1st shot at trolling bass

[Detour66]

So I got myself a Mojo rig and gave a shot at trolling bass. Started out at round shoal and had a few hits but no takers! Then I went out to Flynn's Knoll to join the fleet but once again I had strikes but no takers. i was trolling between 3-4 knots and tried to get the Mojo as close to the bottom with out getting snagged. There is a method to it and in time I will get better. I know I was doing something right but just didn't connect. There was a lot of boats on Flynn's from all over including Belmar and Pt Pleasant. It was a madhouse! I didn't see anyone catching though. The east wind picked up and it got really snotty and it was time to call it a day. I will be out there again asap armed with my Mojo rigs! next time I will connect! Tight lines!

[Duffman]

Nice first shot. 3-4 knots sounds a little quick IMO.

Can’t believe the distance these guys are covering. I get it, ya gotta go where the fish are obviously. SRI is what ? 23-24 miles from the Knoll? Looking at covering 50-60 miles in day for stripers. That’s alotta fuel.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Sounds like you're doing it right but your timing was off... These fish seem to turn off and on like a light switch and boat traffic doesn't help.. Lots of reports here and elsewhere "we marked the hell out of them but no takers"

A few things to try if others are hooking up and you're not. Change your direction. Troll with the current, against it or across. I've been out a few times when I'd only hook up going in one direction. You could also change the color of the plastic shad tail chartreuse or white seem to work best.

[Keystonefisher]

Spoke with a Capt Saturday who caught 2 fish in the am and 12 within an hour and a half period of time late afternoon. All the same body of fish. So to Gerry’s point; maybe just bad timing.

As for speed I agree with Duff; I try to be 3-4 MPH; not knots.

I was skunked one day and a buddy was catching; he told me to shadow him off to the side. I was pulling slower than him. As soon as I sped up I started catching.

Maybe try shadowing a known Charter at a distance to gauge your speed compared to theirs.

Catch em up!!

[Skolmann]

I agree with what has already been said with regards to speed, slow it down a tad.

I’d also like to add that with Knoll being relatively shallow with all those boats trolling it would make a lot of noise which could potentially give the bass lock jaw. Next time try trolling one of the channel (Sandy Hook, Chapel Hill, Swash) edges.

[RescueDogger]

Originally Posted by Duffman

Nice first shot. 3-4 knots sounds a little quick IMO.

Can’t believe the distance these guys are covering. I get it, ya gotta go where the fish are obviously. SRI is what ? 23-24 miles from the Knoll? Looking at covering 50-60 miles in day for stripers. That’s alotta fuel.

And if the wind shifts a bit south it can be a long and lonely ride with no help whatsoever in sight with <50 deg F water. I've heard stories of False Hook snadbars not being where you'd expect. I was having so much fun going after the striper bite in the Raritan a few years back that I pushed daylight about an hour too far. Then when I turned The Hook I realized I might have just signed up for the Darwin Award. When I pulled into the calm waters of the MI I wanted to kiss land.

I'll wait for the the Chesapeake herd to come barreling up the coast. If I get the hankering for the Raritan magic, I'll pay for a charter.

Rule #1 -- avoid death (especially by being stupid at sea)
Rule #2 -- don't show up on QualifiedCaptain

[Detour66]

Thanks guys. All great information and insight, I will be out there again tomorrow. Gonna troll a Mojo tandem on one rod and a Stretch 25 on the other. Also if i see some major readings on my FF I will jig. Tight lines all!

[Pietro]

mojos work! If you want get on the meat try a Shad umbrella rig with a trolling sinker. Bass cant resist em! Dont use em when blues are around.....$$$$$$$$