Striped Bass

I don't get to fish for Stripers as much as I would like to, and wish more folks would take advantage of this fishery that has recovered so nicely over the last 15 or 20 years. The water has to get pretty cool before these beautiful saltwater bass get bunched up on our shoals, and around our inlet. They typically show up in December, and can be found feeding around schools of menhaden.

Some of the small outboards can get close enough to the white water to drift live eels up on the lumps, or even cast to them. We typically troll for the stripers, using deep diving lures such as Stretches or Rapalas. We use our 20 pound tackle to do this. We also keep spinning gear handy, with bucktails, sometimes to cast up on the lumps, and sometimes to cast back behind the boat when the Stretches take off. I have had parties bring their fly tackle out for these fish as well.

Our normal size rockfish range from 20-40 pounds, although I heard of a fish in the 60s caught in 2005. The limit on rockfish is two per person, including the captain and mate.

The duration of the rockfish season is all based on the water temperature, but December and January have grown to be pretty dependable.

When it comes to table fare, you won't find anything better than striped bass. Thick white meat, and just as mild as chicken. My favorite way to have it is baked with potatoes, onions, and butter. I am also partial to having it battered and fried.

Striper fishing is definitely something worth looking in to, as a targeted species, or as an alternative to a scheduled day of tuna fishing that gets reduced to an inshore trip due to weather. It's a great plan to come in the winter, knowing that there are options, but I'm sure that you will enjoy wrestling with a few of these shallow water monsters any time you get the chance!

• Blue Marlin
• Bluefin Tuna
• Dolphin
• King Mackerel
• Sailfish
• Striped Bass
• Yellowfin Tuna
• Wahoo
• White Marlin