So. I will be on my second season here for stripers. I however failed miserably last year. where are they and what is the best bait/presentation. in coming tide out going tide etc. ALL help will be very greatly appreciated. I need an arguement to the wife to let me keep that boat...ha

Early in the season, I fish the bridges, mainly the CBBT and HRBT. Usually at night working the light line. I cast 4-6" Storm lures (or tsunammi, Ches. bay lure, etc). I also occasinally use bucktails, gotcha plugs and mirror lures. I work the pilings and fish the light line. During the day, I cast the pilings. I prefer an outgoing tide but as long as there is water movement stripers will bite. Casting the CBBT islands at dawn and dusk is also very productive. I usually fish the bridges until late Dec or so. Some people also use live bait (eels, spot) and drift the tubes or fish the high rise section of the CBBT.

Around Dec, the big hawgs start to show at the baymouth and this is when the season really starts for me. At this point we fish mostly the baymouth and the VA Bch coast. We troll Mojos, stretch 25s and tomics. The key is to keep it slow, barely in gear. Sometimes you need to bump it in/out of gear. I don't like anything over 2-3 knots. If we find a school of fish feeding on menhaden, you'll see lots of gannets working the water and sometimes you actually see the stripers chasing the fish to the surface, we break out the light action rods and cast storms (6"). I just cut the motor, drift and cast. We caught alot of 40 + inch fish last year using this method and its a ton of fun. We have also started to fly fish for them. If you do see a school working, don't troll thru the middle, you'll scatter the fish. The last few years we were able to fish until late feb, early March.

Hope this helps. Catch em up.

Pete

Ive heard people troll with big trolling weights and even unbrella rigs with all of them having hooks. it is best to use out riggers, downriggers planers etc??

In the area we live in we have resident Striper(year round) striper and Migratory striper the ones that travel up and Down the east coast seeking a comfortable temperature.As the water cools down to the 50`s you will start seeing the Big oceanic Hawgs enter the Lower bay.This usually starts to happen around Thanks giving but this year the water temp is 72 -73 in late October.The big question is will the shorter days and timing send them here in the warm water or will they hold out for the water temperature to drop almost 20 degrees. I think we will see a few here early but the Masses of large fish will hold up for the Cold water.The really good fishing in the Ocean is in my opinion is 2 months away.Eeling along the IMG and 4a areas is your best bet for an early SLOB.

I don't have down riggers so I use mojos. These are a weighted lure that you tie to a three way swivel. They come in various weights and colors. You tie this to a three way with around 3-6' of leader. Then tie a 10-15' leader to the other spot on the three way and attach a trailing lure such as a large storm (9") or tomic or something. The mojo will hold on the bottom and the other lure will then trail behind. You will need a heavy rod setup with either wire or powerpro. I usually try and bounce the mojo while we are trolling. I have a small boat so I only put out 4 rods. Two mojo setups off the stern and two stretch 25s port and starboard. Stop in at any local bait shop and they will hook you up with what you need. I'm sure our sponsor at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle has everything you need and would be happy to give any suggestions. A lot of people also fish with umbrella rigs and daisy chains.

LAST YEAR WAS MY FIRST STRIPER SEASON BUT LEARNED ALOT FROM THIS SITE
TRY DRIFTING LIVE EELS IN DEC. AND JAN. PUT 1 ROD OUT WITH A 1 1/2 OZ EGG
SINKER 2 FEET ABOVE THE HOOK. HOOK THE EEL IN THE MOUTH AND OUT THE EYE. NEXT ROD 1 OZ SINKER, NEXT ROD 1/2 OZ SINKER, NEXT NO SINKER. LOOK FOR FISH FROM RUDDIE INLET DOWN TO CAPE HENREY. FIND YOUR FISH WITH YOUR ELETRONICS THEN SET UP TO DRIFT PAST THEM. AS FOR TROLLING STRECH 25 IN WHITE/RED HEAD, CHARTUCE, GOLD/BLACK BACK ARE GOOD. UMBRILLA RIGS IN YELLOW, CHARTUCE, AND WHITE. FOR CASTING AT NIGHT I LIKE A YOUZRI CRISTAL MINNOW 5 3/8" ( JERK BAIT DRIVES EM NUTS ) AND A RAPPLA XRAP SXR 14 SUSPENDING SLASH BAIT ( FOR THE BIGGER FISH UNDER THE SCHOOLIES) BUNKER OR WHITE BOTH WORK WELL. CASTING THE ROCKS STORM CHUG BUG CHARTUCE, SILVER/ BLUE BACK AND A XRAP. I HOPE THIS HELPS CATCH EM UP. GOOD LUCK