NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums
NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports and Information => Helping Each Other Out => Topic started by: 8WEIGHT on September 22, 2008, 08:42:25 PM
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Great site I came across here.. seems like some good people. First post here so lets give it a go.
How many out there really think big baits when targeting the striped one? does it pay off? My largest bass is only 15 lbs through the years, and when I'm not chucking and ducking I'm throwing the usual bombers bucktails and plastics. This year I plan to get big and use monster sized plugs should I or just keep pluggin.
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It's true. t^
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only when the big fish are eating big baits... big bass will often be keyed in on sand eels or peanut bunker...
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Welcome 8. Where do you fish out off.
You can ad that to your profile in Location. so other know where you fish from t^
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Welcome! This is a great place! Excellent first post, too.
I agree with this to an extent! I really agree and follow, "match the hatch!" Right now bait of choice is peanut bunker, finger sized mullet, small rainfish, clams and sand eels. None of those baits are very large, so larger will probably catch larger fish, but only if the baits are big at the time. I think if you used larger bait, it could get overlooked b/c the fish are targeting the certain species in pods which are smaller right now.
For example, in the spring run, using a larger or big bunker will probably produce a big striper. Like what we saw in the video that Capt Joe "Irish Ayes" posted about yo-yo'ing! That bunker was large and the fish he hooked up with was probably big too since it broke off!
TT^
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big baits mean big fish, but not really. I caught many large bass on a single Clam. You just have to use the bait that is in season. Spring is good for using clams, fall is good with live lining bunker, trolling, or live eeling at night.
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speaking of live eeling, nick we need to do a night of that. live eeling surf rocket style. send those bad boys for the ride of their life before they get munched up by monster bass. it way too much fun. they survive the shot. yup yup yuppers. lol.
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rofla rofla hhppy Just imagining an eel flying through the air at warp speed. AAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. With it's little eyes bugging out. rofla rofla
Sorry...
8Weight, welcome to the site. Although it is true large bait = large fish. I feel, as others have said, matching the hatch works more consistantly. How many times have you tossed out a plug trailing a teaser and the fish took the teaser. Keep in mind, the teaser is typically smaller than the plug and that is what the fish focused on. Perhaps because of the size of the bait in the water? t^
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you got it Joe, soo true so true.
imagine what those eels are thinking as they are getting loaded and then fired.. omg rofla.
"o" its cold and dark kinda comfy,mmmm... then.... wham they outta here. rofla rofla rofla
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Welcome Aboard 8WEIGHT,
This site is awesome and the guys are all about sharing what knowledge they have.
As for big baits, they do work but you are limiting your catch to just the large ones. I would prefer to catch something on a regular basis no matter what size it is.
The largest plug in my bag would be a 9" red and white pencil popper and a 9" white, olive and black needle fish. I only throw them when the water is rough and cold enough to hold large stripers.
I will be throwing them this week for a while but for the most part I will be using clams and mullet as that seems to be the bait of choice.
If you want fish on a regular basis always match the hatch. Give them what they want and are at the moment finding in the suds.
Good luck
Happy Catching
Paul
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I can only speak from experience... my biggest bass was off of a big piece of bunker head in the dead of winter... it was 10 yrs ago on December 26th... me and a neighbor used to go out the day after Christmas and go in search for that big Ol' Rogue Striper... and one year... I GOT THE MOFO>>>> t^... he was delicious...
and i know i know... i was out of season... and i have fished with other guys who have called me a poacher for keepen him... but... I ate him... didnt put him to waste... he digested well in my belly... and fed about 5 other people too... :P
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and i know i know... i was out of season... and i have fished with other guys who have called me a poacher for keepen him... but... I ate him... didnt put him to waste... he digested well in my belly... and fed about 5 other people too... :P
I can't remember what the regs were 10 years ago, but in 2008 you would be fine on December 26th. Atlantic Ocean up to 3 miles offshore there is no closed season, beyond 3 miles in the Atlantic is always closed and in the Delaware River season was closed on January 1st through the last day in February.
TT^
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Here are the regs just to make sure that the dates are correct.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2008/maregsum08_color.pdf
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There is no possession of striped bass anytime three miles out. Federal waters closed for striper possession. :P
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That's why I posted the link. Make sure you read it and understand it dates. I know they were at the Barnegat Inlet last year checking for a couple of days after the season closed.
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Welcome grtn
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Thanks for fixing that! I meant to type another sentence in there and I didn't! Dates could be different for 2009 also, but I doubt that!
The State confusing me again :-\ :P 5hrug!
TT^
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Not to take this off topic, but what do they consider the actual Inlets?? Atlantic Ocean or other marine waters with a closed season??
??? 5hrug
TT^
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i just use what i can get my hands on at the time.......and, i dont know about you, but unless you can afford one of those "rockets", i'm not keen on trying to launch a whole bunker, or sometimes even a head, out into the blue. last thanksgiving, the Fisherman's Supply only had frozen clams left, we bought em, and caught my largest striper to date
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well, my surf fishing is limited to really the last 2 years. i have fished the surf with my father before that, but not that often. most of my fishing was boat related prior. i will say that my largest striper as well as the largest i have seen caught were taken with live bait. my largest was taken in the spring in 2006, on a live bunker in raritan bay. he went about 48 inches. the largest i have seen taken was by my father on a live eel in raritan bay in october of 2005. he was as long as my leg, and i am 6'4. both were released to fight another day. as for the surf, i have caught mostly schoolies and for the most part i use plugs and metal.
as for those regulations that the state has posted, they are rather vague. what is considered "OTHER MARINE WATERS"
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Other marine waters would include the bays rivers and its tributaries.
