Fishermen all over North America know that the striper is a fish worth studying. This migratory species is native to the region from Martha's Vineyard to Cape Hatteras, but it's ability to thrive in both salt and fresh water has helped it acclimate to many other areas. Catching striped bass is a recreational thrill that millions enjoy every year.
The very first European visitors to North America reported vast schools of these large, striped fish. They were found all along the coast from Canada to Florida. Spawning primarily in the Chesapeake and the Massachusetts Bay and the Delaware and Hudson river, they are a state fish in seven east coast states. Because they are such a great recreational species, they have been introduced into the Pacific and thrive around San Francisco.
Although their life cycle was spent mostly in the salty ocean, the 'rockfish' swam up freshwater creeks and rivers to spawn. Still, when they were stocked purely as recreational fish in landlocked lakes, they proceeded to reproduce. In places where over-fishing reduced populations to perhaps zero, like the St. Lawrence River in Canada, they have made such a strong comeback that they are no longer a protected species.
The 'striper' is a strong swimmer and moves around so much that it can be tricky to catch. It might be found forty feet down on a shallow ocean shelf or in a shallow wetlands. It can be huge; the biggest recorded striper weighed one hundred and twenty-four pounds and was over five and a half feet long. The record catch using a rod and reel is an eighty-nine pounder caught in Long Island Sound. The previous record was set using an artificial lure; that Atlantic Beach specimen was caught in the surf and weighed seventy-eight and a half pounds.
There is no lack of tips on catching these fish. Online recommendations include using a fish-finder, since the bass are always on the move. You can also watch for flocks of seabirds that feed on the bait fish that the bass chase to the surface.
It seems that live eels are one of the best bait, although many different ones work. Recommendations include clams, sandworms, bloodworms, mackerel, shad, and herring. Rockfish will take dead bait but it has to be fresh. Artificial lures work well; check out the tips on how to move them through the water. Trolling from a boat is a traditional way to catch big ones.
The stripers feed day and night, but dawn and dusk are when they are most aggressive. They like cool waters, so they move in deeper waters on sunny, hot days. On a cool evening, they may be sighted swimming only a foot or two below the surface. Moving water stirs up the sediment that their prey feeds on, so that's where they congregate. They like bridge pilings, rock outcroppings, and the mouths of creeks and rivers.
A strong striper cam put up a twenty minute fight. The average fish caught on a hook designed to discourage smaller ones is from 8 to 40 pounds. Since the fish have firm, white flesh that is mild but flavorful, every region has its own ways to cook it. All are delicious.
The striped or Atlantic bass, also known as the rockfish, is the perfect recreational fish. It's hard enough to catch to make it interesting, big enough to give good sport, and delicious to eat. It's definitely worth learning how to find and catch it.
The very first European visitors to North America reported vast schools of these large, striped fish. They were found all along the coast from Canada to Florida. Spawning primarily in the Chesapeake and the Massachusetts Bay and the Delaware and Hudson river, they are a state fish in seven east coast states. Because they are such a great recreational species, they have been introduced into the Pacific and thrive around San Francisco.
Although their life cycle was spent mostly in the salty ocean, the 'rockfish' swam up freshwater creeks and rivers to spawn. Still, when they were stocked purely as recreational fish in landlocked lakes, they proceeded to reproduce. In places where over-fishing reduced populations to perhaps zero, like the St. Lawrence River in Canada, they have made such a strong comeback that they are no longer a protected species.
The 'striper' is a strong swimmer and moves around so much that it can be tricky to catch. It might be found forty feet down on a shallow ocean shelf or in a shallow wetlands. It can be huge; the biggest recorded striper weighed one hundred and twenty-four pounds and was over five and a half feet long. The record catch using a rod and reel is an eighty-nine pounder caught in Long Island Sound. The previous record was set using an artificial lure; that Atlantic Beach specimen was caught in the surf and weighed seventy-eight and a half pounds.
There is no lack of tips on catching these fish. Online recommendations include using a fish-finder, since the bass are always on the move. You can also watch for flocks of seabirds that feed on the bait fish that the bass chase to the surface.
It seems that live eels are one of the best bait, although many different ones work. Recommendations include clams, sandworms, bloodworms, mackerel, shad, and herring. Rockfish will take dead bait but it has to be fresh. Artificial lures work well; check out the tips on how to move them through the water. Trolling from a boat is a traditional way to catch big ones.
The stripers feed day and night, but dawn and dusk are when they are most aggressive. They like cool waters, so they move in deeper waters on sunny, hot days. On a cool evening, they may be sighted swimming only a foot or two below the surface. Moving water stirs up the sediment that their prey feeds on, so that's where they congregate. They like bridge pilings, rock outcroppings, and the mouths of creeks and rivers.
A strong striper cam put up a twenty minute fight. The average fish caught on a hook designed to discourage smaller ones is from 8 to 40 pounds. Since the fish have firm, white flesh that is mild but flavorful, every region has its own ways to cook it. All are delicious.
The striped or Atlantic bass, also known as the rockfish, is the perfect recreational fish. It's hard enough to catch to make it interesting, big enough to give good sport, and delicious to eat. It's definitely worth learning how to find and catch it.
About the Author:
Get excellent tips for catching striped bass, today. You can also get more info about a reputable angling store at http://tmancustomtackle.com right now.
EmoticonEmoticon