|
Jamaica Bay is a large body of water and salt marsh area covering 26 miles on the south shore of Long Island. John F. Kennedy Airport borders the bay on it's eastern end, and the bay it's self separates the peninsula of the Rockaways from the main part of Long Island. The western end of the bay is open to the Atlantic Ocean at the Rockaway Inlet.
Jamaica Bay ranges in depth from 3 to 12 feet, but has been dredged for navigation and can be up to 50 feet deep in spots, but on average depth is less than 10 feet deep. Due to the shallow nature of the bay it warms very quickly in the spring and is a magnet to all species of fish and birds alike. Some of the fish you may encounter on a trip to the bay include Fluke, Stripers, Weakfish, Bluefish, Bonito, Spanish Mackerel, Tautog, Seabass, Flounder, False Albacore and Skipjack Tuna.
Flounder are found as far north as Labrador and as far south as Georgia. Flounder can and do vary in color, depending on the surrounding enviroment. They can vary from olive green to brown and black, with a white underside. The flounder has average life span of 7 to 10 years. But to live that long it must escape predation by striped bass, bluefish and various species of birds.
When fishing for flounder the most common method is using clam and mussel baits while fishing from an anchored boat. Very often when fishing for flounder other species of fish such as cod, sea bass, bluefish, porgies, and striped bass make an apperance. It can makes for a fabulous day of bottom fishing.
|
