Tag Archives: ny

Guerilla Bluefish-ing in NY Bight

WOW! New York bight fishing was filled with screaming drags & aerial acrobatics!

stay tuned to Kenjo Fly Fishing in New York City

MORE TO COME!!!

My guest today was vacationing in NYC from Europe and really showed his world-wide angling skills! We really put a hurtin on some monster, I mean, MONSTER Bluefish! Right out of the gate, FISH ON, and once we got this 15-lb bluefish to the boat we spotted another fish, which resembled a giant 30-lb bass, which was chasing down the big bluefish already on the hook and under siege!!! Sure wish we could have gotten a closer look at whatever fish that was!!!!

When I grabbed the tail of this bluefish, it spit out the whole bunker, all in one piece! Upon closer inspection this ancient bluefish had literally no teeth!

no teeth

International Angler Zyed battles monster bluefish in NY Bight

After witnessing this event unfold before my very eyes today, it certainly supports the idea that these two species of fish will swim side-by-side and compete head to head for food flushing out of Jamaica Bay! The silver-sides and bay anchovies are getting hammered as well. Find the birds and you will find the cocktail bluefish… Remember to have fun and keep switching up lures or flies until you find the fish that eats! It is also a good idea to remove any front end trebles on plugs, swimmers and other casting lures. Single hooks simply make for safer landing and de-hooking so you can get that plug back in the water! Plus, it tears up the fish so much less that there is no reason not to reduce the total number of hook points on your lures. WinWin for the angler, and the fish!

Pre-shaped haywire twists were a good finisher to the day after using up all the 50-lb mono on the boat! I prefer large test mono instead of wire because it is easier on the hands when landing fish and it doesn’t kink after a few fish. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to wear a fish glove when handling the bluefish too! It allows for better leader control which aids in better protection for your hands from line cuts to the fingers or palms. For convenience I only use one glove on my non-dominant hand, which handles the leader until the fish is under control and while handling the fish for quick pics and the release.

Freebird

SO! Like a bird, get out there with your light-weight tins, heavy metals (yeah!), and small 2-inch to 5-inch cream colored flies with a silver stripe down each side and even throw in some live bait if you can keep it alive. It is a good thing the bunker are still in town. Until next time, keep your hooks & your wits sharp! Change is good and so is the challenge in cracking the code of finding huge fish that are no where near the birds!

 

Keeping the hooks sharp,
Captain Ken Jones
Kenjo Fly Fishing
Licensed by USCG (OUPV)
361-500-2552

 

Salmonella wastes over 600,000 pounds of Yellowfin Tuna

This is all the more reason to eat locally sourced and seasonally appropriate fish! Commercial catching and processing of fish is a major breeding ground for dangerous food-borne illnesses. Catch what you eat, eat what you catch!

Fall Bluefin Tuna less than 1 hour from the dock

Salmonella FREE!!!

From the CDC website:

…State and local public health and regulatory officials are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a traceback of tuna. FDA has selected 4 of the clusters, which are located in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin, as the focus of the initial investigation. Information to date indicates that all 4 received the same imported frozen raw Nakaochi Scrape tuna product from a single tuna processing facility in India. Most common cause is ingestion of ground tuna meat, commonly used in

This investigation is ongoing. CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing surveillance to identify new cases. Further investigation is ongoing to identify possible sources of contamination and whether any other tuna products are linked with illness. CDC will update the public on the progress of this investigation as information becomes available…

 

 

Jamaica Bay Bass Action

The bass action in Jamaica Bay is officially ON (THE FLY)!!!

Jamaica Bay Striped Bass

early season striped bass j-bay

…after a brief scouting mission and initial sea trial, lady luck was on our side and the striped bass are eating flies already this spring and that means good stuff!!!

Nothing like getting the backing salty during the second to last day of March!!!

If you are looking for striped bass they are definitely here with quality sized fish in the mix… There will be some bruisers here in no-time. Hope to hear from you soon.

Feel free to call anytime!
Keeping the hooks sharp,
Captain Ken Jones
Kenjo Fly Fishing
Licensed by USCG (OUPV)
361-500-2552

Invaluable Valuables

There were notable days, and single notable catches. Each were spectacular in their own way due to the uniqueness of how the catch was made. What I find most intriguing about these mentionable catches is that it was what the FISH did that made it most exciting. Other times a particular catch stood out among the rest because of how much effort which can require not only a high physical level of endurance but also a mental endurance of epic proportions… Thus why the catch took the “blue ribbon”. The striped bass shown below blessed my father by giving him the privilege to battle this glorious specimen and it brings me pride knowing that my Pops had a chance to catch, battle, admire and release such a marvelous creature…

2011 record striper

The striped bass pictured above was caught and released on live menhaden during late June in the NY Bight vicinity. Because this fish bottomed-out a 30lb Boga, we only took her measurements (length & girth) and after using several different online calculators the estimated weight for all the calculators (including the online, IGFA calculator) came in at over 40lbs. I am so happy to know that this fish was released very lively, because returning the freedom of life that it had earned by surviving the ocean long enough to grow this big shows how life is resilient. This valiant effort that took place between fish and man can teach us all important lessons and the lesson is that any fish that is killed just so it can be “certified” as a record is a true waste! Letting a fish like this live so it can continue to contribute to the resource is most invaluable! I am certain that our future generations of children and their children would agree!

