Author Topic: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh  (Read 2854 times)

Ichabod Spoonbill

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Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« on: April 10, 2017, 09:43:56 AM »
I took my Pau Hana Ricochet into Constitution Marsh yesterday. This is a marsh behind Constitution Island, and that's owned by West Point. I've done this trip before but never so early in the year. My goal was a waterfall at the far southern end, maybe a mile and a half in. The tide was about two hours ebbing when I put in, so I was worried I wouldn't make it. The marsh can get very shallow at low tide. That's good when you're going under the train bridges, but bad across the mud flats.

Interesting seeing a marsh when things are just beginning to grow. Normally it's filled with tweeting, but I only saw our usual winter residents: crows, vultures. I saw a couple of carp in the water. I saw a bald eagle nest, which are getting well established around here.

The marsh is usually pretty turbid, but there are some cool sections where creeks run into it and the clear water hits the muddle water. You get this clear division between the two waters briefly. The water was still in the low 40s, so no swimming yet.

I couldn't make it to the waterfall. I'll have to try again just before high tide. Next trip!
Pau Hana 11' Big EZ Ricochet (Beluga)

Ichabod Spoonbill

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2017, 10:24:23 AM »
Here's a video of me drifting under a bridge. When the tide is against me, I have to work the bottom of the bridge with my hands to get under.

https://youtu.be/uIVQDrwLWs8
Pau Hana 11' Big EZ Ricochet (Beluga)

surfinJ

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2017, 10:30:47 AM »
Looks like a nice place to paddle. Peaceful meditation and recharge.

I guess the tidal depth thing keeps the crowd low.

Night Wing

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2017, 12:33:37 PM »
@Ichabod Spoonbill

From looking at your photos, when the water temperature gets warmer, that place looks like a good place to scoop up a few blue crabs for dinner after a session of paddling there.
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Badger

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2017, 01:24:58 AM »

NW, I doubt there are any Blue Crabs that far up the Hudson from NYC and even if there were you might not want to eat them.
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Ichabod Spoonbill

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2017, 04:12:49 AM »
There are blue crabs a little south of there. I see them sometimes on the surface when I paddle right at Peekskill. Big ones. The river is saltier there.

I don't think the crabs are fished because of the PCBs. There's still all that polluted mud upstream, and then the stuff lingers in the bodies of the marine fauna. People do fish the Hudson, but it's for the seasonal visitors like stripers. The local stuff tends to accumulate too much of the bad stuff.
Pau Hana 11' Big EZ Ricochet (Beluga)

supthecreek

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2017, 05:28:54 AM »
Spring is springing!
Nice Icky.... I just checked the marsh out on Google Earth... a little slice of solitude off the river:)

Ichabod Spoonbill

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2017, 06:39:35 AM »
Creek, I was thinking about you and your videos while I was out there. I'll get my GoPro working in the next couple of weeks, and then maybe you'll have some competition!
Pau Hana 11' Big EZ Ricochet (Beluga)

deepmud

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2017, 02:46:55 PM »
Like! :D

Funny - now I'm complaining the pics are too small, lol :D

I'm totally going to continue using ponobill's style of large pics with width=800 place in there. Yours are more  width=150 size - but I still enjoyed them.

Erik

Ichabod Spoonbill

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Re: Early Spring on Constitution Marsh
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2017, 08:03:37 AM »
Thanks, Deep. I didn't realize those pictures would end up so microscopic. I'll repost.
Pau Hana 11' Big EZ Ricochet (Beluga)

 


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