Fished for:
Date Fished:
Boat Name:
Water Temp:
Water Clarity:
Seas:
Weather:
REPORT:
Crew: Tom Hughes & Bill Kassakatis
Date Fished: 05/23/98
Location: PATAPSCO RIVER
Water Temp.: AM 64 Degrees/PM 66 Degrees
Listed Tides: 5:37 AM High-12:07 PM Low
Water Clarity: 6 Feet
Water Was: Slight Chop
Weather: AM Mostly Cloudy Light Winds-PM Mostly Sunny Light Winds
Fished For: STRIPED BASS
Boat: Bill’s
REPORT
Bill Kassakatis and I fished for STRIPED BASS on Saturday, 05/23/98, from 6:40 AM until 4:00 PM, on the Patapsco River. From the South Locus Point Marine Terminal to Old Road Bay (Sparrows Point side). The tide was high and still when we started. All Striped Bass were caught on lures using light spinning or baitcasting equipment. These Stripers were measured and returned to the water immediately.
TOTAL STRIPED BASS CAUGHT WAS 4. The Stripers ranged from 9 inches to 12 inches. Average size bass was 10 inches. These Stripers were holding tight on bulkheads and pilings.
NUMBER OF STRIPERS CAUGHT DURING THIS TIDE:
0 - Incoming
4 - Outgoing
0 - Still
It appears that the resident Stripers are not of any quantity, large or small, in the Patapsco River at this time. We fished 9 different types of structures with lures from top water to the bottom.
LARGEST STRIPER CAUGHT ON-Bass Assassin, Split Tail Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4", Arkansas Shiner, #STS39331
MOST PRODUCTIVE LURE-Bill Lewis, Tiny-Trap, Vibrating Crankbait, 1/8 ounce, Black Back/Silver Sides
MOST PRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUE-Crank & Stop-cast the lure out crank 5 times on the reel handle, STOP for 1 second, then repeat this to the end of the cast.
OTHER PRODUCTIVE LURES THIS TRIP:
Bass Assassin, Split Tail Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4", Arkansas Shiner, #STS39331
FISHING TIP:
When using soft plastics lures, such as a Bass Assassin 4 inch Split Tail Shad, Mr. Twister Sassy Shad or Nature’s Own Tender Tubes (tube bait or gitzit), you must put action into each of these lures to catch Striped Bass. For a more productive day DO NOT just retrieve these lures by a steady crank on your reel handle. Try the following:
Jig & Stop Technique
After casting the lure out count it down to put the bait in the strike zone (water depth where the Stripers are located). These lures drop approximately 1 foot per second. When the bait is at the proper depth lift your spinning rod from 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock. While dropping the rod back to 9 o’clock TAKE UP THE SLACK LINE. The stripers usually hit when the lure is falling. When you start to lift the rod back to 11 o’clock you will feel some resistance-IF YOU HAVE A TIGHT LINE. Set the hook. Then, get ready to play the fish. The Bass Assassin and Mr. Twister lures fall in a straight action looking like wounded bait fish. The Nature’s Own Tender Tubes (gitzit or tube bait) fall in an erratic action which also looks like a wounded bait fish.
Good Fishing…..Tom Hughes