Having a firm understanding of how to operate your fish-finder will aid you in locating a productive area in which striped bass have gathered. Therefore it is recommended that you read the owner’s manual thoroughly before using. [2] X Research source Striped bass can be unpredictable—they can be found at different locations and different depths depending on the weather, time of year and even the time of day. Using your fish-finder will help you to determine the depth at which the bass are holding, which will allow you to present the bait at that exact depth and give you the best chance of actually catching a striped bass.
Live bait such as herring, menhaden, mackerel, eels, squid, clams, anchovies, bloodworms, shad, nightcrawlers and sandworms all make great bait for striped bass fishing. [3] X Research source You can find these baits at just about any local fishing bait and tackle shop. The type of bait that will bring you the most success will depend on the location you intend to fish in. If you’re unfamiliar with the body of water you’ll be fishing, consult with a local bait and tackle shop to find out what type of bait they recommend. You can also catch striped bass using a lure that resembles the forage base in the area where you’ll be fishing. These lures can be made from plastic, wood, metal, resins or rubber.
The type of rod you use will depend on type of fishing you intend to do. Will you be fishing in freshwater or saltwater? Will you be fishing on a boat? Or will you be fishing from the surf or on a jetty, bridge or pier? Will you be chunking bait, or using a lure? The answers to these questions will determine the correct weight, size and flexibility for your rod. [4] X Research source The type of reel you use is arguably more important than the rod – a saltwater spinning reel is a good option, as long as it’s sturdy enough to pull in a 20 to 25 pounds (9. 1 to 11. 3 kg) fish. In terms of line, you should be using a 10 to 20 pounds (4. 5 to 9. 1 kg) test monofilament line (though some people prefer heavier lines for catching bigger fish). The hook should be nice and sharp and there should be a minimum of 1⁄2 inch (1. 3 cm) between the point and the shank, to avoid catching undersized bass.
Striped bass are migratory fish who prefer water temperatures between 45 and 65 °F (7 and 18 °C). Therefore, if the water temperature goes above or below this range, you are unlikely to find any striped bass, as they will have migrated to warmer or cooler waters. The temperature may also affect the location of the fish within the water. On a hot sunny day, the striped bass may dive to depths as low as 40 feet (12 m) to avoid the heat and find more suitable temperature and oxygen levels. Whereas, on a cooler day, you might find them just a foot or two below the water’s surface. Stripers are more prone to feeding when there is water movement due to changing tides or a strong breeze. This is due to the fact that water movement stirs up sediment, which attracts bait fish (who feed on the sediment). In turn, the feeding bait fish attract the stripers. In addition, they are more likely to bite when the temperature of the water has recently fluctuated. Striped bass tend to feed most actively at dusk and dawn, where they can hunt smaller fish under the cover of darkness. Therefore, you may have a higher rate of success if you fish at these times.
Live eels can be used to fish for bass in deep water. They can help you to catch larger fish, as the biggest striper fish tend to lurk near the bottom. Live eels can be fished many different ways. One of the most popular and easiest methods is to fish live eels with a medium-light or medium-action rod.
This keeps the eels moist and cool. The ice also has the advantage of slowing down the eel’s metabolism, which makes them easier to handle. Don’t submerge the eels in water, as they will deplete the oxygen levels and eventually drown. [5] X Research source
When cruising at a higher speeds, striped bass will appear as small orange blotches on most sonar screens. It’s easy to miss these marks so be sure to keep a keen eye on the sonar. Depending on the wind and tide, setup a drift that will bring the boat through the area in which striped bass have gathered.
Use a burlap sack or even a cotton sock to hold the eel, as this will give you a better grip. Hold the eel around its neck in order to hook it. Use circle hooks to avoid gut hooking bass. Hook the eel in one of two ways—either pass the hook through the top of the eel’s mouth and out one of its eyes, or place the hook as deeply into the eel’s mouth as possible and pass it through the bottom of its throat. The former method hooks the eel more securely but runs the risk of accidentally killing it, while the latter method is less secure but keeps the eel alive for longer and makes the hook appear less obvious.
Give the eel a few seconds to reach the bottom—depending on the strength of the current and depth of the water—before you start to slowly reel it in. You may need to add up to 1/2 ounce of weight in the form of a rubber core sinker if the tide and wind is particularly strong. Start reeling at a very slow rate of 3 to 5 seconds per revolution—you want the eel to do most of the work for you.
This will prevent the striper from feeling the tension in the eel and becoming spooked. However, if you’re using circle hooks, you should reel the line in at a constant rate in order to hook the fish. You can set the hook as soon as the line goes taut and reel the fish in immediately, or you can allow the fish to run for 5 to 10 seconds (keeping the line slack) before setting the hook. [6] X Research source
When trolled slowly, the colored tube imitates a large sandworm or a swimming eel—two of the striped bass’s favorite delicacies. This method works best when fishing in shallow, flat waters, with temperatures above 55 °F (13 °C).
The fresh bait helps to give the tube an inviting scent, which will encourage the striped bass to come closer and investigate. Never fish with old or spoiled bait—the stripers will ignore it and you’ll end up hooking a sand shark or skate instead. Consider adding a stinger hook to the tube to help prevent short strikes and lost bass
This mimics the natural swimming speed of an eel in the water, making the bait seem more realistic. It may feel very slow, but be patient—catching a large striped bass is worth it!
Let the line out slowly, keeping it taut, until you feel the rig bouncing off the bottom. Reel the line in one or two turns, to keep the rig just above the bottom. The amount of colors of lead core trolled behind the boat can help you to determine the depth at which the tube and worm is being trolled. For example, if bass are holding at 15 feet (4. 6 m), then 3 colors (5 feet (1. 5 m)/color) is used to reach the bass. Try to slowly weave the tube forward and back on opposite 45 degree angles—this helps the movement of the bait to appear more natural.
