Fished for: Striped Bass
Date Fished: 9/12/98
Boat Name: Vina's Surprise
Water Temp: 75 Degrees AM/77 Degrees PM
Water Clarity: Average 3 Feet
Seas: Slight Chop
Weather: Sunny, W-NW Winds To 15 mph
REPORT:
Crew: Tom Hughes & Paul Pandercyk
Date Fished: 09/12/98
Location: PATAPSCO RIVER & BALTIMORE HARBOR
Predicted Tides: 6:50 AM-Low/12:05 PM-High
Water Temp.: 75 Degrees AM/77 Degrees PM
Water Clarity: Average 3 Feet
Water Was: Slight Chop
Weather: Sunny, W-NW Winds To 15 mph
Fished For: STRIPED BASS
Boat Name: Vina’s Surprise
REPORT
Paul Pandercyk and I fished on Saturday, 09/12/98, from 6:25 AM until 4:47 PM, from just southwest of Pier 8 to Fort Carroll. The tide was still when we started.
All fish were caught on light spinning and bait casting equipment using artificial lures.
LURES USED: soft plastic baits rigged on 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ounce round head jigs, soft plastic baits fished just below the surface on a worm hook, jigging spoons, lipless vibrating crankbaits, top water poppers, floating lures, buzzbaits, shallow diving crankbaits, and suspended jerkbaits.
TOTAL STRIPED BASS CAUGHT WAS 40. The Stripers ranged in length from 6" to 24". The most productive structure was a point. Landed 2 Striper between 18" and 24".
STRUCTURES FISHED: Channel point, underwater hump, underwater rock pile, wooden pier, pilings, bridge pilings, above water island, pier edges.
NUMBER OF STRIPERS CAUGHT DURING THIS TIDE:
17 - Incoming
15 - Outgoing
8 - Still
MOST PRODUCTIVE LURE: Cotton Cordell, Ratt’l Spot Minnow, Vibrating Crankbait, 1/2 oz., Smokey Joe—off white sides with a black back
BIGGEST STRIPERS CAUGHT ON: Smithwick, Suspending Rattlin Pro Rogue, Suspended Stickbait, 5 1/2", 1/2 oz., Blue Back/Silver Sides, Model SDRC 1200
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.
NOTE: Do not allow any highly buoyant lures, such as the Original Floating Rapala, to come back up to the surface. To be highly productive, these types of lures should stay just under the surface during retrieve.
OTHER PRODUCTIVE LURES THIS TRIP:
Storm, Rattlin Chug Bug, Floating Popper, 3 1/2", 3/8 oz., Black Back/Silver Sides
Rebel, Super Pop-R, Top Water Popper, Excallibur hooks, Baby Bass
Lunker Lure, Flat Shad, Buzzbait, 1/2 oz., White Head, White & Chartreuse Skirt fished with a Zoom, Split Tail, Soft Plastic Trailer, 3 1/2", Chartreuse
Fenwick, Shallow Crank, Shallow Running Crankbait, 4 1/8", 7/16 oz., Chartreuse
Bass Assassin, Salt Water, Curly Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4", Mirror Green, #CSA27368
OTHER FISH CAUGHT: 2 - Blues
FISHING TIP:
Always listen to your partner when they suggest a different location or fishing technique. I was very fortunate and learned a new technique while fishing large bridge pilings from Paul. Thanks Paul for sharing your knowledge.
Good Fishing…..Tom Hughes
Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association
‘Structure Fishing For Striped Bass: Part 4’
http://www.chesapeakeangler.com/chesapeake/features/saltwater/5-98/tomh_stripedbass.shtml