Striper fishing?!

[ChumDumpster]

I'm new to the forums on this site.. Ive been fishing the Raritan bay with my father (butcher boy don) for years and this year I finally purchased my own boat. It's been an amazing fluke year for me so far but I'm ready to get back into my favorite, striper fishing.I'm still a little hesitant about taking my boat out at night so my question is, am I wasting my time to start striper fishing during the day now? And if I do need to start up the night trips I'll be buying a portable spotlight..How many lumens/foot candles are recommended for me to be able to safely operate the boat at night?? Any input would be great, thank you.

[Joey Dah Fish]

Originally Posted by ChumDumpster

I'm new to the forums on this site.. Ive been fishing the Raritan bay with my father (butcher boy don) for years and this year I finally purchased my own boat. It's been an amazing fluke year for me so far but I'm ready to get back into my favorite, striper fishing.I'm still a little hesitant about taking my boat out at night so my question is, am I wasting my time to start striper fishing during the day now? And if I do need to start up the night trips I'll be buying a portable spotlight..How many lumens/foot candles are recommended for me to be able to safely operate the boat at night?? Any input would be great, thank you.

You don't need a spot light except maybe to get back into you're marina. It actually pisses a lot of guys off because it blinds others under way. If you have a good Nav system you will be ok. My advice is to go out at night with other experienced at the night fishing and driving for a few times and pay close attention to light packages on shore and so on. Ask a lot of questions and get acquainted with what everything looks like at night. Watch them drive back an keep close eye on what they are doing and why. In my opinion they early early morn might be ok to fish by over the years I have learned the why I fish the day bite doesn't pick up good until October and Nivember. But hey I've been wrong before. It never hurts to try. There is plenty of bunker out there good luck and I hope the boat treats you well.

[butcher boy don]

Glad 2 see you finally on the site.great group of guys with great infio!! Find out what's up so you don't get us lost out there.lol.tight lines!!

[ChumDumpster]

Thank you Joey...I won't get us lost butcher boy!

[NoLimit]

Believe or not you don't need lights like on a car. Your eyes adjust and reflection off the water even helps you see buoys. That is also why you don't want other boats shining lights since it becomes blinding to others

[Scotty]

I think it is something that you want to be very careful with. Become familiar with the areas using us boat and GPS in the daytime first. Then start on a well lit clear night not going out too far. Be careful drifting , recommend u drive the boat and let others fish, till u get the hang of it. Most important part is to get home safe. Good luck!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Great advice above. Lots of unlit buoys out there, especially around the end and out front of the weapons peer. If I were you, I would go out durning the day and make a track that steers way clear of these buoys and I would also pull up on them and make sure they are marked on your GPs. If not, mark them.

You also want to make sure your navigation lights are in working order and carry some spare bulbs just in case.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Just found this article I wrote some time ago.


Boating safely at night requires a good deal of skill, confidence, knowledge and lights. It’s much more dangerous boating at night for several reasons but to go out with out lights or not knowing how to use them increases the potential for trouble….

Point in case, my brother and I have been boating at night for several years. We were out a few weeks ago and the red/green nav lights on the bow stopped working. I usually carry spares for this reason but didn't have any. We had the white front facing helm light on the hard top and the rear white stern light so we could at least be seen. But with out red and green nav lights it's hard to tell the orientation and the direction our boat was traveling. Captain Frank from Finns and Feathers was on his way home and passed by us. He thought we were anchored since we were not showing any red/green. As he approached he noticed we were underway and had to slow down as he approached us because he could not determine the direction we were traveling with out the aid of the red/green nav lights. He gave us a piece of his mind back at the dock, rightfully so. Next trip to the store I picked up spares.

One other thing that is dangerous as well, having lights and using them incorrectly... While out one night we encountered several boats anchored up on the rip that still had their red/green running lights on. Anchoring up at the rip is not a common occurrence. First time we drifted through we assumed these boats were also drifting since their light packages indicated so. Luckily we kept the engine running and noticed we were gaining ground on and were able to avoid them.

Can't be too safe out there guys…… Especially at night.

Here are a few tips to make things safer for you and others at night:

Make sure all your lights are in working order before you leave the dock. Carry spares just in case.

Red and green nav lights should be displayed while you are underway or adrift not at anchor.

Anchor lights should be displayed while at anchor or when you are tied to something stationary and are not moving.

Practice reading the orientation and movement of other boats at night based on what lights they are displaying and how you are seeing them. A simple way to remember which side of the boat has red or green lights is "Red Port Wine". That means red nav lights will always be displayed on the port or left side of a boat. It would then stand to reason that green lights are starboard (right). Knowing this you can determine the orientation of a boat relative to you and as you come up on them what you need you need to do to avoid a collision.

Don't shine your search light on to other boats. Doing so can cause temporary loss of vision to the other boater.

While running keep other lights in the cockpit as dim as practical to avoid glare and allow your eyes to adjust to low light. This will increase your night vision.

Don't get too attached to your GPS and use it as you sole night navigation aid. It might crap out one night and you'll be out of luck. Practice with out your GPS at night. Don't shut it off but get used to land and other fixed navigation lights you can use to line up a safe ride home in case it's not working.

If you’re dead in the water at night or at times of reduced visibility anchor but in a safe place. Do not anchor in or near a channel. It’s much easier to locate and anchored boat then one that is adrift.

You should be very familiar with an area before attempting to run it at night. Check it out during the day to get your orientation. First few times out at night take it slow and get used to what things look like at night.

Last but certainly not least it’s important that you know where you are at all times. If you become disoriented stop, get out a chart, look at your surroundings and figure out where you are. Then and only then should you get back underway. Knowing how to read charts and use a compass can really help you here.



Safe boating to all.

Gerry

[loosescrews]

I never had much luck fishing for stripers in the fall during the day. Until the sand eels show up then almost any one can get em. When I first started fishing at night I would try to go out just before dark so you get a good look at your surroundings before it turns dark. And now only half your trip is in the dark. Also try to pick your days with clear skies and some moon. The moon, if close to full will help a lot. Unfortunately it doesn't come up till pretty late sometimes. Cut your day speed in half and you'll be ok. And forget the searchlight idea except for emergencies.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by loosescrews

I never had much luck fishing for stripers in the fall during the day. Until the sand eels show up then almost any one can get em.

Bingo!! This usually happens late November into December. Last year around that time it was game on but in the ocean, not the bay and for us it was mostly on Savage lures during the daylight hours