Striped bass are fun fish and they can be found in areas that are populated with shipwrecks, boulder piles and reefs. These areas in particular seem to be favored haunts of the striped bass. Those who have had the pleasure of fishing Long Island, particularly the Connecticut side are well aware of some of the well known reefs that can be found in that area. Don’t get too focused on the height of a reef when you’re scoping out ideal spots however, you want to pay attention instead to the steepness of the hill. Schools of striped bass can be found in as little as ten feet of water and as deep as eighty feet, there’s no norm. The main reason that reefs are popular is their unique funnel formations that allow them to feed at the crest of the peaks found there. To land stripers in these areas, you will want to spread your bait across the water column and let it be carried down to the crest of the peak. The more pronounced the funnel shape, the more success you’ll have locating striped bass. The reef line will help you find the crest.

Cruise up-tide from the reef once you have located the top. You can use your fish-finder to assist you. Remember that even if you do not see any hits on the fish finder does not mean that there are not striped bass in the area – they typically cling fairly close to the structures making them difficult for even the most advanced fish-finders to track. As a rule, you should most likely start off in waters that are about 20 feet deeper than where your reef crested. With your boat out of gear, drop your rig all the way to the bottom. If you have difficulty reaching bottom, consider adding some additional weight. Remember, that you will want to be fishing approximately three to six feet above the bottom so you do need to know where it is. As your boat drifts, you will soon grow accustomed to where the bottom is in different areas. As you feel the sinker hitting the bottom, simply crank your reel handle to bring it back up. It is best if you attempt to keep your line as vertical as possible as it will help you manage your line better. It’s important to bear in mind that as you drift uphill you are going to contact the bottom more frequently so make sure you keep an eye on your line.

If you are not entirely familiar with the body of water you are fishing in make sure that you are not only minding your fish-finder and GPS but that you’re paying attention to landmarks as well. This will help you map the area when you get a hit or you land a fish. Remember, if you have found one fish in an area, it’s a pretty good guess that you are going to find more than one. Keep an eye out for unusual formations as it’s not unusual for stripers to seek out sharp drops, boulders and formations that are different than those in the area.

While in most cases, stripers are found on the up-side of a hill, it is not all that uncommon to find them at the crest of the hill or even on the down-hill side. It will require some experimentation on your part to find out exactly where they are feeding. Do not forget to keep your line in the proper depth so that your bait is three to six feet of the bottom at all times. You may find that even a properly placed rod in your rod holder will land the occasional fish or two.

Circle hooks are probably the best choice for stripers. The 5/0 or 6/0 circle hooks baited with eels are probably the most secure. This will avoid you needing to set a hook, all you’ll need to do is lift the tip of your rod or let out the slack a bit and reel it in. Menhaden, hickory shad and scut will more than likely require an octopus hook in the 8/0 size.

When you are getting prepared for a saltwater fishing adventure, having the proper equipment is essential. Some of the most popular products on the market include shimano spinning reel, okuma fishing reel, and van staal reels.

1. Striped Bass Fishing Part 2
2. Striped Bass Fishing with Bunker
3. Striped Bass Fishing Tackle Reviews
4. Striped Bass – Easily The Funniest Game Fish to Catch
5. Fishing Tackle: Abu Garcia Bass 8′ Fishing Lure Rod Assessment

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