Striped bass (known as "striped bass" in the United States) is a fish native to the Atlantic coast of North America, from Florida to Nova Scotia. It is a migratory fish that is stationed between fresh and brackish waters. Striped sea bass (also called “striper”) is very popular with sport fishermen; the largest specimens captured weigh 37 kg. It can be a bit difficult to catch it since it is a fish that moves constantly and has a somewhat unpredictable behavior. As a result, many anglers argue about the best method of catching it. This article outlines some of the most effective and known techniques for catching striped sea bass together with some general information on equipment and ideal fishing conditions. Keep reading!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using the Right Equipment
Step 1. Use a fish-finder
A boat with a reliable fish finder will help you in the search for striped sea bass.
- Knowing how this tool works will help you identify a suitable area where the striped sea bass gathers. For this reason it is good to read the instruction manual carefully to understand how it works.
- Striped sea bass can be unpredictable; it can be found in different places and at different depths depending on weather conditions, time of year and even time of day. Using the fish-finder will help you determine the depth at which the fish is located so that you can put the bait at the exact depth and give you a better chance of catching it.
Step 2. Choose the right bait
Striped sea bass is an opportunistic fish that can be caught using different types of bait.
- Live baits such as herring, maenads, mackerel, eels, squid, clams, anchovies, grubs, shads and worms are all suitable baits. You can find them in almost any bait and fishing shop.
- The type of bait that will give you the best results will depend on where you intend to fish. If you do not know the body of water you are in, ask for advice in nearby fishing shops on what type of bait to use.
- You can also fish for striped bass using artificial baits that resemble the forage in the area you are in. These lures can be made of plastic, wood, metal, resin or rubber.
Step 3. Choose rod, reel and tackle
You should be able to catch striped bass with any rod and reel, as long as they are heavier than light spinning gear.
- The type of rod depends on the type of fishing you intend to do. Will you fish in fresh or brackish water? From a boat? Or will you fish from a dock, bridge or jetty? Will you use live or artificial bait? The answers to these questions will determine the exact weight, size and flexibility of your rod.
- The type of reel is probably more important than the rod; a marine spinning one is a good option, as long as it is sturdy enough to pull a 9-10kg fish.
- As for the line, you should use a monofilament that has been tested for 5-10 kg (although some prefer heavier lines to catch bigger fish). The hook must be well made and sharp and there must be about 1.25 cm between the point and the shank to avoid catching too small fish.
Step 4. Look for the optimal fishing conditions
Although the striped sea bass can be caught at any time of the year, in almost any condition, you can increase the chances of catching it by knowing its behavior.
- The striped bass is a migratory fish that prefers waters with temperatures between 7 ° and 18 ° C. Consequently, if the water has a lower or higher temperature, it is unlikely that you will find fish as they will have migrated to warmer or colder waters.
- Temperature can also affect the position of the fish in the water. On hot and sunny days the striped bass can go down to 12 meters to avoid the heat and find more suitable temperature and oxygen levels. On cold days, however, it can be found a few centimeters from the surface of the water.
- This fish is more likely to eat when the water is moved due to tidal or strong wind movements. This is due to the fact that the movement of the water lifts the sediments attracting the bait fish (which feed on the sediments). These bait fish then attract striped sea bass.
- Striped sea bass tends to feed more actively at dusk and dawn when it can hunt smaller fish by hiding in the darkness. By fishing in these moments you will have a better chance of catching some of them.
Part 2 of 3: Fishing with Live Eel
Step 1. Consider using live eels
Fishing using live eels is a fun and effective way to catch striped sea bass up to 12kg or more.
- Live eels can be used to fish for sea bass in deep water. They can help you catch larger fish that tend to hunt near the bottom.
- Live eels can be fished in several ways. One of the most popular is light spinning.
Step 2. Make sure you keep the eels in the right conditions
Put them in a refrigerator with a block of synthetic ice (the one for food) and a bag of damp cloth.
- This keeps them moist and cold. Ice serves to slow down their metabolism making them easier to handle.
- Do not immerse eels in water, as they receive less oxygen and will eventually drown.
Step 3. Find the striped sea bass
When fishing from a boat, first use sonar to find the location of the striped bass.
- When cruising at high speed, the striped bass will appear as small orange spots on the screen of most sonars. It's easy to miss these marks so be very careful.
