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Random Quote: The fish are smaller here but . . . there's less of 'em
Has anyone stayed overnight in Zachs Bay? Been thinking about doing it the 4th of July. go there early in the day, enjoy the beach, and watch the fireworks that night. Then in the morning start for home. Figured piloting the night with all the boats on the water watching the fireworks could get somewhat dangerous.
I usually raft-up at Hemlock Cove and watch the parade of boats heading towards Zachs..definitely more exciting then the fireworks!! At the conclusion of the firewoks it's alot safer leaving from Hemlock (just don't wait too long). Friends of mine who have stayed at Zachs always complain about the crowds. Phil
The last 4 years while living in Long Beach, I went to both the Point Lookout fireworks and Jones Beach. Leaving afterwards was always treacherous. Fortunately knowing the waters well I was able to stay out of trouble. Remember that most of the boaters going to these events are never out at night .
Staying in Zach's overnight is probably better than making your way back to Bay Shore. Yes you can stay in the Hemlocks overnight but I can not stay how good the fireworks are from there.
I stopped going to Zacks about 10 years ago because of the crowds. Went back there last year, stayed overnight and had a great time. I'm planning on doing the same this year. Get there early for the best spots and don't leave with the crowds.
where are the fireworks barges located. i was thinking of anchoring up in the cove just to the east of the fishing piers. just east of haunts creek. is that too far away to see anything?
Ron is right, out in the ocean is the best place to watch! Actually did it once, but that wasn't the original plan.
We decided to do a July 4th shark trip, this was probably 8 or 9 years ago. We headed out before 5am planning to get back early, and then I was supposed to take my sister and some friends out in the bay and see if we could get in view of the fireworks somewhere. Beautiful day out, but not much going on in the shark fishing department.
On the way back though we came upon school after school of bluefin tuna, very similar to last June. We tried trolling on the edges of the schools with all sorts of lure combinations and nothing. Then we tried bait, drifting so close to the schools that at one point a 60-70 lb fish jumped about 25 feet from the boat, chasing a school of bait fish jumping in front of it. Finally we hooked into a nice one, but somehow the knot on the leader pulled and we lost it. The guy who tied the know (not me!) got a lot of abuse on the way home!
At this point we were frustrated, the sun was setting, and I decided it was time to head back, way too late to get home and go back out for fireworks as we were still 18 miles or so offshore. I don't remember who said it first, but someone said "we're out here now, let's go to Jones Beach and watch the fireworks"
So I set the course for the Jones Beach water tower and we arrived just as it got dark. Guessed on a spot and soon the show was starting right in front of us. We had a perfect view, and only a handful of party boats around us. We didn't even anchor, just drifted in a slow swell. I think they were set off from shore back then, there weren't any barges. When it was over we headed back, absolutely no boat traffic to deal with running outside, and made it back home around 11pm totally exhausted after what turned out to be a really nice day, even without any fish to bring home.
thanks freedom. so im assuming i can throw the hook anywhere from woodcleft canal to zachs and see. id rather not fight it with a bunch of kids on a 23'. thanks for your help
4th of July in Zachs Bay 
