Need help putting my first striper in my boat.

[WaltNJ]

I'm sure this will be an interesting thread.

I've fished the beaches for my entire life. Fairly recently I got my first boat...a post-divorce dream come true!:D

I've been successful with blues and fluke...but have yet to put my first striper in the boat. About a week ago, while drifting the false hook at Sandy Hook for fluke, a gentleman came over to my boat and offered me info that the stripers were blitzing a few miles off shore. I headed out and hooked two on a krocodile spoon while casting and reeling...which would have clearly been my biggest ever as well as my first on the boat. The action was about over when I arrived.

Can anyone give me a little help with a game plan to get that first striper in the boat? And how to plan my attack in the future? I'm willing to listen and learn. I appreciate anything anyone has to offer.

Feel free to email me at waltpe at centurylink dot net if you don't want to post on the board.

Great board. I've enjoyed it for many years.

Thanks!

[hartattack]

1- Welcome
2- Read this --> http://www.njfishing.com/NJ_Spring_Striped_Bass_Fishing.php
3- Good luck

[Gerry Zagorski]

This time of year most people are using live bunker to live line or trolling Bunker Spoons or MoJos.

Bunker spoons takes a bit of a knack while Mojos are a bit easier but you are going to need trolling poles with braided line.

Best thing to do is find Bunker ahead of time and keep them in a live well with a good strong pump to keep them alive. You can sometimes find the bunker in the same area the Stripers are actively feeding but sometimes that is not the case, so you want to be prepared ahead of time.

Take a 9/0 Octopus hook on a 40 lb leader, hook the Bunker through nostrils or the meat behind the dorsal fin, toss them out and let them swim in free spool. If A Striper hits, don't try to set the hook when you first feel the first tap-tap... Let the Striper take a steady run with it and then set your hook.

As far as spots, a lot is going to depend on putting in your time, being in the right place at the right time and being observant. These fish will turn on and shut off like a light switch. If you are not seeing the fish actively feeding and spraying on the surface, keep on searching until you do... If all else fails and you know the fish are in the area stay, fish and wait it out. Always keep a look out since the bite could be taking place a few hundred yards from where you are. Finding the actively feeding fish is everything.

[NoLimit]

Troll green mojos between the channels tonite

[Dino]

spring bass can be a bit trickier.. tend to be very large fish that take live baits, chunks or caught trolling. all three of these methods take a bit of know how. as gerry said, your best bet is to swim some live bunkers anywhere you have intel that there are fish. if it doesnt work out, the fall run is typically a lot easier to catch the with traditional cast, jig, retrieve fishing. sometimes the run doesnt start until as late as november, sometimes earlier. seems like u have several weeks left of livelining fish, good luck ! just keep doing it you'll be dialed in soon !

[bulletbob]

Good advice so far.. Another possibility and an easy one to master is to fish at night with live eels on what is known as a 3x3 rig... Basically a 3 foot leader to hook from a 3 way swivel and a 3 foot length to sinker as well.. If you only want to fish daylight, I would be on the water at dawn and start looking for bunker, and fish the pods.. Problem this time of year is boat traffic.. Stripers come up, and the gaggles of boats after them and blues can put them right back down quick.. Not sure if eels are effective this early, but when the water is warm and daytime stripers are tough to find, they are not hard to catch on eels at night.. bob

[ChumDumpster]

Bro go around sandy hook towards Asbury deal area, stopping at all bunker pods and pods of boats in between a couple hundred yards off the shore. Cast a snag hook out which u can buy in packs at dicks sporting goods or freds bait and tackle. Snag the bunker and wait..if nothing try it again and chase down other pods..it's only gonna happen if you get out there man..good luck. And by the way, this time of year, that 1st striper coming up into your boat is going to be a big girl ��

[ALS Mako]

south shore of staten island to the verizzano and into lower hudson harbor has been good with steady action. real early morning bite though. you probably want to be on the water by 5- 6 the latest. this is ny waters so check the regs and make sure you have all that you need.

[WaltNJ]

Thank you all so much for the great, useful information. I didn't get the boat out this weekend...but plan on getting out later this week and also the weekend, of course, with everyone else.

I think I'm generally on the right track. I also think I need to get started earlier in the morning...or get started later in the evening.

I sincerely appreciate it. The only thing I'm not prepared for is trolling bunker spoons. I'm told there is a very specific rod for this? Or...someone is trying to sell me a very specific rod for this? (I'm a sucker for new equipment...like most fisherman...and my boat has been a great excuse for some retail therapy.)

[jerseyhunter]

Try trolling umbrella rigs between the range buoys and changing speeds. Multiple hook ups most times, which really takes the sport out of it. But you'll land at least one.

[Capt. Lou]

U require a specific rod for sure in the bunker spoon game , that being said I've caught on shorter rods but the long rods keep the spoons throbbing especially on smaller boats much better .
I've alwauys preferred 9's with a moderate taper & power . Most don't understand the basics & select rods that R note suited for this technique .
Yes u will catch but not be consistent . Choose carefully it does mean catching consistently or just luck in out once in awhile . It's easy to rig them wrong as well .
Good luck !

[WaltNJ]

Thanks. Can you suggest a specific rod/reel/line/rig combo for the bunker spoons?

Also...what are "range buoys"?

[Gerry Zagorski]

I would be trolling braid not wire since wire is a PITA and you need special Carboloy guides because the wire can wear through regular guides. If you buy a rod with regular guides you can use them for spoons and other things.

Here are some sites for you to check out
http://www.kevinbogans.com/ he does custom bunker spoon rods and rig them with or with out the Carboloy guides.

http://www.tgttackle.com/articles.php bottom article "spoon feeding bass"

Both sponsors here.

As far as reels, I'm using Avet LXs. Whatever reel you choose it should have a lever drag as you want to be able to set the drag light enough so you have enough pressure to keep line coming off the reel under the pressure of dragging the spoon and once you get a hit, move it up to strike and you are fighting the fish on your preset drag.

[WaltNJ]

Excellent. Thank you again.

I'm always interested in supporting sponsors.

[Joey Dah Fish]

I would hire Johnny Bucktails to guide my boat for a day :D the kid catch straight up catch them carp as good if not better than anyone

[SaltLife1980]

I would hire Johnny Bucktails to guide my boat for a day :D the kid catch straight up catch them carp as good if not better than anyone

Kills em just as good too:eek::D

[WaltNJ]

I would totally do that. :)