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. The surf fishing for these guys ranges 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 Bass 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 need to size your hook for the bait used. Circle hooks are what I like to use, which are also better for catch and release.
Leaders must have a proof of 60# to 80#. 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. The artificial eels and squid are the best in the artificial category. Most types of swim caps 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 less trouble. Do what you want here, what you like the most. Choose a spinning reel or baitcasting reel, it makes no difference. As for surf rods, a 10′ to 12′ rod is still my recommendation. I’m not a big fan of having a special rod for each type of fish caught in the waves. Most of the surf fishing I do is with my medium-heavy 12′ rod. For me, it can handle short or long casts and if I get hooked on something sizable 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 test monofilament or 20 to 30 pound braided line. If you can’t get 200 yards of 20# test monofilament line on your reel, switch to 30# braided line. You will not have any problems. The 30# braided test line is approximately 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 choices are eels and squid. The best way to fish for eels is to hook the tail onto a fish finder so that the eel feeds on the current the way it would naturally swim. Also, I would recommend the menhaden or bunker hooked right in front of the pectoral fins on a fish finder rig for the same reason. You want your bait to feed or swim naturally with the current to waiting predators.
Cut baits will also catch stripers and can be hooked in whatever way works best for you.
Striped Bass Techniques
Striped Bass likes moving water and will always be facing the current. They prefer to lie and wait for their food to arrive. The high tides that come out are better for live bait. If you can find a rip current, that’s usually a good option. The fishfinder rig is nice because the bait can be freely aligned with the current, right in the path of waiting stripers. Lures, artificial baits, and fetching live baits are best for incoming high tides, as the fish will be looking toward fetching. Explore the beach at low tide for likely fishing spots. They like rocks and other forms of hard structure.
Striped Bass are not put off by rough water and accept live, lure or artificial baits equally well in those conditions. Night fishing after dark is productive, as is the early morning hours just before sunrise. Striped bass feed primarily at night. Fishing during the day is not so good.
Striped Bass is one of the most prized game fish caught from the waves. Follow the tips in this article to improve your catch rate and hunt down the big stripers.