Jamaica Bay (JBAY) 2015

[Redfish12]

There was a lot of discussion during the meet and greet this past weekend about fishing Jamaica Bay in 2015 so I thought I would post this thread with some past trip threads and some recommendations for those that are interested. This will be my 6th year going I believe and I look forward to it all year long!

This year's event will be held the weekend of May 16th as it is always the weekend after Mother's Day.

Here's some past threads -
http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...267-J-bay-2014
http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...Bay-Tournament
http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...y-8-9-Jun-2013
http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...aica-Bay-Recap
http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...2411-JBay-2012
http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...ay-2011-Re-cap


Here's some past gear recs I gave:

Fishing items for JBAY:


General rods to bring:
Rod 1 - MH-H capable of trolling medium/large lures and live-lining bunker
Rod 2 - MH Spinning rod for throwing snag hook or snag rig, jigging, or additional trolling
Rod 3 - Casting/Jigging rod for throwing plastics, drifting sandworms, or jigging bucktails


Tackle:
Snag hooks (bring a couple of these) (large trebble hook with molded lead, don't need many unless a bluefish bites you off)
ALT Snag hook rig - 2/0 - 4/0 trebble hook, 2ft of 50lb+ flouro, barrel swivel, 1oz egg weight on main line
Tube and worm rig - I recomend the 19" Hogy tube in wine or pink, buy sandworms up there or use fishbites/gulp. Fish these on a 3ft 50-80lb leader (bc of bluefish) to a high quality ballbearing swivel. You can use a keel weight, rubbercore sinker, egg weight, etc if you need to get it down quicker but you do not need a weight.
Bucktails & gulp swimming mullets - bring 1/2-1.5oz in various colors. Unless you are fishing near the bridge or jigging too high off the bottom (bluefish) you shouldn't need many as the bay is not very snaggy.
Plastics/leadheads to jig - Zmans in PINK!, BKDs, swimshads, flukes, hogy's whatever you like etc on 3/8-1.5 oz heads (mostly 3/8-1oz used) in colors like pink, white, blue/grey, yellow.
Plugs - Poppers/spooks for the sod banks, X-raps, rattle traps in various sizes/colors
Live-lining rigs - large circle hooks (8/0+), heavy leader (40-80lb), fish finder rigs or egg sinkers to help you get the bunker below the bluefish or so you can chunk your sliced up bunker.
Top / Bottom rigs or weakfish rigs for fishing sandworms (I don't do this but it can be productive).


Accessories:
Scissors or a knife to make strip bait or chunk bunker
Fish Grips for bluefish
Light for night fishing
cart, long haul to water from camping area
navionics app or a fishfinder with gps makes it very helpful for finding the channels and edges.

[daddyg]

Thanks great info. I would like to make this one.

[coop1486]

If nothing comes up I will be going.Great info for the first timer like me.Thank Mike.

[JKay]

I'll be there too Michael. I haven't missed J-Bay since I started going many moons ago. We'll probably try to camp in that same grassy area. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

[daolai]

Thanks Redfish12 great write up and have it on my calender to attend.

[AbuMasgouf]

Thanks for the info Mike! I have it on my calendar as well!

[Foursteps24]

I plan to be there this year again. I had a lot of fun last year and learned a lot more than I did the first time I went.

[Romo]

Just added this to my calendar too

[Rockchaser]

I will be there again. Just the other day I started finding all my pink lures and tossing them in a box, and the tubes can't forget the tubes.

[mytmouse]

Great write-up Redfish! I plan to be there this year as well! We had a blast last year, I wonder if our Raccoon friend is there waiting on us? LOL

[moc]

I will try to be there for the first time ever. I cannot wait to see what it is all about.

[Shady]

Just find the Bunkah Carl!

Unfortunately, I wont make it this year, maybe next year.

[kitkatyaker]

Great info Mike, thanks. I hope to finally make it this year. It sounds like a lot of fun.

[jhoss]

Thanks for putting this on my radar! I might not be able to make that exact weekend but might try for a weekend thereabouts. Thanks for all the info!

[jhoss]

Where do you guys camp for this event?