FS Digest

I’m going out fishing next week from 2-6pm, high tide is about 345pm. Water depth about 7-23 feet, New Jersey back bays. I joined a boat club because I’m sick of COVID, it’s my escape this summer. I’m going to be taking a lot of work calls with a fishing rod in my hands this summer lol.

I grew up drift boat fishing with drag reels and minnows, mostly for flounder and sea bass. Never stripers. I have some 4/0 striper rigs we were going to use with salted clams. I have Penn drag reels with 20 lb mono line. So I guess my question is if we drift this boat on channel edges through the bay, and drag the clams on the bottom, with all that other stuff I said, am I going to get striper bites? Basically can I do the same type of stuff we do for flounder and sea bass, but change up the rigs and bait, and expect to get a striper on? Or do we need to anchor somewhere, fish with plastic jigs, do freshwater fishing techniques... do things wildly differently than what I’m used to? I’m imagining it’s somewhere in between. Any advice would be great! Thanks in advance!

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by Aanon82

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

First advice is to leave the phone in the car. Not doing yourself any good with rod in one hand and phone in the other. Most importantly it is very annoying to the others on the boat with you. Your phone might be tested for water proofing if you get what i am saying.

As for the striper catch might help to know where you are talking about. My experience on stripers are early morning and late afternoon are the best catch times and near structure. At times on the edge like you say, but there is no given spot on any given day where they will be.

In regards to the bait. Good luck and that is why they call it fishing. What works today tomorrow it is pot luck.

troyfrd1 Loc: Hampstead,NC

What Plum said

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

First off, techniques will vary due to the time of year and the fishes mood. Right now live bunker but sometimes bunker chunks including heads get the job done quite well. Clams, (preferably live over salted) also work quite well. Sometimes trolling may fill the ticket. I’d start by first marking some fish, anchor up on them and chum with bunker chunks or pieces of live clam(I use a little souvenir baseball bat to break the shells), cut the clams into quarters and throw in the shells as well. Other times vertical jigging is deadly with Ava jigs both tailed and tailless, deadly dicks, crippled herring etc. If the fish are busting bait on top throw some big top water plugs (so much fun). Try it all and see what they want that particular day, sometimes they’ll be there and have lockjaw and often at the change of the tide they’ll turn on. Have fun and be safe.
From top to bottom:
Deep diver
4 top waters
Ava jigs, tailed and tailless
2 crippled herring

JohnG Loc: Long Island NY.

The back bays most likely hold schoolies. I’ve had great luck with a small white rubber shad. A small diamond jig with a red or green rubber tail has also worked.

CRKfish Loc: Southern New Jersey

You’ll catch!! Bloodworms is still the hot bait. Make sure you use in-line aka non offset circle hooks (new regulations) . Soft rubber shads such as storm or tsunami, Keitech are also working. Better bring a popper with you just in case. They are all over the bay so move around a lot. Bridges rips , mouth of creeks , drop offs by channels. Inlets if you can . Blues are showing up now too and some black drum and a few weakfish. Good luck tight lines!!

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Remember the new regulations regarding circle hooks when targeting stripers with bait.

Dendo Loc: Napa, CA

And get ready to use the classic statement when you hook up with a work call on the phone, “could I get you to hold for while, I have something in the other line.”