need help catching stripers

[double3fd]

ok, ive been out so many times, ive read so many threads about what to use as bait, how to rig up, and i have yet to catch a striper.  i need help!!!! is there a spot i should be focusing on in the raritan bay, or sandy hook bay.  i buy a 1/2 bushel of clams, i crack them over the side, i fish with them, and never catch anything.  should i be fishing, morning, afternoon, night??? any help would be great!

[ped579]

First are you fishing from a boat?  I am assuming so, and if that is right are you using a some sort of fishfinder (sonar) device if not you really should be.  The time of day is critical for some but if you read our threads it makes no difference.

If you do not have a fishfinder your best bet is to follow the crowd.  Most likely someone if not most use them and will be zeroed in of bait and fish around the bait.

It is a good investment.  I even have one on my kayak.  They are not very expensive and will put you over productive areas you could not imagine.

Hope this helps.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Luna Sea 5]

I will take you out if your interested.  Most people crack the clams and chum.  I like shucking them, then cutting it into very small pieces and sparingly throw "UP" the current.

[PeggyLee]

You sound sincere in your efforts.Cool. Find em on the FF first,anchor up and chum.Don't be afraid to change things and make some moves.
Babe Ruth did not hit hommers all the time. Good Luck, it will happen.   

[double3fd]

thanks, i have a boat, and a fish finder, im still learning how to use it.  im trying to understand the red arches and fiure out whats a fish and what is not, it looks like a mess on the screen.  if i change it to fish ID, i read that it is not that accurate.  i spent $800 on a gps/sonar combo, lawrence brand.  i think my main problem is i dont know how to read the sonar screen very well to know if they are fish or just other stuff in the water

[sperzonkers2]

I find if I concentrate on the water depth,drop off's, channels, and the bottom structure, instead of just looking at the fish arches I do better at getting into some fish.

[Hunter 2]

The tide has to be moving too. Slack tide is when they slow down bigtime. And you need to chum heavy and keep the slick going.

[Uncle Luna]

The good thing is you keep trying it will happen

Just like the Yankee's sooner or later you have to get a hit.  and I'm a Yankee fan.

[Drew806]

I hear ya double3fd. Dont have a boat though so been fishing from land mostly at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Used fresh bunker today and i was probably the only person that didnt pull anything out of the water. Spent plenty of time with the line in the water and have yet to catch a striper.      

[ped579]

Yeah I hear you on the FF.  The learning curve is not to bad I would keep the Fish ID off as it has a hard time distinguishing things that are close and of similar size.  As far as the arches go the bigger the arch the bigger the fish.  But like was mentioned before look for your drop offs of the channels or holes and you should be with in the target zone.  Plus if you see those arches your percentage rate just went up.

If you have a duel cone unit keep it at 200KHz as it will be a narrower beam come it reads better in depths from 0 - 300' anything deeper than that go to the 80KHz for a more stronger and wider beam.  Also keep your chart speed in automatic for the most part till you get used to the unit.  Sounds like it should be the other way around but that is what Lowrance preaches.

Good Luck.

Happy Catching

Paul

[PeggyLee]

Your learning fast that there is a lot of things going on.BUT try to keep it SIMPLE and not get overwhelmed.Buy fresh bait,use good quality line,keep the set up simple,try different stuff, drop off, structures, channles,lumps, knolls,tides, wind, early morning ,late night.
AND WHEN YOU FIGURE IT OUT LET ME KNOW
P L E A S E  I'm sure other will agree!!All fisherman talk to themselves!!!! 
Good Luck, stay with it and I know you will catch the biggest fish of your life.AJ.  

[ped579]

All fishermen talk to themselves? No we don't, "I don't talk to myself do I, nope why would I talk to you all I would get is techno garbage. what do you mean techno garbage if I were you I wouldn't talk all I hear is blah, blah, blah...You think you know it all..."

 

[double3fd]

hahaha, k thanks guys.  when (and i will) eventually catch my first striper, im gonna let everyone know, and get a picure of it tatooed to my chest!!!!!

[Hotrod]

 

[Hunter 2]

hahaha, k thanks guys.  when (and i will) eventually catch my first striper, im gonna let everyone know, and get a picure of it tatooed to my chest!!!!!

Make sure you tell the tatoo artist striper and not stripper..

[Kenny]

Off course we will need pictures of both your fish and the tatoo 

Hang in there, it will happen!

[Hotrod]

Off course we will need pictures of both your fish and the tatoo 

Hang in there, it will happen!

I'd rather see the picture of the stripper.. and you can catch a lot from that.