How To Catch A Striper by Bob Kenig
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Stripers seem to have become the target species for most inshore South Jersey Fishermen. This is certainly understandable because of the following reasons:
1. They have become plentiful.
2. They can be caught in the Ocean (3 Mile Limit), the Delaware Bay and the Back Bays.
3. They can be caught using a great variety of baits and techniques.
4. They provide an excellent fight.
5. They are superb table fair.
WHEN
Although Stripers seem to remain in the Delaware Bay and Back Bays the entire year, the season closes from 12/31 through 3/1 in these waters. The ocean has no closed season but the fish must be caught within the three mile limit.
The majority of Striper fishing occurs in the Spring and Fall. However, Stripers are also plentiful in the Summer, particularly feeding around the Jetties.
WHERE
BACK BAYS
Most avid Striper fisherman can be found in the Cape May "Rips" or chunking up the Delaware Bay. However, the Back Bays are a fine location for catching Striped Bass. Fishing along the sod banks and around the bridges, particularly at night, provide some real action.
Two Mile Bridge - The area around the Two Mile Bridge is an excellent location for catching Stripers. From late Spring through the late Fall, Stripers seem to congregate in this location. Many different techniques and baits can be employed.
Paul HornIng, a person who has become well known for fishing this location five days a week from, the Spring until late Fall, has caught numerous Stripers in this location. He has given me many pointers and I have become a frequent fisherman in this area. This is NOT a place to fish on the weekends. There is too much boat traffic and this ruins the fishing.
The mouth of the Cape May Inlet is another good place for finding Stripers and the Inlet Jetties provide a great deal of Striper action.
DELAWARE BAY
Fishing locations in Delaware Bay are determined by the technique employed. Employing the chunking technique (described in the "HOW" section), fish the deep channels or Striper Turnpikes. These are the areas where the fish travel down the Bay on the outgoing tide and up the Bay on the incoming tide.
On the New Jersey side of the Bay, the 60 Slough, the 20' Slough and sloughs near Bug Light have proven to be good spots. Patti and Jerry have a great spot off the Villas but they keep this location their secret. One of these days, I am going to follow them and find the spot!
When drifting and using eels, cut bait or bucktails tipped with bait, there are some fine locations for landing some nice Stripers. Look for a rip! These are caused when the tide runs over a high spot on the bottom. Many think the only rips are the famous "Rips" along the mouth of the Delaware Bay. This, of course, is not the case. There are many rips throughout Delaware Bay.
Brown Shoal - There are many rips in this area. The best Striper fishing occurs on the outgoing tide but fish can be caught on the incoming tide. Brown Shoal is a relatively large area with many rips to explore.
Brandwine Shoal - Like Brown Shoal, there are several very nice rips in the Brandwine Shoal area. However, Brown Shoal does not have the exposed rocks (structure) the Brandywine Light House provides. Casting plugs into the South end of the rocks on the incoming tide can be a very exciting experience. This is complicated by trying to keep your boat from crashing into the rocks.
OCEAN
The World Famous "Rips" - The best and most consistent producer of Stripers are the famous "Rips". These stretch from Cape May to Delaware. There are so many "Rips", you never run out of locations to try. Perhaps the most famous "Rips" occur on Prissy Wicks Shoal, Middle Shoal and Ovewrfalls Shoal. However, those who consistently catch Stripers, have certain "Rips" they call their favorites. These are their own secret spots.
Captain Tim of the "Ugly Mug" Fleet and I have been friends for many years and he will not reveal some of his best spots in the "Rips" to me. He also knows certain "Rips" are only good at certain phases of the tide. This is another one of his many secrets. These secrets, along with superb fishing techniques, make Tim the best Striper Fisherman in South Jersey.
Wildwood Clam Beds - This is another fine spot to catch Stripers. However, fisherman must be aware of the three mile limit when fishing this area.
The Cape May Jetties - These rocks provide a great hiding place for baitfish and these baitfish attract many species of fish, including Stripers. It is only worthwhile to fish these area when there is little or no boat traffic. Night fishing, as well as fishing in the evening and early morning, seem to be the best times.
HOW
No matter what technique you employ, use Fluorocarbon Leaders!!!
Chunking is a technique used in Delaware Bay. Normally, it produces the largest Stripers. It involves anchoring your boat and playing the "Waiting Game". Although I have used this technique, it is far from my favorite method for catching Stripers.
The bait of choice for those who "Chunk" is Bunker, the fresher, the better. The bait is cut into four or five pieces with a single piece put on a fish finder rig. Some "Chunkers" feel the head is the best bait for the Stripers.
After anchoring, many fisherman create a chum slick using Bunker oil and "Chunks" of bunker, thrown over every so often. They cast out their lines and let the rods sit in the rod holders until there is a pick up or until they feel the bait should be changed. Once a fish picks up the bait and the hook is set, the excitement begins.
Drifting with eels is another very popular technique for catching Linesiders. This is my favorite method.
Using a fish finder rig, the eel is either lip hooked or hooked in the eyes. The trick is to drift over the rip and hope the Stripers are on the down tide side of the hill. Once Stripers are discovered, fisherman will continue drifting over the particular rip. A good sonar unit is a must for finding the fish.
Fisherman must be mindful of not running over the rip after drifting over it and finding fish. Running over the rip creates too much disturbance and the fish may vanish. It is a good idea to maks a wide swing around the rip and then drift over it again.
When you see boats running over the rips, you can be sure these fisherman have no idea about Striper fishing.
This drifting technique also works well with bucktails tipped with bait or employing a top and bottom rig with bait. The best baits are determined by the time of year. Clam, Herring strips, Mackerel strips, Squid Strips and plastics are normally the baits of choice.
Another technique is to cast plugs. This works especially well when the Stripers are feeding on the top. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a Striper attack a top water bait.
Trolling plugs on the edges of rips or along the sod banks in the Back Bays is also a very produtive way to catch Stripers.
If you have any questions or comments
e-mail Bob Kenig @ kenig1@comcast.net