So in the closed season the only place you can legally catch striped bass would be from the shore line of the ocean to 3 miles out.
Paul
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so then technically they could patrol the inlets and fine you for transporting legally caught fish through the bay back to port. am i correct with that statement?
similar to size limits and transportation throught other state waters, such as NY with fluke.
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That I am not sure of and I have not heard of anyone being fined for doing so.
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Technically they could. Typically, they don't.
Keep in mind, the only time the 'all other marine waters' are closed are in January and February. Not much fishing going on then (except in January in the past few years), so the chances of someone being in violation are slight.
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not that i own a boat that is ocean worthy, just throwing it out there. thanks.
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I just sent that question over to the NJDEP F&W, When they respond back I will post it. Good question and I am sure many will be interested in the answer.
Happy Catching
Paul
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Just received a reply back to let me know that I will have to call their Enforcement dept. I will have to do that later in the day.
But our question has been forwarded as well.
Paul
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Just received a reply back to let me know that I will have to call their Enforcement dept. I will have to do that later in the day.
But our question has been forwarded as well.
Paul
Thank You... Art...
and back to the poster who said they released to monster bass... all I have to say is wow... you must either have a heart of gold or No palate for striper... hahah... well God Bless you and that fish... I hope he ends up on the end of my line... cuz his next stop will be my grill... surrounded by some corn on the cob and baked potatoes... and washed down with some cold ones... chrz
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I agree with everthing I have read,If your chasing big bunker in the early spring,then your bait should match what the bass are feeding on and the same goes for the fall,small bait small plugs,The only thing I can recommend is dont go crazy and buy a ton of plugs for fishing,I have enough to open my own tackle store and still use the same 2 or 3 year after year
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as for those regulations that the state has posted, they are rather vague. what is considered "OTHER MARINE WATERS"
Basically, if you're standing on the beach looking east, you can keep a legal size striper up to three miles out. If you are looking north, west or south, throw it back. ;D
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and back to the poster who said they released to monster bass... all I have to say is wow... you must either have a heart of gold or No palate for striper...
i do have a palate for striper. i would just rather keep a smaller fish, same goes for other fish with a blood line (red meat near the skin).
also, i would rather let that big breeder go, and possibly allow for more fish in the future. those are the prime source of future catches.
thats just how i look at it.
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OK
Thanks for all the input on the big bait theories,and taking the time to respond as well. Since I'm mostly on foot walking the wash and not in a boat dredging or wire line trolling the offshore rips It may be as simple as the big piggies are not as available or I just suk hooking into ones other than 10-15 lb rs. Don't get me wrong I'm not taking it for granted but once just once (OK twice) Id like to find something bigger. But I guess thats what keeps us all going back and making the drive to the beach at all hours of the day or night... Tight loops and lines to all
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Oh don't say tight loops... :P I just had to replace about half my spool due to one nasty wind knot in this wind. I was using 30# PP when it happened. I since ordered a new spool with 40# PP the new stuff it has the feel of Sufix line but it is braid. Pretty cool, I was told that I should be good to go on windy days if I just switch out spools.
Bring it on... TT^
Paul
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Oh don't say tight loops... :P I just had to replace about half my spool due to one nasty wind knot in this wind. I was using 30# PP when it happened. I since ordered a new spool with 40# PP the new stuff it has the feel of Sufix line but it is braid. Pretty cool, I was told that I should be good to go on windy days if I just switch out spools.
Bring it on... TT^
Paul
Paul,
Who did you order the PowerPro from? Unless PowerPro just came out with a new line of their braid, there is no way it has the feel of the Sufix braid. Don't get me wrong. I think PowerPro is great line! Not to mention that they've shown their support to us by donating free line for our NJSWF party. ;D
But, the difference in feel between Sufix and PowerPro is noticeable. Sufix has a much smoother texture. Next time you're in a store that has both, pick up a spool of each in the same pound test and you'll definitely see a difference. IMO, if you're looking for a line with the feel of Sufix, you're better off just getting the Sufix.
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i have fished both suffix braid, and more recently PP. the suffix was #30 and the PP is #40. i have found the suffix to be much limper, and more susceptible to wind knots. the PP i found to be more rigid, and i can cast it further. i like the PP better. just an opinion.
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It just came out a week or so ago. I saw the spool and felt it myself. It is a lot closer and a lot more limp than the older PP. It is their 3rd generation line I think.
I am just going by what I am being told and actually comparing side by side lines.
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Where did you see it? I need to check this stuff out! t^
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Plus I have a correspondence into Power Pro and waiting for their reply. I will post it as soon as I get more info.
This product is on their bulk spool and not on the individually packed spools. If that makes a difference.
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Plus I have a correspondence into Power Pro and waiting for their reply. I will post it as soon as I get more info.
This product is on their bulk spool and not on the individually packed spools. If that makes a difference.
Cool! TT^ Yeah, let us know. Can't wait to try it out. ;D