Hi All,
This is the fourth installment of a multi-part series to help you increase your chances of catching a trophy Striped Bass. The techniques below describe very effective ways to catch cows (very large Striped Bass). Please remember that these are primarily large females and represent the breeding stock and future of the health of this magnificent fish. Please resist the urge to kill one of these fish just to “show the folks back home.” They are not great eating and a picture can be taken and the fish released. Catch and Release is important to consider!
Whether it is hunger, instinct or some other force, the Striped Bass start moving out of the spawning grounds in the rivers and start a northerly migration in late Spring/early Summer.
The migration happens in a clockwise fashion with the Striped Bass from the three main estuaries that we have previously discussed heading north as far as Canada and returning via a southerly route in the late Fall/early Winter to the “over-wintering” grounds.
The northerly migration seems to coincide with a migration of the menhaden (moss bunker) as well. NJ has successfully prevented the “bunker reduction boats” from entering its waters. This “buffer area” have seen the bunker run along the beaches north with the Striped Bass (and Dolphin/Porpoises and Bluefish) following in earnest.
As a boater or surf caster, when the conditions are right, all out blitzes will occur. There are three (3) main techniques people use during this time. They are live-lining bunker; trolling bunker spoons; and throwing large, in most cases wood, swimming plugs.
Live-lining can be done from a boat or the surf. It is imperative to get bunker. The bunker can be as large as 2 lbs. So be careful if throwing a cast net, especially from a boat. Another more popular way is to “snag” the bunker using a weighted treble (usually in the 5/0 to 10/0 range). I prefer snagging them with a tailless A47. The single large hook does less damage to the Striped Bass if the Striped Bass strikes the bunker as it is being brought to the boat or if you are employing “snag and drop.”
Please remember to take only the bunker you will need as 100s of bunker can be netted in a single throw of a cast net. Bunker are vital to the health of not just the fish that feed on them, but the ocean itself. Also, have a proper live well or keep alive system for the bait you intend to use.
Once you have your bunker via netting or snagging, you can use a hook from 7/0 to 10/0 or better to hook the bait on a fishfinder rig. Some people cut some of the fins on the bunker to make it stand out and be “more distressed” than the school. Popular places to hook the bunker are ahead of the pectoral fin, through the nose or in the tail. There is some experimenting to be done. The key is to put the hook in a place that the bunker will swim, especially down. If your bunker does not cooperate, you can always add some weight to push him off the top of the water. When live-lining is working properly, it is the best way to hook up with big Striped Bass.
A variation of the live-lining technique is ‘snag and drop.” Basically, with a weighted treble or A47, one throws in over or into the school of bunker and with long (often sideways) sweeps, you try to impale a bunker of your rig. You then simply let the bunker drop and run. You will notice as you get into this that the bunker will try to get back to its school. This can get accomplished with any spinning or conventional tackle. However, a Shimano Baitcaster (i.e 3500) or Penn Live Liner series spinning reel, the second drag works wonderfully. When snag and drop is working, you may get immediate hookups as soon as you impale the bunker as the commotion from that process seems to turn on the Striped Bass.
If the fish are harder to locate or hookup with using live-lining, many folks pull bunker spoons. They key to that is a good pair of spoons worked with a limber rod like a Seeker. You have to troll at a slow speed and let the spoon “dig into the water.” A good set of “matched” bunker spoons are worth their weight in gold. Popular colors are white and chartreuse, but every year may unveil a popular color pattern.
Lastly, do not underestimate throwing large, wooden plugs at these schools, especially around the edges. I am currently using custom plugs by Gary Soldati with great success, plus they look good! These plugs are large and you need a rod with some backbone to throw them. There is no more amazing spectacle than one of these plugs being smashed near the surface by a hungry, cow Striped Bass!
Good fishing!
Capt. Ed
