This is only my second season striper fishing, but beginning to wonder if the current low water temperatures in the area have caused the stripers to pass on by us for points south. From the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Reports they have been catching plenty of stripers for the past couple weeks now with a 62 pound fish being taken inside Oregon Inlet this past week on the same day that there were 12 citations.

Can anybody with more experience than me offer a more informed opinion. Water temperatures off Sandbridge this past saturday were approaching the mid-40's, and marked very few fish between Rudee and False Cape. Managed to catch one 30" fish close to the yellow buoy off Sandbridge when passed over a pod of about a dozen fish, but this was the only knockdown we had all day.

Thinking about trailering my boat down to Oregon Inlet to get in on some of the action if things don't turn around here soon.

To me a good temp is 42 to 52. Ive always caught good size fish between those 2 temps. This is just an off year.

Thanks for the headsup on the water temperatures guys. Then there is still hope yet for a productive January. Does the fishing usually heat up like it has at Oregon Inlet over the last couple weeks this early? Also wondering if alot of the fish they are catching being caught outside the 3 mile limit.

Last year the huge ones started showing up around Jan 2, we found them on jan 5 th.We chased them for the next 4 or 5 weeks all the way south to Oregon Inlet.The water temps were 45 to 38 Deg.They usually move away from water cooler than 38 Degrees from what I have observed.I dont think they have passed us by, but this year is definately not happening like the past 10 years or so.

Today, I marked 46.5 off the Ramada 48.9 @ 4A.

Frankly, I don't pay much attention to temp when it comes to winter stripers. There is always speculation about the fish "passing the bay" every year. It never happens... The fish will always make a showing here, it's just a matter of dropping lines in the same area as active fish on any given day. Soak your line long enough and something will bite.

Rik
"Mighty Hounds"
SeaRay 215 Weekender

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If you are a weekender thats a good approach.

I was rather suprised to see temps in the 48-50* mark around the mouth of the bay on Saturday p.m.. If anything, water temps are a little above normal.Of course, water temps at Sandbridge are usually lower on a west wind, which has been pretty dominant lately.Upwelling and all kinds of stuff like that. I think PATIENCE is likely your key ingredient in fishing right now.

Those SE winds we were having stack up the warmer surface water over by the Bay Mouth.

I believe the water temp is about 6 to 8 degrees higher than what used to be and should be, also the wind blowing all the baits out in the past few weeks.

Last week the temps were almost 41 Degrees in some places 44 degrees is what the average was that is par for this time of year.Go to the Rutgers site and do a comparison you will see its right on line for the most part.Small spikes are expected when the weather is in the 60`s.That data Gigolot posted is also good stuff.

MB,

A "weekender" as compared to what? Most of the folks out there in TV land are "weekenders" as opposed to "pro ho's." Haven't won the lottery yet, so my aspirations of being a "weekdayer" are seriously curtailed...

Too many people get wrapped around the axle (so to speak) about temp gradients when fishing for striper. It might be real important in tuna fishing, but less so for stripers. Not many sportfish out there bite btwn such a wide temp range as stripers do throughout the year.

IMO, the ABC's to striper fishing are Atmospheric pressure, Bait, and Current. Throw a curveball in one of those categories and you're going to have a tough day fishing.

Rik
"Mighty Hounds"
SeaRay 215 Weekender

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WAG, You sound so sure about temperature not affecting Striper,How do you know this?I wouldnt count on what you are saying,especially when they are at the edges of their comfort zone.The closer the water gets to 38 degrees the more critical it is.Why do you think they are biting so furiously down south and not here ? It seems to me that they are selecting the warmer water does it not.Dont kid yourself about temperature and Stripe Bass,They do have a wide range but what ultimately causes them to head North in the summer,why do they come back in the winter.The Baitfish such as Menhaden are thick around here all summer long why arent the Striper here feeding on them?There is plenty of Current and the atmospheres pressure is the same the baits are swimming in huge bait balls off the beach where are the Striper in the Summer?

I agree with Keith. I think the cold water from the bay floods as far south as Sandbridge and kills it. I notice a 2 to 3 degree break around False Cape in mid-Jan to late Jan. and you will do nothing in the cold side. South of the first house at Corrolla is the furthest north I have been able to catch them when it gets really cold. I've come back with 1 1/2 inches of ice on the windshield and the entire deck like a skating rink in Feb. but that south water is still 41 even that late.

I agree that temps, tides and a host of other factors play a big part in how the fishing is going to be. But for me the best time to hit the water and do a little fishing is any chance I get. I've been out lots and caught little to nothing and still had a great time.

Just love being on the water.

Ray

Thats what it is really all about when it comes down to it.

Just because I don't wholeheartedly agree w/ your temp philosophy doesn't mean what I have to say doesn't hold water. In the scheme of things, you put more emphasis on temp, I put emphasis elsewhere among the host of factors contributing to a successful day of catching. To each their own "theories."

Bottom line, there are two types of fisherman - those w/ meat in the box and those w/ a skunk in the box. If you choose to chase the temp eddies/fingers from here to OI in search of the striped one, it's your gas $$. If you fill the box, good on ya'. If not, it might be time to revise your philosophy...

Rik
"Mighty Hounds"
SeaRay 215 Weekender

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Just got back from Hatteras and the fish are stacked up at Cape Point and north. Can't reach them from the beach but you can see thousands of birds working the shoals about 1/4 mile out. Watched Hatteras Fever II unload 17-18 fish all 25-45 lbs. Water temps low to mid 50's. Not much in the surf.

You take things that I say out of context,I never said that I soley use temperature breaks for Striper fishing.I use reports from other Captains,Look for Gannets with the Radar and Binoculars,track them on a chart I keep at home, talk to Commercial Fisherman and use notes from a log that I keep from years past.I have contacted Scientists at Woods Hole and other Universities about Striper,Cobia and Drum.I also walk marinas and visit Tackle shops to get good info on where ,when and how.You ovbiously dont know how serious I am about the Sport,I usually catch fish when I target them,but I dont loose sleep if I dont either.I definately dont need you to tell me how to operate.

whatever...