What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

[Patty Pooh]

I just got a new boat and want to catch some stripers around the chesapeake bay near the bay bridge and severn river. I am new to fishing. Any suggestions on what i should use and the tackle i need to get. I have 2 trolling rods and 2 spinning rods. Thanks

 

[mattttt25]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

sounds like we should team up. new here as well. i trolled several times during the trophy season, but no luck. i think (know) i had problems with depth. hard to figure out where you are. i do know as the summer approaches, trolling becomes less productive. stripers begin to school and chumming/bottom fishing is the choice. anchor and chum, with live bait (bunker)on a good size hook is how i did it a few times last year. seems to always work. you can also jib right under the bridge when it gets warm. real easy to do, just go there and follow others around you. good luck-

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

Don't specifically know your area but I do know stripers. I would suggest rigging up with live bait and drifting an area with the fishfinder on and GPS handy. If you look for the fish and schools of bait first then drift through them you increase your odds but keeping the finder on lets you see what is underneath the boat and when you hook up mark it on the GPS so you can re-drift the area. Having a rod or two rigged up with a casting spoon or other long distance lure is also a good idea because from time to time stripers ball up baitfish schools and drive them to the surface where you can spot them by the diving birds and bait jumping clear of the water. From what I hear of your area you also have bluefish and albacore as well as a few other species that do the same thing. The stripers will sometimes follow these schools but will hang deeper (the biger stripers do this in thier own schools) picking off the wounded baits or picking up pieces of the baitfish that were regurgitated. I hope this info helps.

 

[ooootis]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

no albacore in the bay as long as i have been fishing it never heard of one being caught here O.C., baltimore canyon and what not yeah<br /><br />dudes I'm right down the bay from ya below Rose Haven email me we can have a blast.<br />nelsonda@wna-linknet.com

 

[fishndvm]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

"What should I use to catch some strippers in the chesapeake bay?"<br /> For strippers, I'd try trolling hundred dollar bills.

 

[kaos999]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

yeah make a trace out of cash or drugs bet that helps!

 

[mattttt25]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

chummed on friday morning with dad, and had a great day. anchored up at the mouth of the chester, and chummed with bunker. used fresh cut bunker on large hooks- just threw it out there and let it drift. about 25' water near a ridge that went from 40' to 15' fast. we each hit about 1 fish every 10 minutes for 5 hours. most were 15"-17" (do they know?) and one in the box at 19". also got a large croaker and nasty blue that almost pulled my dad's rod out of his hands.

 

[beckerdg]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

Took my boat out of Reedville in the lower bay and chummed with menhaden and bottom fished with cut bait today. Stripers ranged from 20" to 34" today. We were a little late getting started fishing around 8:30, quit at noon when I wore out and my hands were raw from handling them. We left a lot of sore mouths, I love it when they get going strong.<br /><br />My neighbor hooked the largest one and immediately handed it off to my 11 year old. Watching him try to reel it in was the best entertainment of the day. Though I have never caught any over 40" bottom fishing I think they are a lot more fun on a touch lighter tackle than you can troll with and the fish have not been dragged.<br /><br />Oh, for the strippers, you might spot a few with binoculars, then when you get close, try the large denomination bills mentioned earlier.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

jolly- guess you guys are getting the migrating ones now. most of the big ones have already headed south. but i think 20" - 35" would have given my dad a heart attack, as he's used to catching those 1 lbs small mouths back home.

 

[beckerdg]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

Nothing wrong with taking the light tackle on the upper James for small mouth fishing. Even the little ones can be fun, and every now and then you hook into one that can really make you wish you brought the heavier tackle.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: What should I use to catch some stripers in the chesapeake bay?

if you ride up the chesapeake and use that canal to come to the GOOD bay, the Delaware Bay .... you can catch stripers with strips of chicken breasst cut to look like eels ... or just use eels, but they get a bit pricey when blues start whammin em ... <br /><br />but chicken breasst on sale is like 2 bucks a pound, cheaper than the shedder (or "peeler") crab they also like<br /><br />give it a shot!<br /><br />soakin em in "crab oil" cant hurt either<br /><br /> <br /><br />EDIT<br />ps sorry bout the typo, but these stinkin (*@&*$#(@*U$#(#@*$#(@*$#(@*$#U*@#( VICTORIAN AZZHOLES EVEN CUT OUT THE WORD B R E A S T GODDDAMNN STINKIN CENSORS, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR