel uncomfortable doing it at PLO for safety reasons. Yak lights are not exactly super bright beacons. When you have speeding boats out there in open water, it becomes an unnerving fishing experience. Yaks get hit even in daylight hours. On the other hand, if you stay close to shore/pier and minimize venturing out in open water, the risk is greatly reduced.

[kevinfry]

which species are you targeting? That makes a difference. I fish a lot at night in that area, but there are some areas that are risky. Others are highly unlikely to have any boat traffic

[dson05]

mainly croakers and stripers for now. I was thinking fishing of the southern end of the the pier(right side out in front) usually the spot where I would try to cast to while fishing on the pier. Or on the left (north end) around where the drop off is.

I don't think I'll be in boat traffic way too much. If anything I'll have a yak light as well as a small LED lantern

[kevinfry]

mainly croakers and stripers for now.

the stretch from the peir to the "pet beach" usually has plenty of crab pots usually that limits after dark boat traffic. i've caught lots of croaker in that stretch after dark. Can't speak to Rocks after dark,,but at dusk there is regular breaker activity in that area.

[dson05]

The pet beach... is the between the pier and the light house? or is it he other way towards the jetties?

[Redfish12]

Should be tons of croaker around the crab pots. Watch out for bull sharks ;-)

[dson05]

will do. didn't know Bull's came up this far.

oh and. Where do you guys launch from? Can I launch from the beach area next to the pier?

[kevinfry]

Pet beach is right beside the entrance to Tanner Creek just before the causeway. Last time I went we launched right on the south end of the causeway.

[ronaultmtd]

Bull sharks are up by the Harry Nice Rt. 301 Bridge at the PEPCO discharge hot ditch- saw a big one there last summer- they will come up into fresh water- Night time has its own risks- I have rigged up lights and fished after dark but only in places where there is not a lot of boat traffic- The high intensity LED lights available today are a lot better than anything we had a few years ago and they draw less power-

[archeryrob]

Bull sharks have been seen 1000 miles up the Mississippi river. So yes, it's possible.

[Redfish12]

Really I was just joking with you, but they are definitely there and elsewhere in the bay. They caught an 8ft bull in cornfield harbor a few years ago I think. Every now and then someone has their rock eaten at the bay bridge by one too. It's rare, just another danger to remember if you are out there alone at night.

Cownose rays like to slash on the surface and when you are by yourself they all seem like sharks. I know on several occasions those things have spooked me.

[frettr00]

Any advice? I've fished there plenty of times but not sure of the do's and don'ts for night fishing there. I was planning to launch and fish just off shore right around the pier. Any advice of a good spot and whatever info you guys might be able to give?

Try to not go out alone...and if you do, have a lot of bright white lights.

[ronaultmtd]

Ditto on not going alone- if you do make sure you have left a float plan with family/friends...just in case. I always carry a handheld VHF M-34 ICom radio in addition to a waterproofed cased IPhone 4S...think safety, safety, safety...I have an abundance of battery powered lighting sources when I fish at night and I have never fished at night alone.

I have fished a lot alone in a kayak, but I absolutely hate to fish alone....just a lot more fun fishing with MFK folks...