Fished for: striped bass, bluefish & trout
Date Fished: 9-18-98
Boat Name: Whoa-Son!
Water Temp: 77 degrees
Water Clarity: 1-2 feet
Seas: calm to 1 foot chop
Weather: 80 - 85 degrees
REPORT:
Fished last 2 hours of incomming and first 2 hours of outgoing tide in 14 feet of water between Hacketts Point and the Bay Bridge with deeper water nearby. I was concentrating on breaking fish and found several schools of small stripers and bluefish. All fish were caught on medium fresh water baitcasting tackle and a 3/4 ounce Striper Delight white/sparkle popping plug. Caught 20 stripers, 10 blues and a trout up to 14 inches in length. All fish were successfully released except for striper that was deep hooked and bleeding from the gills. I did my best, but; I don't think he made it. The trout was a surprise. It hit on a very fast retreive when I actually pulled the popping plug underwater.
I found it was better to go around and position the boat up current of the breaking fish and drift into them rather then pull up down current and drift away. I have decided to crush the barbs on my trebel hooks because in the time it takes to unhook a fish, the school often moves out of casting range. I have also decided Stren Sensor (no-stretch mono) line is too stiff for my baitcasting skills causing me to get too many backlashes.