How Do You Troll For Stripers In The Chesapeake Bay?

How fast should I troll for stripers?

According to the Fishaholics, when fish are less active, the ideal speed is about 2.0 to 2.5 mph. When the fish does not bite, or the bite is tough, it is better to go below to 2.0 mph. However, if striped basses are active, you can opt for a higher speed between 2.5 and 3.5 mph.

How do you fish for stripers in the Chesapeake Bay?

Fishermen throw lures by the islands and jig around pilings of the CBBT. Other popular and effective techniques include trolling large deep diving plugs like Mann’s stretch 25s in the waters around the mouth of the Bay and todrift live eels under bobbers over and near shoals.

How do you bounce the bottom of a striped bass?

Keep the sinker in contact with the bottom at all times. the rod stays in your hands. pick the rod up till the sinker comes off the bottom and slowly let it back down till it touches. Keep repeating this until you are hooked up.

How deep do you troll for striped bass?

Light: Also sunrise and sunset hours are ideal for stripers. Also, as importantly, boat traffic is at a minimum during these times. Depth: Your focus is on bottom dwelling fish. Have gear for the depths you’ll be fishing, say 10′ to 50′.

What is the best rig for striped bass?

Striped Bass Rigs
When using cut bait for striped bass, one of the most popular rigs is the fish finder rig. This rig can be found in the surf fishing kit attached with a circle hook between size 1/0 and 5/0. This rig is best used with 2-4 inch chunks of cut bait such as bunker, herring and mackerel.

Where should I troll for striped bass?

Stripers, particularly big ones, will tend to hang out in areas that will hold a food chain or create some sort of disturbance where bait is easily ambushed. This means rips, rocks, boulders, mussel beds, shorelines and drop offs; these are all great places to target.

How far behind the boat should I troll?

Every boat is different and you should make your boat your own study. Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.

Do you troll with the tide or against the tide?

Most species can be caught by trolling both with the tide and against it. However, trolling upcurrent has worked better for me, probably because it gives me better control over the boat and the lure. Also, most fish face into the current.

What is the best water temp for striped bass?

around 55- to 68-degrees
Stripers prefer water temperature around 55- to 68-degrees. If the water is too hot, they may feed shallow occasionally, but quickly return to the oxygenated rich, cooler water. Same goes for extremely cold water.

What can you troll for in Chesapeake Bay?

Trolling for Rockfish in Chesapeake Bay

• Fishing for Rockfish. Striped bass has a lot of nicknames, including striper and linesider.
• Trolling Chesapeake Bay. Some anglers may cast for rockfish.
• Chesapeake Bay Charter Fishing. Deciding to hire a local captain is a great way to experience trolling for rockfish.

Where are the striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay?

Striped bass tend to move north to nearshore waters of the New England coast during the summer, and south to the North Carolina/Virginia Capes during the winter. The east coast migratory population is composed of three major stocks – Hudson, Chesapeake, and Roanoke. The Chesapeake Stock.

How do you catch striped bass in CT?

1. Follow The Baitfish. The key to the spring striper fishery is baitfish.
2. Go Light. My favorite way to target these spring stripers is with spinning tackle on the light side.
3. Pack your Tackle Bag.
4. Weighted Soft Baits.
5. Crankbaits.
6. Swimbaits.
7. Unweighted Soft-Plastic Baits.
8. Topwater Plugs.

Can you troll for stripers?

Trolling remains one of the most productive ways to catch big striped bass for beginner and veteran fishermen alike. There are many different lures and baits that can be successfully trolled for big stripers.

How do you troll for freshwater striped bass?

You can also score on stripers by simply trolling with a single 1/2- to 3-ounce white or chartreuse jig or Sassy Shad. Some anglers also use umbrella-type rigs with several jigheads. This simulates a whole school of baitfish and can be deadly. Downriggers offer another option for obtaining depth while striper trolling.

Can you use bottom bouncer from shore?

You can also use a bottom bouncer from shore. Either way, as you drag, the bait or lure will bounce, raising puffs of sand or mud. It is also helpful to know how to make a bottom bouncer rig to keep your bait in the right position.

How do you bounce the bottom?

The key to bottom bouncing is having the bouncer riding along anywhere from a few inches to a foot or so above the bottom, letting it touch down only after you pull your rod forward and then it drift back.

What is a Mojo rig?

The mojo rig is an ultra finesse technique and is best used under extreme circumstances. The mojo rig is often viewed as the technique of last resort.In its simplest concept the mojo rig lightweight Carolina rig. It’s utilized a weight above the hook with a length of line between them.

What size hooks for stripers?

The size of the circle hook you use for a striped bass rig depends on the size of the bait. For larger baits, like live menhaden (bunker or pogies), an 8/0 circle hook is ideal. For chunk baits and live eels or spot, a smaller 6/0 circle hook will work. Smaller baits, like seaworms, can be rigged on 2/0 circle hooks.

Can you catch striped bass during the day?

Anyone can catch stripers consistently during the day if they have a plan, know what to use, pay attention to conditions and have a little luck. The first thing a surf fisherman looking for striped bass during daylight hours should do is divide the season into thirds; spring, summer and fall.

What kind of line do you use for stripers?

Best Types of Line For Striper Fishing
Aim for at least 4 to 8 feet of leader line attached to the main line and tied to the lure at the terminal end. Braided line is extra strong for striper fishing, but many anglers use monofilament lines too.