Central Park (NYC) Fishing

[Kjruiz]

 Just got back from Harlem Meer, and boy is that bite tough. At one point I literally hit a bass guarding a bed with a jig in the face five or six times but he would not bite. I tried a jig n craw, Texas Senko, wacky Senko, crankbait, and a bbz 40 rat to no avail. A friendly passerby asked if he could use my rod to tail hook the fish, but I kindly let him down.  The guy then when on and gave me a five minute lecture on Louisiana Bass fishing, and I learned a few new things I didn’t know before.  

 

 I have probably fished the Harlem Meer a dozen times this year, but today was the first time people were just coming up to me and trading fish stories.  More than a few asked where they could get fishing gear or learn how to fish.  I and up given a 10 minute seminar on how to cast a spinning reel and the behavior of spawning fish.  I’m hoping that today I spread the fishing bug to a few new anglers. 

 

Picture of the Meer today. 

[Rahlow]

I never even considered there was fishing in the city

[Kjruiz]

1 hour ago, Rahlow said:

I never even considered there was fishing in the city

I was guilty of the same thing,  I actually only found out about fishing in Central Park when I had gotten a new rod and reel and wanted to find where I be allowed to cast it out.  After a little googling I found myself watching one of Lunkerville’s fishing videos, and he has several in the city.  There are some decent size fish in the Meer,  especially when considering where you’re fishing. 

[Oregon Native]

Awesome

[Rahlow]

Coolbeans 

[Kjruiz]

6/14/18

 

Called I’m sick to work today to get some shore fishing in Central Park.  This kid next me was killing it, pulling in bass after bass with some bluegills thrown in.   I had one bass chase my deep diver, but nothing more. He had the most lifelike swim bait I’ve seen, until I realize that’s because swim bait was alive. He was cutting the top fin off the bluegills and hooking them to catch some bass. A big no-no in Central Park‘s catch and release only/no live bait allowed waters.  I asked him if he fishes here often, he told me he’s visiting from California, so I let him know the rules since it seemed unintentional. But all that means is that those bass we’re not going out to my Senko with what he was offering. 

 

 I move to another spot that I thought was promising, i drop shot a trick worm wacky style and BOOM the drought is over,  I catch my first smallmouth in a while. Always a great feeling. 

 

 Now I just have to get better at taking selfie‘s!

 

[Will Wetline]

Mr. Ruiz, your story has me disoriented in the most pleasant way . . . catching bass in the heart of a metropolis . . . 

[Kjruiz]

49 minutes ago, Will Wetline said:

Mr. Ruiz, your story has me disoriented in the most pleasant way . . . catching bass in the heart of a metropolis . . . 

 A Fisherman always finds a way.  It took me just under a year to realize there are bass to be caught in the city. Weekends on the boat in CT, weekdays on the shore in NYC!

[NYWayfarer]

Beautiful place. I was there once but had no fishing gear.

 

You ought to check out Mike Iaconelli's Going Ike YouTube vid where he revisited Harlem Meer and caught a monster humpbacked Carp.

 

 

 

[Kjruiz]

@NYWayfarer I might have watched it and Lunkervilles episode to get some inside tips ?. 

[Deleted account]

Haven't fished Central Park in a while, but I always found row boat lake better than the meer. The reservoir is loaded with fish, but don't even think about it unless you are into handcuffs. I would advise against lecturing folks too much in NYC, at best you'll be ignored or growled at. There are at least a dozen places in NYC with bass, and several more just outside the city limits. FURGITABOUTIT!

[Kjruiz]

@reason Prospect Park in BK has tons of fish, but the Meer is walking distance for me so I get a bit of a workout in walking there and back. I don’t usually lecture, but the dude obviously didn’t know it wasn’t allowed and stopped once I said something. 

 

Headed back to to the meer today, hopefully I’ll have another catch to report!

 

EDIT:

found this guy guarding a wall. I lost another on the top when he back flipped off my hook. Bluegills were plentiful. I’ve been lucky lately (or using what I’ve learned from bassresource!) 

Edited June 21, 2018 by Kjruiz
Update

[SloatsburgPete]

jumpstart here.........5 years later.

I have been fishing Central Park regularly for the past 8 years from 59th to 110th and everything in between. I've noticed in the past several years a serious decline of fish in all lakes. When I started it was common to catch bass on every outing, and a few spots I knew, a few fish a time at the same place within minutes of each other. Now, years later and a much better fisherman I can fish the park for 1/2 a day with only a few bites. I'm sure there are many reasons, all small, heavily pressured ponds, at the Meer, heavy construction and a lot of meat fisherman (people keeping fish to eat). At the Pond - which used to be great, the water level has been much lower than it had been for years, and not much life in the water there. Van Cortland Lake in the Bronx - similar situation to Central Park, I might have to bite the bullet and head to Prospect Park.