- Depending on the wind and the tide it sets up a drift that takes the boat through the area where the fish have gathered.
Step 4. Hook the eels to the hook
Eels are slippery creatures that wriggle, it can be difficult to handle and hook them to the hook.
- Use a canvas sack or even a cotton sock to hold the eel, you'll have a better grip. Hold the eel by the neck to insert the hook. Use circular hooks to avoid gutting the striped sea bass.
- You can thread the hook in two ways; you can pass it through the upper part of the eel's mouth and out of one eye or insert it as far as possible into the mouth and let it come out from under the throat.
- The first method is firmer but there is the risk of killing the eel, the second is less safe but keeps the eel alive longer and the hook is less evident.
Step 5. Throw the eel into the water
When you cast it, try to be slow until you have found the optimal point, better to avoid tearing the hook.
- Wait for the eel to reach the bottom - it depends on the strength of the current and the depth of the water - before starting to retrieve it with the reel. You may need to add 1-2 grams of rubber ballast if the tide and wind are particularly strong.
- Start recovering very slowly, 3 to 5 seconds per lap; let the eel do the major work.
Step 6. Collect the striped sea bass
As soon as you feel that the fish grabs the eel, fold the rod and hold it parallel to the water.
- This will prevent the striped sea bass from feeling the tension in the eel and being afraid. Then you can do one of two things:
- You can shoe the hook as soon as the line is stretched and immediately retrieve the fish, or you can let it go for 5 - 10 seconds (keeping the line loose) before shoeing it.
- The second gives the fish more time to catch the bait, but increases the chances of it hooking too deeply, which could damage a fish that you then intend to release.
Part 3 of 3: Towing with Tube and Worm
Step 1. You need to know when to use the tube and worm technique
One of the simplest and most effective methods for novice striper anglers (even women!) Is to learn the tube and worm hauling technique.
- When pulled slowly, the colored tube mimics a large worm or a swimming eel, two of the striped bass's favorite prey.
- This method works best when fishing in shallow, calm water with temperatures above 12 ° C.
Step 2. Insert the hook of the tube with a live worm or a strip of herring
Importantly, lure-less pipes rarely catch fish.
- The live bait helps the tube to have an inviting smell that will push the striped sea bass to approach and investigate.
- Never fish with old or damaged baits as striped bass will ignore them and you will find yourself catching other types of fish.
- Consider adding a stinger hook to the tube to avoid short shots and losing the fish.
Step 3. Troll at the right speed
3 - 4 km / h is the suitable speed for towing.
- This is similar to the normal speed of an eel swimming in water, which will make the bait seem more real.
- It will look slow, but be patient, it is worth it to catch a big striped bass!
Step 4. Keep the bait at the right level
The tube and worm technique works best in water depths from 90cm to 2m, although it is possible to fish to a depth of 6m.
- Let the line go slowly, keeping it taut, until you hear the equipment bouncing off the bottom.
- The amount of colors in the wire pulled behind the boat can help you determine how deep the tube and worm are. For example if the fish is 4 and a half meters then it takes 3 colors to reach it (1 and a half meters per color).
- Try to slowly turn the tube on opposite angles of 45 degrees, this helps to make the movement of the lure seem more natural.
Step 5. Set the resistance to 4.5kg per hit
Keep the boat going after the first shot to get the hook better
Advice
- Striped sea bass often pushes the bait to the surface. In this situation, many seabirds such as seagulls will congregate in an attempt to catch easy prey. Keep your eyes peeled for birds near the surface of the water. You can also use the radar to find them and consequently find the fish below them.
- Striped sea bass is pushed into areas where there is current and often stays in those areas for one or two tides. In areas with no facilities, such as bays or long sandy beaches, finding these fish can be more challenging. In these situations, the only solution may be to sift through kilometers of water. It is not unusual for a boat to travel for an hour or more without finding a single specimen or school of bait fish until it then comes across an area full of fish.
- If you find an area where there is striped sea bass but you can't get one, then try again when the sun goes down. Striped sea bass is often more aggressive at night, especially in the middle of a hot summer.
- If you don't want to fish from a boat you can always try fishing from the shore. Lures, jigs, live and broken baits all work well from the shore. Look for areas with rocks or small coves with a lot of current. Throw the bait upstream and let it go in the area where you think there is the striped sea bass.
- If you can use a rod holder on the boat it will be of great help.
