New to Striped Bass Fishing

[MartinTheFisherman]

Hey BR, 

 

I'm trying to get into stripper fishing (from shore) and I was wondering if I have the right gear. I'm thinking of using a Med/Hvy 7'6 Rod rated for lures up to 3oz, paired with a 5000 size spinning reel with 40lb braid to a 50lb mono leader for bigger jerkbaits, poppers and probably spoons. I'm also going to use a 7'6 Med/Hvy Rod rated for lures up to 1oz, paired with a 4000 size reel with 20lb braid to 30lb mono for jerkbaits. Would these combos work for what I am going to be using them for? Is a braid to leader know or swivel better? Any tips for fishing from a jetty? Any lure recommendations?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Martin Sierra

 

[redmexican5081]

These combos will work from the jetty but may be a bit on the short side for the beaches.  You are definitely on the right track with lure choices.  My favorite for catching schoolies is a 6" paddle tail bait on a 1/2 to 1 oz jighead casted out to the upstream side of a current rip and worked back into it and the area below.  Make it look like a confused baitfish that got swept up in the current and headed to the bottom for some relief.  For the braid to mono/fluro knot v. swivel, it depends on your leader length in my opinion.  If I am winding the connection onto the reel, I like a knot.  I'll tie a FG knot at home but if i need to put on a new leader while fishing I tend to go back to the double uni.  If the connection is to a shorter leader, say 5-6', then a swivel will work fine because it won't be coming through the guides.

[MartinTheFisherman]

21 minutes ago, redmexican5081 said:

These combos will work from the jetty but may be a bit on the short side for the beaches.  You are definitely on the right track with lure choices.  My favorite for catching schoolies is a 6" paddle tail bait on a 1/2 to 1 oz jighead casted out to the upstream side of a current rip and worked back into it and the area below.  Make it look like a confused baitfish that got swept up in the current and headed to the bottom for some relief.  For the braid to mono/fluro knot v. swivel, it depends on your leader length in my opinion.  If I am winding the connection onto the reel, I like a knot.  I'll tie a FG knot at home but if i need to put on a new leader while fishing I tend to go back to the double uni.  If the connection is to a shorter leader, say 5-6', then a swivel will work fine because it won't be coming through the guides.

Thanks for the help!

 

Im trying to use the shortest leader I can, right now I have a 3 foot leader, im going to change to a swivel right now and see how it goes. I ordered some 2oz jig heads and 1/2oz jig heads. Could you please tell me if think the black 1/2oz one could work for some schoolies? Im going to order 1oz if they do. Could this 2oz jig head and 5in swimbait be good for some larger stripper?  

[redmexican5081]

Both will work fine.  Larger stripers will occasionally take a swimbait but I have much more success using bait.  Clams, cut bait, whole fish, worms, will all catch fish and I feel like you stand a better chance of getting something larger this way.  There is currently legislation being voted on to require the use of  in-line circle hooks for all bait fishing so be aware that J hooks will not be allowed if you choose to use bait.  There is also the proposed slot limit for fish that is potentially going to be the regulation for this season.  Anything under 28" and over 35" is going to have to be released if the legislation passes.

[MartinTheFisherman]

1 minute ago, redmexican5081 said:

Both will work fine.  Larger stripers will occasionally take a swimbait but I have much more success using bait.  Clams, cut bait, whole fish, worms, will all catch fish and I feel like you stand a better chance of getting something larger this way.  There is currently legislation being voted on to require the use of  in-line circle hooks for all bait fishing so be aware that J hooks will not be allowed if you choose to use bait.  There is also the proposed slot limit for fish that is potentially going to be the regulation for this season.  Anything under 28" and over 35" is going to have to be released if the legislation passes.

I've only bought circle hooks for saltwater after I was informed at the NE Fishing Expo about the problem. I'll try and see if I get better luck with live bait is the lures don't work sometimes. Wasn't planning on keeping any but that's good to know. There's also a couple months till I can even try to go stripper fishin ? 

Thanks for help!

[A-Jay]

"Rigged Eels" and Bucktails were always a staple during my striped bass addiction.

I fished almost exclusively at night, although this tank came at sunrise.

 

 

 

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

I’ve never caught them in the ocean but I’ve caught some monsters and the biggest ones all hit top water. Bomber long a, cotton cordell Redfin, storm jointed thunderstick, poppers, and spooks. What’s the function of the leader? Those things are so fast I would want him on a single line with no knots 

[redmexican5081]

Leader for the same reasons you would use one for LM.  Fishing off the jetty you will encounter rocks and mussels that cut braid like a knife.

[TnRiver46]

20 hours ago, redmexican5081 said:

Leader for the same reasons you would use one for LM.  Fishing off the jetty you will encounter rocks and mussels that cut braid like a knife.

Gotcha. I don't use braid for LM , mono is good for freshwater mussels and other abrasions, again I don't know Jack about the ocean. Ive handled striper up to about 35 lbs with 12 lb mono. I imagine in the ocean I would want something thicker like 20 lb 

[roadwarrior]

We catch monsters and numbers on the Tennessee River. Live bait is the best, but the Alabama Rig is KILLER!