Fished for: Striped Bass
Date Fished: 10/24/98
Boat Name: Fish Tracker
Water Temp: 61 Degrees
Water Clarity: Average 5 Feet
Seas: Slight Chop
Weather: Sunny, SW Wind 10 MPH
REPORT:
Bill Kassakatis and I fished on Saturday, 10/24/98 from 7:00 AM until 3:00 PM, in the Baltimore Harbor and on the Patapsco River. We fished from just southwest of Pier 8 to Cox Creek.
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 ounce round head jigs or 3/8 ounce tube jigs, floating soft plastic baits rigged on a straight shank worm hook, top water poppers, lipless vibrating crankbaits, spinnerbaits, shallow and medium diving suspended crankbaits.
TOTAL STRIPED BASS CAUGHT WAS 21. The Stripers ranged in length from 10" to 18 1/2". The most productive structure was a discharge. Landed 2 Stripers 18 1/2" each.
NOTE: 90% of the Striped Bass caught looked to be underfed. The heads on the large Stripers looked to be too big for their body.
STRUCTURES FISHED: Points, shoals, underwater mounds, piers and underwater rock piles, concrete pilings, wooden pilings, and discharges.
NUMBER OF STRIPERS CAUGHT DURING THIS TIDE:
6 - Incoming
13 - Outgoing
2 - Still
MOST PRODUCTIVE LURE: Total of Stripers caught on the lure was 9. 1 - was
18 1/2". BASS ASSASSIN, Salt Water, Sea Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 4", All American, #SSA25379
BIGGEST STRIPERS CAUGHT ON: ditto
MOST PRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUE: Current Casting-with this technique you will be using the current to give your lure action and to put it into a productive area.
Locate your boat down current from the structure you are fishing. Use a soft plastic bait that have some tail action. Rig the bait on a head jig. Two factors must be taken into consideration in sizing the jig head: 1) the speed of the current and 2) the depth that the lure will be running. Cast the lure across the current far enough so the lure will be pushed by the current into the area on the structure where the fish are located. Adjust the depth by the weight of the jig head. KEEP A TIGHT LINE and reel the lure slowly back to the boat. The Striper(s) will hit the lure if it is close enough to the structure at the correct depth.
This technique mimics a bait fish being pushed, with no control by the current. Try it the next time you are fishing bridge pilings, discharges, range markers, creek points, etc.
OTHER PRODUCTIVE LURES THIS TRIP:
NATURE’S OWN, Tender Tubes, Soft Plastic Bait, 3 1/2", Chartreuse/Black Flex (6 Stripers)
HAND MADE, Popper, Floating Popper, 3 1/2", 3/8 oz., Black Back/Silver Sides. Purchased at the Harrisburg Hunting & Fishing Show. (2 Stripers)
BILL LEWIS, Premium Rat-L-Trap, Lipless Crankbait, 1/2 oz., Sunfish (1 Striper)
RAPALA, Rattlin’ Rap, 3/8 oz., Silver Gold, Model #RNR5 (1 Striper)
BASS ASSASSIN, Salt Water, Sea Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 3", Gizzard Shad, #SWA28370 (1 Striper)
BASS ASSASSIN, Salt Water Shad, Soft Plastic Bait, 5", Fire Tiger, #SWA29245 Fire Tiger, #SWA29245 (1 Striper)
FISHING TIP:
Batteries should be checked, on a minimum, once a month. Look for loose connections, corrosion on the terminals, and nicks in the wiring. Correct any deficiencies IMMEDIATELY. Whenever working with DC 12 volt power or trolling motor batteries protect yourself by warring rubber gloves and eye goggles and have a fire extinguisher in reach. Batteries can explode or start fires if not properly handled.
END NOTE:
Tom Hughes and Bill Kassakatis will be guest speakers at the next Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, Pasadena Chapter next week. FREE to the public. Go to www.WorldWideAngler.com/calendar/index.html, then click November 5, 1998.
Good Fishing.....Tom Hughes
Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association
Freelance Outdoor Writer And Speaker