salmo
Well-known member
Even a blind squirrel……
Fall Stripers
- Thread starter Fredrick
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Striperbobby
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- Aug 25, 2020
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- 111
Ocean city Maryland, nightime, from kayak and wading flats
area 22 in IBSP (kayak launch) usually produces and the hook at Sandy Hook Park.
40°28'52.0"N 74°00'30.3"W
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39°47'22.2"N 74°05'50.2"W
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bringthepain
Active member
Had a good day north of Manasquan inlet Friday. We boated 40 fish between 15lb and 35-40lbs. All on diamond jigs. The fish are on the sand eels big time and feeding aggrssively. Really fun day out there
Went out during the day yesterday in the back bays of NJ and couldn't get any love on smaller flies had to switch up to bulkheads or larger synthetic flies at least 6" before we got their attention. 5 fish landed 2 were over 30".
Went out for some NJ stripers today. Had a couple of top water hits but couldn’t connect . So I put on the faithful beast master general and caught two slots and a couple of shorts . Beautiful day to be on the water .
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Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
I have caught a few puppies in Ocean County over the years.
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
The snag and drop crews are on big fish in MoCo already....
bringthepain
Active member
Thats illegal now. You must snag, reel in, put bunker on cirlce hook and send back out that way
In “my perfect world” there would be no live-lining of any large specimens (length limit created for bait) of any fish species when fishing for coastal (marine) origin stripers despite the use of circle hooks. Based on anecdotal reports to me from reliable anglers who catch a lot of adult stripers, I presently believe that circle hooks may not be the “end-all” regarding gut hooking. Combined info from them has been that 35-50% of their fish are not hooked in the mouth, and “sampling size” is large enough, with over 100 fish caught by one pair of anglers in one season, for example. This raises serious questions.
Yes, this could be studied, and that would be a reasonable approach under normal circumstances (studying deep hooking specifically via live lining with circle hooks, not just the use of circle hooks for stripers in general), but who really needs to live-line striped bass when lures are so effective? I’m betting most would agree that lures are likely better for fish (striped bass) health/survival and certainly better for menhaden and eel populations when one considers the total coast-wide take specifically for bait.
Furthermore, live-lining of American Eels is also popular and this is a species whose population has been documented to be in trouble. For that reason alone, using eels for bait anywhere for any species should be terminated. Note: I’m not bashing anglers who presently live-line or fish with eels; it’s legal. It’s the regulations that are the problem.
Yes, this could be studied, and that would be a reasonable approach under normal circumstances (studying deep hooking specifically via live lining with circle hooks, not just the use of circle hooks for stripers in general), but who really needs to live-line striped bass when lures are so effective? I’m betting most would agree that lures are likely better for fish (striped bass) health/survival and certainly better for menhaden and eel populations when one considers the total coast-wide take specifically for bait.
Furthermore, live-lining of American Eels is also popular and this is a species whose population has been documented to be in trouble. For that reason alone, using eels for bait anywhere for any species should be terminated. Note: I’m not bashing anglers who presently live-line or fish with eels; it’s legal. It’s the regulations that are the problem.
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Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
Yeah, sure it is... on paper.
bringthepain
Active member
The boat i go out on is larger than a 6 pack boat and is coast guard inspected annually so they do not mess around. With 8 guys we usually have 2 snaggers (guys who know how to use weighted trebles and not hurt someone else) and 6 guys with circles
I agree with Mike that live lining in general results in fish hooked deeper ESPECIALLY when the person on the rod is not experienced at this style of fishing. You can mitigate this problem with good technique that comes thru experience.
It was pretty darn cool when we were fishing diamond jigs on the sand eel bite a couple weeks back, we boated 40 plus fish and all except 1 was hooked in the corner of the mouth. The one that wasnt (i caught it) had the diamond jig a little deeper but it was still nowhere near the gills, etc. That was my first experience getting them on the diamond jigs and it was really fun. I preferred it to live lining for sure
I'm honestly not sure how much success you would have fishing plugs when they are on the bunker schools. I never tried it. I tend to think it would not be as effective but who knows. Hooking fish on big galvanized trebles comes with its own set of headaches and problems for the fish as well. There was plenty of surface action on the sand eel bite and when i asked the mate if he had any poppers he said that the trebles create issues and gave me a plug rod with a single hook swim shad. He said they'll eat that shad just as quick as a plug throw it at the surface disruptions when you see them. I missed a few but never hooked up that way
I never understood this after reading you state that the populations are in decline. Seems like the preferred bait of choice for Cobia fisherman as well.
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
I am not condoning it, and I am glad your Capt is ethical, but I know that for every one doing the right thing (and still killing fish) there is another Capt doing it the old way.
As far as catching fish that are on bunker, big shads are bunker imitations with one hook, they are just harder for the guys who don't fish a lot to have success with.
No doubt it's a blast too, and I don't want to be a buzzkill. That fleet is out there every day (maybe twice), however, so mortality is happening despite best intentions. I just personally wrestle with the ethics of it all, especially having lived through the last steep decline.
bringthepain
Active member
I know exactly what you mean and have had the same thoughts and concerns. Luckily this captain my buddy got hooked up with is good. I wouldn't go if there was unethical stuff happening it take would take away the enjoyment for me. Stripers are a special fish and not always easy to target so i appreciate being able to catch them
We are going again thanksgiving weekend, should be smaller fish and all on shads by then looking forward to it
marcq
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- Apr 21, 2009
- Messages
- 850
Although I wasn’t fly fishing crushed them this weekend. 8 fish up to 40 inches definitely within fly casting range. Fish on bunker which IMO is some of the most fun yet most annoying fishing around. Made me think I should bring the fly rod out again. North jersey.
Also I fished live eels a lot in years past. Mostly a spring fishery. I know the research guys are doing up in mass regarding circle hooks. I don’t think it apply to eels. I started out fishing j hook and had very few gut hooks once switched to circles I guy hooked way more fish. When fishing a j hook I would set the Hook immediately after the bite. With circle you have to wait and they tend to swallow eels. The past two season I stoped fishing them. There is nothing like a big bass hitting an eel.
Also I fished live eels a lot in years past. Mostly a spring fishery. I know the research guys are doing up in mass regarding circle hooks. I don’t think it apply to eels. I started out fishing j hook and had very few gut hooks once switched to circles I guy hooked way more fish. When fishing a j hook I would set the Hook immediately after the bite. With circle you have to wait and they tend to swallow eels. The past two season I stoped fishing them. There is nothing like a big bass hitting an eel.
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sandflyx
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lot of fish still around sandy hook, they will be in seaside park this week.
hooker-of-men
Well-known member
There are some Sandy Hook area closures again this year, correct? Is the limited access a big deal? (I haven't fished up there; I'm more familiar with Ocean County spots)
bringthepain
Active member
Marcq, were you fishing from the beach? That sounds like a heck of a day, well done!!
Been staying in the back (nj) still getting a feel for things in the boat . Last few outings catching during the day and night catching all my fish on a beast master generals from 4” to 5 1/2” .
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