Fished on 8/18/2006
Water Temperature: warm
Water Clarity: Clear
Seas: choppy
Weather: Partly cloudy
Fishing_for: Fluke
Boat: Shore fishing
captain: .
Report:
I went fishing on Rockaway Point on August 18th.
The day started out cloudy and windy.
I was going for fluke in a place I had never tried.
In the Gateway National Recreation Area, Breezy Point, on the point.
I had seen this spot for years from the deck of party boats.
There is a large jetty on the tip of Rockaway Point.
It takes a long time to get there but it is worth it.
To get there takes a while: first you must obtain an on or off road fisherman’s parking pass (off road is better).
Then go to the very end of Rockaway Point Blvd. @227th street. Just past the Breezy Point Surf Club is the regular fisherman’s parking lot.
You park there then follow the access road to the off road parking lot. On the way you pass tall high grass and you can look in on the Surf Club.
I could tell my little car could not go on the access road. There are big ruts and long stretches of un packed sand. The stuff is hard to walk on. I realized on the way that every step must be repeated on the way back. I was glad I only had one pole and a small amount of tackle.
You have to walk about a half mile to get to the beach. When you pass the Surf Club you can see acres of unspoiled dunes. There is a fence marking the trail. There are signs about fishing and wildlife preservation. It is apparent you are on preserved land. I appreciate seeing allot of nice beach. The special bushes and pines that only grow in a place like this are awesome. This is what it must have looked like when the Dutch explorers were on the beach in the 1500s.
I have seen no one out here but there is a ranger type vehicle parked in the Off Road Parking Lot. If you could drive to this spot it would be awesome. I don’t mind the long journey, It has prepared me for what I am about to see.
As I pass onto the beach I am blown away by the vastness it is about 1000 feet from the dunes to the water. There is not a single person on the whole beach. The day is still about half sun and clouds and the view is stunning. I start walking towards the point. There is the usual marine debris around but is so perfectly placed. I could not imagine a nicer landscape. The occasional bits of wood or other human remnants are so worn from being in the surf they are now a part of nature.
I was amazed at the fantastic view and quiet surroundings. It is hard to believe what a great spot is here in New York City. It is worth it to come here. It is like Montauk or Key West you are at “THE END” it is worth the trip.
I have a long walk ahead of me. I am walking at the high tide mark where the sand is a little firmer underfoot. You can walk better than in the loose dry sand.
On the way there are the usual flocks of sea gulls standing around, but there are some other birds. Little ones, lots of them they are afraid of me and keep away. The little birds are right where the waves are hitting the sand. As the water recedes the birds run towards the ocean looking for food I presume. Then the water comes back up the beach and the birds all run to keep dry. This cycle repeats over and over. The birds never get tired. There are so many of them. They are all walking so fast. . It is fun to watch.
I now am coming towards the jetty. I notice it is much bigger than Coney Island.
There was no rain but he tide was high and the surf pounding onto the jetty kept it wet.
I did not venture out to the tip, it seemed hazardous. I had no idea the thing was this huge from passing by on the water.
The jetty is made from huge stone blocks and there are gaps between the stones that look dangerous to me. On another day I will try top go out to the tower at the end of the jetty.
On the jetty there was another man working 2 poles.
I started in for fluke with a 3 oz sinker and a single English bend fluke hook.
2 spearing and a strip of squid each time. The water is deep right off the jetty. I fished for about an hour. I did spend some time hooked up for a striper but no luck. I was enjoying the scenery and the seabirds so much I don’t think I was doing my best fishing.
I caught a sea robin.
I then got down off the jetty and tried off the beach for a while.
The beach here has a fast pitch. Wading in to the surf only a few paces and I was in to my waist. There is a noticeable undertow. Do NOT go to this beach with waders,
The tide is tough. I could not cast effectively past the breakers. When I did I would find my line down the beach with the tide in 3 feet of water
Later it started to clear but I had to go, on the way back the sun came out it was about 2:00 I felt the hot sun and the breeze slowed down. If only this had happened an hour ago. I think the fluke like to see the bait and a little sunshine helps.
Now there were a few cars in the off road lot. There were some surfers coming in. I think this is a good surfing day.
There are some beach goers down the beach. If you are part of the beach club or have a house in Breezy Point you have a spectacular spot on the beach with lifeguards. But this is not for me.
As I was coming off the beach onto the access road I smelled something funky. I thought it was some squid juice on by shirt but it had a smell of garbage too. The smell came and went as I walked to my car. I though nothing about it until the next day when I heard on the news about a strange smell on Staten Island and The Rockaways. Perhaps I smelled it.
Returning always seems faster to me than going somewhere. I got back to my car in about a half hour. I will try this again next season.
There are 1 followups to this report click here to see them
To add a remark to this report click here.
Saltwater Fishing Home Page 
