Needlefish
12-05-2024, 02:34 PM
Yesterday, caught a striper on a weighted treble, not baited, not snagged.
While surf fishing in Monmouth County I noticed a dark mass off the beach, looked like a school of bait. Put on a weighted treble, cast it to the far side, took up the slack, and swept the rod tip back. Felt the weight immediately and thought cool I snagged a bunker. But it was no bunker, lots more weight and it took off. Then I thought, did I snag a striper or some other fish? Long story short, landed a 29” striper hooked in the lip.
I know it’s not legal to snag bait then leave it swimming for a striper to inhale. But if no bait was snagged and the striper is hooked in the mouth, I guess its like fishing with any lure with treble hooks. I was trying to imagine how a conservation officer might view it. There was definitely no bait involved.
I’ve been surf fishing since the 80’s and this is another first for me.
While surf fishing in Monmouth County I noticed a dark mass off the beach, looked like a school of bait. Put on a weighted treble, cast it to the far side, took up the slack, and swept the rod tip back. Felt the weight immediately and thought cool I snagged a bunker. But it was no bunker, lots more weight and it took off. Then I thought, did I snag a striper or some other fish? Long story short, landed a 29” striper hooked in the lip.
I know it’s not legal to snag bait then leave it swimming for a striper to inhale. But if no bait was snagged and the striper is hooked in the mouth, I guess its like fishing with any lure with treble hooks. I was trying to imagine how a conservation officer might view it. There was definitely no bait involved.
I’ve been surf fishing since the 80’s and this is another first for me.