For fisherman, it's hard to think heaven could be better than the striper coast. From Martha's Vineyard to Cape Hatteras, catching striped bass is one of the thrills of the sport. This native fish moves through the salty ocean and bays, but migrates up fresh-water rivers to spawn.
The very first European visitors to North America reported vast schools of these large, striped fish. They were found all along the coast from Canada to Florida. Spawning primarily in the Chesapeake and the Massachusetts Bay and the Delaware and Hudson river, they are a state fish in seven east coast states. Because they are such a great recreational species, they have been introduced into the Pacific and thrive around San Francisco.
Although their life cycle was spent mostly in the salty ocean, the 'rockfish' swam up freshwater creeks and rivers to spawn. Still, when they were stocked purely as recreational fish in landlocked lakes, they proceeded to reproduce. In places where over-fishing reduced populations to perhaps zero, like the St. Lawrence River in Canada, they have made such a strong comeback that they are no longer a protected species.
The 'striper' is a strong swimmer and moves around so much that it can be tricky to catch. It might be found forty feet down on a shallow ocean shelf or in a shallow wetlands. It can be huge; the biggest recorded striper weighed one hundred and twenty-four pounds and was over five and a half feet long. The record catch using a rod and reel is an eighty-nine pounder caught in Long Island Sound. The previous record was set using an artificial lure; that Atlantic Beach specimen was caught in the surf and weighed seventy-eight and a half pounds.
With this long history and it's reputation as a superb sport fish, it's no wonder that novices can find endless tips on how to catch them. A fish finder is now at the top of the list, since the fish move around. In the old days - and this still works - sportsmen watched the seabirds. When the stripers chase feeder fish to the surface, it's banquet time for the birds, too.
They will take a wide range of baits. Popular ones are live eels, sandworms, clams, herring, bloodworms, mackerel, and shad. They will take live or dead bait, but it has to be fresh. Artificial lures work as well. Check online for proven techniques for using a rod and reel or for trolling.
Bass feed most aggressively at dawn and again at dusk. They prefer cool water, from 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 65. On warmer days, they will go as deep as forty feet but can be found a foot or two below the surface on cool evenings. They like moving water, which stirs up the sediment that bait fish feed on. Look for them in areas with strong currents, at the mouths of creeks and rivers, and when a strong breeze is blowing.
A bass can fight for as long as twenty minutes before giving up. The average catch is from 8 to 40 pounds and 2 to 3 feet in length. The meat is firm, white, and mild in flavor. Every region has its favorite recipes and ways to cook this delicious fish.
Call it the Atlantic Bass, the rockfish, the striper, or the striped bass. This is one of the most popular sport fish and now can be found across the nation. It's definitely worth learning how to catch this one.
The very first European visitors to North America reported vast schools of these large, striped fish. They were found all along the coast from Canada to Florida. Spawning primarily in the Chesapeake and the Massachusetts Bay and the Delaware and Hudson river, they are a state fish in seven east coast states. Because they are such a great recreational species, they have been introduced into the Pacific and thrive around San Francisco.
Although their life cycle was spent mostly in the salty ocean, the 'rockfish' swam up freshwater creeks and rivers to spawn. Still, when they were stocked purely as recreational fish in landlocked lakes, they proceeded to reproduce. In places where over-fishing reduced populations to perhaps zero, like the St. Lawrence River in Canada, they have made such a strong comeback that they are no longer a protected species.
The 'striper' is a strong swimmer and moves around so much that it can be tricky to catch. It might be found forty feet down on a shallow ocean shelf or in a shallow wetlands. It can be huge; the biggest recorded striper weighed one hundred and twenty-four pounds and was over five and a half feet long. The record catch using a rod and reel is an eighty-nine pounder caught in Long Island Sound. The previous record was set using an artificial lure; that Atlantic Beach specimen was caught in the surf and weighed seventy-eight and a half pounds.
With this long history and it's reputation as a superb sport fish, it's no wonder that novices can find endless tips on how to catch them. A fish finder is now at the top of the list, since the fish move around. In the old days - and this still works - sportsmen watched the seabirds. When the stripers chase feeder fish to the surface, it's banquet time for the birds, too.
They will take a wide range of baits. Popular ones are live eels, sandworms, clams, herring, bloodworms, mackerel, and shad. They will take live or dead bait, but it has to be fresh. Artificial lures work as well. Check online for proven techniques for using a rod and reel or for trolling.
Bass feed most aggressively at dawn and again at dusk. They prefer cool water, from 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 65. On warmer days, they will go as deep as forty feet but can be found a foot or two below the surface on cool evenings. They like moving water, which stirs up the sediment that bait fish feed on. Look for them in areas with strong currents, at the mouths of creeks and rivers, and when a strong breeze is blowing.
A bass can fight for as long as twenty minutes before giving up. The average catch is from 8 to 40 pounds and 2 to 3 feet in length. The meat is firm, white, and mild in flavor. Every region has its favorite recipes and ways to cook this delicious fish.
Call it the Atlantic Bass, the rockfish, the striper, or the striped bass. This is one of the most popular sport fish and now can be found across the nation. It's definitely worth learning how to catch this one.
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