NJ stripers 6/29/09
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:09 pm
Every year during the months of May and June (tapering off in July as the water temperatures warm) large schools of bunker (properly known as menhaden, aka "pogies" to southern/Gulf fishermen) migrate along the NJ coast. These bunker are much larger (8-12 inches) than those found in the southeast/Gulf. Trailing these schools are large stripers, bluefish, and thresher sharks. While other baits commonly catch bass during this time of year and throughout the season, the largest fish of the year are frequently caught livelining bunker around the schools, as well as trolling large bunker spoons.
This spring has seen very good striper fishing among massive bunkers schools along the coast. I headed out at 2:30pm on 6/29/09 hoping to catch the evening striper bite. We quickly ran into large schools of bunker on the surface and proceeded to snag the baits with large treble hooks (the typical technique) and filled the live well in short order.
Since not ever bunker school holds bass, we set off in search of feeding fish. The next couple of hours were relatively uneventful. Then, at 6:30pm others on the boat began to pick bass between 26-35lbs. Shortly after, I had my first runoff and hooked and landed a 35lb striper (a personal best).
Stripers began to feed all around the boat and my next bait quickly disappeared in a large boil on the surface. I quickly landed a 30lb bass (no pics).
The sun was setting as I pitched out my next bait. Almost instantly a huge striper boiled on the surface. The striper then exploded on the surface, jumping fully out of the water and sending the bunker flying through the air. The bunker then hit the water and immediately made a beeline for the boat. The bait only made it about 3 feet before it was engulfed by the bass. After a tough fight, I landed a 50" 46lb striper (the fish was on the skinny side), my new personal best.
35lb and 46lb
My best day of striper fishing.
This spring has seen very good striper fishing among massive bunkers schools along the coast. I headed out at 2:30pm on 6/29/09 hoping to catch the evening striper bite. We quickly ran into large schools of bunker on the surface and proceeded to snag the baits with large treble hooks (the typical technique) and filled the live well in short order.
Since not ever bunker school holds bass, we set off in search of feeding fish. The next couple of hours were relatively uneventful. Then, at 6:30pm others on the boat began to pick bass between 26-35lbs. Shortly after, I had my first runoff and hooked and landed a 35lb striper (a personal best).
Stripers began to feed all around the boat and my next bait quickly disappeared in a large boil on the surface. I quickly landed a 30lb bass (no pics).
The sun was setting as I pitched out my next bait. Almost instantly a huge striper boiled on the surface. The striper then exploded on the surface, jumping fully out of the water and sending the bunker flying through the air. The bunker then hit the water and immediately made a beeline for the boat. The bait only made it about 3 feet before it was engulfed by the bass. After a tough fight, I landed a 50" 46lb striper (the fish was on the skinny side), my new personal best.
35lb and 46lb
My best day of striper fishing.
