Mike....What is/was your setup for tossing stick baits? I'm going to be doing the same in a few weeks down in DE.Caught a 33” striper in the surf at Strathmere, NJ a week ago around 6:45 AM. Used an all black 5” Bomber stick bait. Lots of mullet, silversides, and peanut bunker running along and within 20 ft of the beach. The fish hit right against shore in the wash. The take was visible…and then the fish headed for Europe on its first of two major runs followed by two minor runs.
A 40 Series (also called 4000 series) spinning reel, gear ratio 4.5:1, 17 lb mono, 7 ft medium heavy rod rated for 10-20 lb line and 0.5-1.5 oz lures. In late Sept and very early Oct I have exclusively had the hits very close to the beach despite casting longer distances. It seems as though the longer casts are almost a waste of time for the most part when migrating baitfish, such as peanut bunker and mullet, are running close to the shoreline within about a 30 ft band along shore. Just my impression, but as a result I don’t think there is a need at that specific time of the year for the 9’ and up rods that are in vogue for longer casts. It’s a different situation later in fall when larger bunker, sand eels, and sea herring are often farther off shore frustrating the heck out of surf casters.Mike....What is/was your setup for tossing stick baits? I'm going to be doing the same in a few weeks down in DE.
What body of water were you on? What was the tide doing?Steady pic of fish last night all low to upper 20”s . All caught on clousers.
Wow!! Stripers chasing bait in the wash is a dream for Saltwater fly-fishers. It doesn't happen that often, or at least happen right in front of you while fly-fishing.A 40 Series (also called 4000 series) spinning reel, gear ratio 4.5:1, 17 lb mono, 7 ft medium heavy rod rated for 10-20 lb line and 0.5-1.5 oz lures. In late Sept and very early Oct I have exclusively had the hits very close to the beach despite casting longer distances. It seems as though the longer casts are almost a waste of time for the most part when migrating baitfish, such as peanut bunker and mullet, are running close to the shoreline within about a 30 ft band along shore. Just my impression, but as a result I don’t think there is a need at that specific time of the year for the 9’ and up rods that are in vogue for longer casts. It’s a different situation later in fall when larger bunker, sand eels, and sea herring are often farther off shore frustrating the heck out of surf casters.
So true this specific time. Conditions were perfect…foggy and no noticeable wind from any direction. That doesn’t happen often. I don’t have the salt fly gear anyway and the fly anglers that I have occasionally seen in the general area usually fish under a bridge at night, not out in the surf.Wow!! Stripers chasing bait in the wash is a dream for Saltwater fly-fishers. It doesn't happen that often, or at least happen right in front of you while fly-fishing.
You literally "missed the boat" by spin fishing, Mike😉
Sadly, the fall run has mostly become early winter blitz chasing. Check the water temps at the nearshore buoys and it's no surprise. Even resident bass may not be frequenting the warm surf yet.This morning found me in NJ. Caught a flounder as a consolation, I remain striperless
Stripers Forever calling for a moratorium on bass. A couple good year classes in there (the ones we've been catching the last few years) but not much spawning success behind them. I guess the hope is to give those good year classes a chance to rebuild the stocks.