Tips for striped bass for surf fishing

Improve your tactics for striped bass fishing with the tips in this article. These are my best tips and information for striped bass rig, equipment, bait, and techniques. Surf fishing for striped bass is a cold water endeavor. They prefer water between 55 and 65 degrees. Wave fishing for these guys ranges from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. In warmer areas of the US they are more likely to be found in freshwater lakes and rivers where the water is cooler.

Striped Bass Rig

The only live bait rig that I like is the fish finder because the bait can release the line with the current. In my opinion this is the most productive live bait rig. Smaller fish, 8-10 pounds, can be caught in hook sizes in the 2/0, 3/0 range. For larger fish, the preferred size is 6/0 to 8/0. More importantly, you must size your hook to the bait used. Circle hooks are what I like to use, which is also better for catch and release.

Leaders must be proof from 60 # to 80 #. Monofilament is fine for leading material. Install your own fish finder setups with 18 “to 24” of guide between the hook and the pivot. Artificial baits and lures are not as productive as live baits, but they work well. Artificial eels and squid are the best in the artificial category. Most swim caps are good at 1-3 / 4 ounces to 2-1 / 4 ounces in size.

Striped Bass Equipment

If you’ve been reading my articles, you know that I have a preference for spinning reels. I think they are easier to use and less hassle. Do what you want here, what you like the most. Choose a spinning reel or a bait casting reel, there is no difference. When it comes to surfing rods, a 10 ‘to 12’ rod is still my recommendation. I’m not a big fan of having a special rod for every type of fish caught in the waves. Most of the surf fishing I do is with my 12 ‘medium heavy rod. For me, it can handle short or long pitches and if I get hooked on something sizable, I have enough meat to deal with that. I like to keep it simple. These fish are of a certain size, so you need to make sure your rod is up to the task.

Wind your spool with 200 yards of test monofilament or 20 to 30 pound braided line. If you can’t get 200 yards of 20 # test monofilament line on your spool, switch to the 30 # braided line. You will not have any problems. The 30 # test braided line is approximately the same diameter as the 8 # test monofilament.

Striped bass bait

Striped bass feed on a wide variety of live baits, but their two favorite choices are eels and squid. The best way to fish for eels is to hook the tail on a fish finder so that the eel feeds on the current in the natural way it would swim. On top of that, I would recommend menhaden or bunker hooked right in front of the pectoral fins on a fish search rig for the same reason. You want your bait to feed or swim naturally with the current towards the waiting predators.

Cut baits will also catch shooters and can be hooked in a way that best suits your needs.

Striped Bass Techniques

Striped Bass likes moving water and will always face the current. They prefer to lie and wait for food to arrive. High tides are best for live bait. If you can find a rip current you generally have a good option. The fish finder rig is good because the bait can be freely aligned with the current, right in the way of waiting shooters. Recovering lures, artificial baits, and live baits are best for incoming high tides as the fish will face recovery. Explore the beach at low tide for potential fishing spots. They like rocks and other forms of hard structure.

Striped bass does not get discouraged by irritated water and will take live baits, lures, or artificial just as well in those conditions. Night fishing after dark is productive, as is the early morning just before sunrise. Striped bass feed primarily at night. Fishing during the day is not so good.

Striped bass is one of the most popular game fish caught in the waves. Follow the tips in this article to improve your catch rate and look for the big markers.