how long before stripers show up

[Capt.Yasar]

Went to Fred's bait and tackle yesterday someone mentioned shorts are being caught in keyport / leonardo area. Another news was some 20 lb fish were caught in surf near seaside. Looking at weather and tempratures can someone give an idea when to plan for stripers? I'm kind of new so hopfully some experienced folks can jumpin....

[SaltLife1980]

I hope its soon!! I cant wait any longer! haha..

[Jay]

I second that....

[Papasown]

Stripers are always here. The young stay in our rivers and bays till they are 3 years old, and then go for their first ocean migration. They do venture into the ocean daily in search of food all winter long, and can also be caught in some back bay areas, also. These fish are under 22 inches long, and should be released without trauma. There will be increasing catches in the back bay areas of the Shrewsbury,Manasquan, Barnegat Bay, and the BayShore area in Raritan. Southern NJ has keeper size fish now, and Raritan will be soon, with Cliffwood and Pebble beach being among the earliest. Clams and worms are the best bet, and I like to use a high/low rig early with a small hook and large circle on that rig. Winter flounder swim at the same time, and won't be caught on a 7/0 circle hook. When I'm going flounder fishing I ALWAYS have a casting setup with different size shads within reach. Catch ém up............Papa

[SaltLife1980]

The bay was up to 44 degrees the other day.. Today it was around 41-42.. so it wont be long now!! I think it was around 46-48 degrees last season when they started to arrive..

[GetANet]

I Live by the raritan bay and don't usually start fishing till at least the third week of march, depending on the weather. I'm usually stir crazy by then but after doing it for so long and becoming older and wiser I don't feel like freezing for the first few weeks with nothing going on. I will start with pretty small circles cause usually the begining is alot of smaller fish. I laugh now when I see the guys getting bit several times and swing and miss!!! That's cause their schoolies, learned it the hard way myself but after I downsized my hooks quite a bit, I hook up almost every time if they take thebait which is usually about a third to a quarter of a clam. Forget the 4/0's and up till later or next month when the bigger fish move in. Small hooks and baits are the way to go IMO>try it and see if it works for you......I'd rather catch five schoolies then ten hits and NO FISH!

[SaltLife1980]

Im not looking for any schoolies.. Im looking for the cows!:D ;) But yes.. i have tried it and picked up a few

[Capt.Yasar]

I've been really sick recently; infected by the fishing bug, have been suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. It seems Stripers are coming soon. Think I will be cured after all.

[SaltLife1980]

Heard there was bunker in Raritan Bay from a good friend.. I wont be long now!!!!!! Can we say... Early Run!

[stugots]

Seems like an early spring...figure by April 1st there will be some nice keepers around

[Michael82929]

Bunker for the last couple of years have been starting to show in March - that is nothing new.. recently what has been new is seeing the early season bass chew on the bunker.. I am hearing that more and more....

Usually the fish are too sluggish to be chewing on bait schools and need to get that warmer water for them to start venturing on bait schools.. which is why the early season worm / clam bite is the ticket until one day - its game on with the chunk...

[Outofline]

Last March around the 17th, when we had that extremely warm week, Shucker, myself, Fast Eddie, DuckorBleed, and even Gerry Z were in the back bay in t-shirts catching fish on bunker chunks. Biggest probably went 25-30lbs. The bunker were so thick you didn't have to snag them, they snagged themselves on the lines in the water; reel in, chunk bunker, catch bass. It was CRAZY fishing. Went back the next day, bunker were still there, but no bass!

[Michael82929]

Years past... we would have the same scenario - and clams would outfish chunks 4 /1

Now - you see what you just described a little more and more as the yrs progress

You get a a shot of continous warm weather - its probably gets there blood pumping a little more to be more aggressive..

Remember bass are lazy opportunistic feeders... until conditions are prime to just put the feedbag on..