Sunday, May 18, 2008

Former Post writer Richard Morin recently fished Jamaica Bay, along the Brooklyn shoreline. His reporter's notebook:

DRIVE TIME

About 4 hours from the Beltway

COST

$660 for a guided fishing trip for two

GETTING THERE

Multiple carriers offer round-trip shuttle flights from Reagan National to La Guardia starting at about $250. An Amtrak regional train from Union Station to Penn Station costs less than $200 round trip, depending on when you leave and return. We took the Acela and paid $313, arriving in just under three hours.

WHEN TO GO

Concentrations of striped bass arrive in mid-April, linger until June and then return in the fall. Bluefish and weakfish move in as the water temperatures rise. Bonito arrive in July and August, followed by hard-fighting false albacore. Fishing can stay good until December.

ARRANGING A TRIP

The Urban Angler fly shop in the Flatiron District is the center for fly fishing in New York City. Guides can be booked through the shop ( http://www.urbanangler.com, 800-255-5488). Urban Angler just opened a store at 2165 N. Glebe Rd. in Arlington (703-527-2524), and New York trips can be booked through that location. A full day, including tackle and drinks, starts at $660 for two people, although most guides offer partial-day trips at reduced prices.

Among the New York guide services that maintain Web sites are Urban Fly Guides ( http://www.urbanflyguides.com, 917-847-9576), One More Cast Charters ( http://www.nycflyfishing.com, 718-757-7339) and Fin Chaser Charters ( http://www.finchaser.com, 718-317-1481).

WHERE TO STAY

If you're there to fish, any budget hotel will do. Check the Internet for the best deals. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Chelsea (119 W. 28th St., http://www.hiltongardeninn.com, 800-445-8667) for $179 a night.

WHERE TO EAT

We asked our guide, Brendan McCarthy, for his top seafood picks: Esca (402 W. 43rd St., 212-564-7272) specializes in seafood, southern Italian style. Fresh (105 Reade St., 212-406-1900) has a fine prime rib of swordfish. Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant (Grand Central Station, 212-490-6650), for oysters, of course.

INFORMATION

Web sites with information about fly fishing in the New York area include Reel-Time -- The Internet Journal of Salt Water Fly Fishing ( http://www.reel-time.com), StripersOnline.com ( http://www.stripersonline.com) and Tidal Fish ( http://www.tidalfish.com).