SD bay, shelter island

[chuckt]

Hi, Guys
I am new to SD area and want to try SD bay, probably launching from shelter island. I want to get some ideas as where to fish, i.e toward the outlet of the bay or toward downtown, shelter island side or the other side. The concern is not much of fishing spot, but safety or restricted area. I heard the boat traffic can be bad on weekend. Is it too dangerous to cross the channel? Is there any area off limit for kayak? If i paddle toward the outlet, do i get tail wind on the way back?
Thanks for the inputs.

[JeffB]

If you have a FF, you can look for the structures right outside of the launch ramp to the left and right tight to the sail boats in 45'-50' of water. Fish also on the east side of the island on the shoal by Bali Hai resteraunt. It is a good spot for spots and halibut. Or you can head towards the bait barge and fish the big mud bottom, also a killer spot for halibut. There is some structure by the pier in 40' of water and more to the west in 34'-40' of water. Or you can fish close to the shore line of SI in between the land and sail boats. This is a killer spot for spots in the grass. Or hit the marinas to the left and right of the island, both sides are killer dock fishing spots with blades for really good bay bass. If you shoot straight over to north island from the boat launch you will see 4-5 big concrete poles sticking out of the ground with signs and lights on them. They have an AR in between each one. Just be sure and stay on the channel side of them. They are killer spots as well for spotties and sandbass. If you fish off of them about 25-50yds in 40'-45' of water you can find nice halibut or go west up past the poles on the flat 20'-35' of water and you can find some nice halibut. The shoal on the west end of the island around the big signs are awesome for monster spots and good halibut, 13-'20' of water, no deeper or shallower.

Well I hope that helps out a little bit. I would recommend using 1/2oz baits and blades on the shallower stuff, 3/4oz on the 30' range areas and 1oz- 1 1/2oz on the deeper areas. The key to the bay is not to drag your baits, constantly keeper your bait moving and hard bounces off the bottom. Good presentation produces more and bigger fish for sure in SD Bay.

What ever you do don't be afraid to try bigger baits. Stick to 4" swim baits on the shallow stuff, but minimum 5" baits on the deeper areas. I have had the best of luck lately with 6" baits paired with 1 1/2-2oz lead heads, here's an example that the fish of all sizes get a lot more aggressive with the bigger baits. The bait is 7" with the lead head included...

Side note, down size on slack tides. SD Bay in my hunting grounds. The bite is hot right now.

[chuckt]

Thanks. Great information. Appreciate it.

[Baja_Traveler]

Also if you head out to the bait barge - dont stop and fish anywhere around there. The navy has some guys sitting out their enlistment in a patrol boat there, kicking out anybody who stops to fish.