Fished for: Striped Bass
Date Fished: 9/13/98
Boat Name: Vina's Surprise
Water Temp: 77 Degrees AM/78 Degrees PM
Water Clarity: Average 3 Feet
Seas: Slight Chop
Weather: Sunny, South Winds To 10 mph
REPORT:
I fished on Sunday, 09/13/98, from 7:30 AM until 3:50 PM, from just southwest of Pier 8 to Curtis Creek. 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 ounce round head jigs, soft plastic baits fished just below the surface on a worm hook, jigging spoons, lipless vibrating crankbaits, top water poppers, buzzbaits, shallow diving crankbaits, and suspended jerkbaits.
TOTAL STRIPED BASS CAUGHT WAS 22. The Stripers ranged in length from 10" to 19". The most productive structure was a point. Landed 1 Striper1 18" or larger.
STRUCTURES FISHED: Channel point, underwater hump, underwater rock pile, wooden pier, pilings, discharges, pier edges.
NOTE OF INTEREST: I pulled up next to an underwater mound at 7:49 AM. The tide was still and sun was at 9:00 o’clock high. A large building shaded the water from the shoreline out about 75 feet. Casting a top water popping plug (Storm Chug Bug) I caught 8 Stripers throughout the shaded area. Two things were interesting here: 1) the Striped Bass were taking a lure during a still tide and 2) the most productive location on this mound was where the sun meets the shade on the water. I would stop the lure just outside this sun/shade line, on the sunny side, and the Stripers would come up and take it. The same scenario when working a mud line. This is another reason why I like fishing. You have the opportunity to learn something new and interesting. By the way. I did have a chance to catch a large Striper on topwater. It got away! A large fish was not caught, but on the bright side, I have another fish story to tell.
NUMBER OF STRIPERS CAUGHT DURING THIS TIDE:
14 - Incoming
0 - Outgoing
8 - Still
MOST PRODUCTIVE LURE: Storm, Rattlin Chug Bug, Floating Popper, 3 1/2", 3/8 oz., Black Back/Silver Sides
BIGGEST STRIPERS CAUGHT ON: Bass Assassin, Split Tail Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4" in Chartreuse/Silver Glitter, #STS39452
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:
Bass Assassin, Split Tail Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4" in:
Tennessee Shad, #STS39452
Salt & Pepper Silver Phantom, #STS39336
OTHER FISH CAUGHT:
FISHING TIP:
When the fish are not taking any lures that normally produce, be innovative and try not only another technique, but a different method. EXAMPLE: I jigged the corners of long docks and piers in depths to 37’. These appear to be ideal ambush locations to hold Stripers. Eddies are located in these areas caused by hydraulics. The Stripers do not have to use much energy to hold on these corners while waiting for the bait fish to be washed out by the current. I didn’t catch any Stripers, but I do think this will work under the right conditions. I can guarantee you, I’d give it quite a few more attempts before writing it off as a bad idea.
Good Fishing…..Tom Hughes
Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association
‘Striper Fishing With Soft Plastics’
www.WorldWideAngler.com/chesapeake/features/9-97/thughessept.shtml