Improve your striped bass fishing tactics with the tips in this article. Here are my best tips and information on tackle, gear, bait, and techniques for Striped Bass. Surf fishing for striped bass is a cold water endeavor. They prefer water between 55 and 65 degrees. Wave fishing for these guys runs from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. In warmer areas of the US, they are more likely to be found in freshwater lakes and rivers, where the water is cooler.
Striped Low Tackle
The only live bait rig I like is the fish finder rig because the bait can release the line with the current. In my opinion, this is the most productive live bait rig. Smaller fish, 8 to 10 pounds, can be caught on hook sizes in the 2/0, 3/0 range. For larger fish, 6/0 to 8/0 is the preferred size. More importantly, you must size your hook for the bait used. Circle hooks are what I like to use, which are also better for catching and releasing.
Leaders must have a 60# to 80# test. Monofilament is fine as the main material. Build your own fish finder setups with 18″ to 24″ of leader between hook and swivel. Artificial baits and lures are not as productive as live baits, but they work well. Artificial eels and squid are the best in the artificial category. Most types of swim plugs are good at 1-3/4 ounces to 2-1/4 ounces in size.
striped bass gear
If you have been reading my articles, you know that I have a preference for spinning reels. I just think they are easier to use and cause fewer problems. Do what you want here, what you like best. Choose a spinning reel or a bait casting reel, it makes no difference. As far as surf rods go, a 10′ to 12′ rod is still my recommendation. I’m not a big fan of having a special rod for every type of fish caught in the waves. Most of the surf fishing I do is with my 12′ medium-heavy rod. For me, it can handle short or long casts and if I hook into something sizeable I have enough meat to deal with it. I like to keep it simple. These fish are a certain size, so you need to make sure your rod is up to the task.
Spool your reel with 200 yards of 20- to 30-pound test monofilament or braided line. If you can’t get 200 yards of 20# test monofilament line on your spool, switch to 30# braided line. You will not have any problems. The 30# test braided line is about the same diameter as the 8# test monofilament.
Striped Bass Bait
Striped bass feed on a wide variety of live baits, but their two favorite options are eels and squid. The best way to fish for eels is to hook the tail into a fish finder so that the eel feeds with the current the way it would naturally swim. Also, I would recommend the menhaden or bunker hooked just in front of the pectoral fins on a sonar rig for the same reason. You want your bait to feed or naturally swim with the current toward waiting predators.
Cut baits will also catch stripers and can be hooked in any way that works best for you.
Striped Bass Techniques
Striped bass like moving water and will always be facing the current. They prefer to lie and wait for their food to arrive. Outgoing high tides are best for live bait. If you can find a rip current, that’s usually a good option. The fish finder rig is nice because the bait can be freely lined up with the current, right in the path of the waiting stripers. Lures, artificial baits, and live baits that retrieve are best for incoming high tides, as the fish will be looking to retrieve. Scout the beach at low tide for likely fishing spots. They like rocks and other forms of hard structure.
Striped bass are not deterred by irritated water and will accept live bait, lures, or artificial baits equally well in those conditions. Night fishing after dark is productive, as is the early morning just before sunrise. Striped bass feed mainly at night. Fishing during the day is not that great.
Striped bass is one of the most prized game fish caught in the surf. Follow the tips in this article to improve your catch rate and hunt down the big stripers.