Hello everyone Im new to this site, so I hope I dont sound to ignorant,.
I've always fished the bay for stripper, mainly with bucktails and storm baits. I never tried trolling for lack of a large enough boat and for lack of knowledge. Now that my buddy has acess to much larger boats we tried going a couple miles off the shore of fort story for some stripper, but with no luck the seas were horrable. My question to the all of you is what is the perfered depths and baits for the larger strippers Ive been hearing so much about. The method of trolling Ive heard is to use a stretch 25 and set the drag so that a strong current may rip small spurts of line and a strike will strip out a long run. Is this correct, I just dont want to waist time and money going to the wrong spots and fishing incorretly.
I would appreciate any advise that anyone can offer.
Thank you again, and I love this site wish I would have found it earlier.
John

The striper season is pretty much over for this year. Plan on attending a couple of fishing seminars during the early fall/winter season to pick up tips on trolling/lures/other methods for stripers. Also, there will be lots of advise available on this site and on Tidalfish.com during that time.

S-25's are a standard bait. I used them more in the early part of the year in the bay.

When we started fishing the Ocean, we put out alot of MOJO's and umbrella rigs. Having stretch's in the mix with them can cause tangles.

S-25's tend to react to current wildly and wander around too much, I noticed it more this year for some reason and we stowed the S-25's quickly.

Personally I would do as previously mentioned and plan to get them next year. Or maybe wait until the bay opens back up in the spring and try CBBT some more. Then you can get with everyone and get rigs ready and learn when everyone is fired up about them.

I have not even thought about Stripers for about a month now.

Maybe they are still killing them, I would not have a clue.

Some guys are getting a few but it is more miss than hit. Now is the time all good fisherman are clearing their honeydo lists for spring.

When i'm trying to catch STRIPPERS I use dollar bills or cocaine.

Welcome to the board !

[quote=Eva K,Mar 17 2007, 05:07 PM][quote=peejcj8,Mar 17 2007, 01:59 PM]Maybe they are still killing them, I would not have a clue.
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Some guys are getting a few but it is more miss than hit. Now is the time all good fisherman are clearing their honeydo lists for spring.

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Exactly, Ive been doing just that.

How ya been Rich?

If your boat is trailerable and you don't mind spending money on a MD license for the trip, check out the spring run up at the Solomons.

We had a blast last year. Pulled nothing but umbrella rigs. Going up again this year. Last weekend of April or first weekend in May seems to be the best, at least according to my scout.

Marrdro,

Do you have to have a Md license or will the Va saltwater license do?

Jason

I always use a red/white stretch 35+ along with at least 2 umbrella's and a mojo. I have actually had more luck on my stretch than I have on the umbrella's. I have noticed that chartuse is working better than white at this time. If you are planning to troll for the biggins, you may want to try near the cape henry wreck south to the green can on the ocean front. If you read Julie Ball's report every week, usually on fridays, it will give you an idea of where the fish are and which species are biting. I will attach a link to her fishing reports. The depth of these rockfish vary on their mood. I have caught hogs in 65 feet of water as well as 25 feet of water. Try each depth column until you have some luck.

http://www.vbsf.net/Fishing_Rundown_VA_Bay.htm

You have to have the MD license. Six of us go up and split the cost of a boat license for my boat that covers us all.

Can't remember exactly but I think it is about $50. (Edited and added URL. $40 for the consolidated boat license. I ordered mine online last year. Got it in about week or so if memory serves.)

MD DNR Site

Md. & Virginia share reciprocity when it comes to Saltwater licenses. A Va. saltwater license is all you need to fish in either the MD portion of the Bay or the Potomac, south of the Harry M. Nice bridge. No need to buy another.

Thanks. Gotta research that one. They DNR guy that I talked to said the reciprocation is for within a certain area close to the line.

Seems were I was going to was out of that area.

Again, I have to research that a bit more. Might save us some bucks....

Trophy season is in mid May thru mid June. Just dunk some live bait(spot ,croaker) over one of the tubes FYI

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Exactly, Ive been doing just that.

How ya been Rich?

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Same old, same old. Now that I'm retired I have to work for a living...