 
Keeping the hooks sharp
Captain Ken Jones
ken@kenjofly.com
361-500-2552

Fly Fishing Show

Fly Fishing ShowThe Fly Fishing Show is coming to Somerset NJ and it couldn’t have come at a better time!!! Luckily, it really hasn’t been all that cold. Nonetheless, the winter-time blues are here for sure because it has been at least three weeks since I last wet a hook…

One thing that makes this event so great is because of the venue. All under a single roof one could expect to run into many prominent names in the industry. My personal favorites are the kind folks at TroutHunter, Hatch Outdoors, Yellow Dog & Turneffe Flats

The grizzly guys at Bear’s Den have such an abundance of fly tying materials, it is completely overwhelming. If you find something you like, buy it immediately because if you set it down it is certain that the person behind you is going to snatch it right up the second you let go!

Another fantastic aspect of this event is that there are so many great journalists there such as Phil Shook, and conservation authors such as Carl Safina, you are certain to hear about some great fishing adventures! There is nothing like hanging out with fellow fly-fisherman telling each other outrageous and exagerated fish stories! It is truly entertaining and amazing at how many truths are stretched during an event like this! But of course, that is part of the thrill and excitement of fly fishing!

But most of all, I look forward to seeing the people that I have had the pleasure to meet, and those that I have had the good fortune to fish with. If you haven’t visited this event before, don’t let anything stand in your way, this year is a special one because of how many great deals these vendors are offering to customers! See you there!

Keeping the hooks sharp,
Captain Ken Jones
Kenjo Fly Fishing

 

 

Hot Bass Action Montauk NY

Hot Striped Bass action Montauk Point

Little Pink Lady Strikes AGAIN!

If you have ever heard the expression “Get it while it’s HOT”, just apply that saying to the quality of fly fishing available in Montauk right now!

Some very nice keeper+ sized striped bass have moved in thick now and are feeding almost as if they were intoxicated! Nonetheless, they will be picky if you do not follow the basics of matching the hatch. Its not just about how it looks, but more importantly in how you move the fly. Most flies that resemble a 3-4″ spearing or 1-2″ bay anchovy are getting hit regularly, and then there are some flies that get absolutely chomped by everything!

The biggest battle that remains is how many times can a fly get chewed before the fish begin to refuse it? The Little Pink Lady (above) is one tough mother!  This fly was first tied sitting on the boat at the dock while preparing for a day of albie chasin! Taking multiple species in one day and more than 10 albies have been taken on a single fly it proves just how durable it really is! The fish just cannot wear out this fly and I have only witnessed one refusal! Of course, it is a very good idea to inspect and/or simply retie the tippet after a few fish are landed.

Bay Anchovy Pattern

Never use a dull hook! Keep’em sharp!

The false albacore bite is staying strong and steady, 15lb fluorocarbon is a must even in sloppy conditions and they have begun to feed in smaller packs but the ratio of strikes to landings remain. The Alchovie Fly (shown at left) is one that even the most stubborn of little tunny wont refuse.

Next, it holds true that if you work the areas along the outer edges of the fleet slowly you are certain to find schools of fish that are not already surrounded by boats and on most occasions these situation are where you will experience the best blitzes Montauk has to offer! You’ll be sure to look up from your spool after watching the backing ripped off faster than ever and notice that there is not another boat in sight! Just love it when the fish strikes, turns, and heads for open ocean! If you happen to hook up right away and the fleet finds your school of fish to more interesting than the one previously, let’em have it and just quietly move onto the next pod of fish that is out in the open, off to the side, or  1-2 miles upwind from the fleet…

Capt Kenjo 361-500-2552

Sunset behind the Montauk Lighthouse Long Island

As the sun sets, Montauk Lighthouse is getting ready to assume duties for the night…

 

 

Little Tunny of Montauk NY

Montauk’s False Albacore are running strong!

Afternoon Blitz in Montauk

Montauk Albie Blitz

There are times in Montauk New York when the water starts to boil and this is a result of the highly migratory hard-tails, a.k.a little tunny, striped bass, and bluefish that make a pit stop off the east end of Long Island for some hot and heavy feasting on the plentiful baitfish this area breeds. The falsies in the last few weeks have been strong and plentiful, growing noticably bigger by the day and are very cooperative to jump on the hook and give most any angler the good time they came looking for! There were a few days when they seemed to be pickier than other days, but catch rates were still high, all one has to do is change their flies often, and vary the presentations and retrieves. Keep changing it up until you find what really gets them to bite on that particular day.Sage 8wt at work

Many days were spent fishing in extremely thick fog and rain and visibility was so poor that you could not see more than a few hundred yards. But on a few occassions, the sun came out and blessed us with its warmth and some great visual action! It is so exciting to see these speedsters appear out of nowhere and take your fly in an instant then return to the depths with 100ft of fly line and at least 50 -75 yards of backing in tow.Hunkered down during bad weather in Montauk NY

Everyone needs a break every now and then, and inclement weather is just right for taking the time to replenish the hard hit fly boxes after several consecutive days of EPIC Albie Fly Fishing in New York! The striped bass action should be heating up very soon, and I still have dates open in Montauk so just give me a call directly to get in on this action! Keeping the hooks sharp, Captain Ken 361-500-2552