Fished for: Striped Bass
Date Fished: 7/12/98
Boat Name: Vina's Surprise
Water Temp: 82 Degrees
Water Clarity: 4 Feet
Seas: Smooth Until 1;00 PM Then Choppy (boat traffic)
Weather: Partly Sunny
REPORT:
Bill Dixon and I fished for STRIPED BASS on Sunday, 07/12/98, from 5:57 AM until 5:25 PM on the Patapsco River & Curtis Creek. Fished areas from Lazaretto Point to just south of the Key Bridge.
Bill could only fish from 7:15 AM until 12:30 PM, but he saved the day. I had left my lunch at home and Bill was nice enough to go to the closest fast food store and pick me up a sandwich-which allowed me to fish until 5:25 PM. Thanks Bill.
All fish were caught on light spinning and baitcasting equipment.
WATER CONDITION: The water was high and incoming when we started. It had cleared up on the west side of the Patapsco River and the tide predictions were correct. The Striped Bass were suspended in 1’ to 20’ of water.
STRUCTURES FISHED: (in this order): Underwater mound, rock piles, discharges, bridge pilings, creek points, and metal bulkheads.
LURES USED: Soft plastic baits rigged on 1/4 ounce round head jigs, lip less vibrating crankbaits, top water poppers, suspended jerkbaits, jigging spoons and bucktails.
TOTAL STRIPED BASS CAUGHT WAS 85. The Stripers ranged from 9 1/4 inches to 21 1/2 inches. The most productive structure was a rock pile. Landed a total of 4 Stripers between 18" and 21 1/2".
STRIPERS ON TOP WATER: The first Striper of the day was caught on a Storm, Chug Bug, 3/8 oz., Chrome/Black Back floating popper, and measured 20". The next 13 Stripers were caught on top water using the same lure. Bill caught a 21 1/2" Striper on top water with a Rebel Super Pop-R, 3/8 oz., Baby Bass. This is exciting fishing.
NUMBER OF STRIPERS CAUGHT DURING THIS TIDE:
50 - Incoming
35 - Outgoing
0 - Still
MOST PRODUCTIVE LURE: Bucktail, 1/4 ounce, White Head, White Bucktail, Red Eyes, White Thread fished with a off white twister tail grub.
MOST PRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUE: Jig & Stop-cast the lure out let it drop to the desired depth (drops 1 foot per second), then lift your rod tip swiftly from 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock while taking up the slack line-pause for 1 second. Repeat this again and again, until the lure is back at the boat. The Stripers usually take the bait on the fall.
OTHER PRODUCTIVE LURES THIS TRIP: *All lure information is supplied for REFERENCE ONLY. These types of lures are made by other manufacturers which may be just as, or more productive than, the lures listed. It gives the readers an opportunity to see these productive lures through the Internet or in catalogs.
Smithwick, Suspending Rattlin Pro Rogue, Suspended Stickbait, 5 1/2", 1/2 oz., Blue Back/Silver Sides, Model SDRC 1200
Yo-Zuri, Floating Crankbait, 4 3/8 inch, 3/8 ounce
Road Runner, 1/2 ounce, White Head, White Bucktail
Fenwick, Shallow Crank, Shallow Running Crankbait, 4 1/8", 7/16 oz., Chartreuse
Bass Assassin, Salt Water, Curly Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4" in the following colors: Albino Shad - Albino/Fire Tail - White & Salt - Pepper Silver Phantom
Bass Assassin, Salt Water, Sea Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4" in the following color:
Shrimp
FISHING TIP:
Use a rubber net when landing Striped Bass. When netted the Striper lays on its side, with very little movement and this makes it easy to remove your lure. Your lures do not get tangled up in the webbing. Stalker Company makes a 30" net with a telescopic handle .
OTHER ATRICLES BY TOM HUGHES:
www.chesapeakeangler.com/chesapeake/
Saltwater Column ‘Structure Fishing For Striped Bass: Part 4’
For past articles click on Article Archive hot button located in the upper left border of this page.
Good Fishing…..Tom Hughes