Striped Bass

LOCATIONS

BODIES OF WATER

Striped bass, also known as stripers and rockfish are highly prized game fish known for their strong fights and excellent table fare.
They inhabit various bodies of water along the East Coast of the United States, including the Chesapeake Bay, Deleware Bay, Tidal Rivers, Surf, and Ocean.
Anglers targeting striped bass have opportunities to catch them in rivers, bays, estuaries, and along the Atlantic coast. The following areas are popular for striped bass fishing in the Mid-Atlantic:

STRUCTURE/HABITAT

Shoreline Stucture, Rocks, Bridges, Docks, Look for Birds, Look for Bait, Shipping Channel edges, Dropoffs, Reefs, Inlets, openings into larger bodies of water, Points and dropoffs around River opeings.
Moving tides are usually more productive. Areas with currents. Use a fish finder and depth charts.
Feed In schools searching for bait anywhere from 5-50+ ft of water. Feed Individually closer to shore/structure.

PATTERNS

SPRING

Spawning April/May. Larger fish moving into Chesapeake bay and Deleware bay.
Trolling channel edges/dropoffs/mouths of rivers is productive.
Striped bass migrate from coastal waters into rivers and estuaries to spawn. Target them in tidal rivers, creeks, and bays using techniques such as casting with lures, drifting with live bait, or trolling with diving plugs. Focus on areas with structure, such as points, drop-offs, and submerged vegetation, where striped bass congregate to feed and spawn.

SUMMER

In the summer, striped bass can be found in a variety of habitats, including rivers, bays, estuaries, and along the Atlantic coast. Target them using a combination of trolling, casting, and live bait fishing techniques. Focus on areas with cooler water temperatures, such as deep channels, submerged structure, and areas with strong tidal currents, where striped bass are likely to congregate and feed on baitfish.

FALL

As temperatures begin to cool in the fall, striped bass migrate back to coastal waters from rivers and estuaries. Target them along the Atlantic coast, particularly in surf zones, inlets, and around structure such as jetties and bridges. Use techniques such as casting with lures, drifting with live bait, or trolling with diving plugs. Look for areas with baitfish concentrations and strong currents, where striped bass are actively feeding in preparation for winter.

WINTER

During the winter months, striped bass may become less active in coastal waters and migrate to deeper offshore areas or overwintering locations. While winter fishing for striped bass can be challenging, anglers can still target them in deep channels, around offshore structure, and in areas with warm water discharges. Use techniques such as vertical jigging, deep trolling, or fishing with live bait to entice bites from striped bass during the colder months.

Bait Fishing

How: Use live or dead bait such as bunker, clams, eels, or worms and fish in areas with structure such as rock piles, drop-offs, or jetties. Cast out and let the bait sit, or use a slow retrieve. Striped bass can be picky eaters, so try different baits until you find what they are biting.
Gear: Rods: Medium to heavy spinning or conventional rods. Reels: 4000-6000 size spinning reels or 300-size conventional reels. Line: 20-30lb test monofilament or braided line. Hooks: 5/0 to 8/0 live bait hooks, or circle hooks when using live bait to reduce the risk of gut hooking.

Artificial Lures

How: Striped bass are attracted to a variety of lures including soft plastics, topwater lures, and swimbaits. Fish around structure such as rock piles, drop-offs, or jetties. Vary your retrieve speed and technique until you find what works best.
Gear: Rods: Medium to heavy spinning or conventional rods. Reels: 4000-6000 size spinning reels or 300-size conventional reels. Line: 20-30lb test braided line or fluorocarbon leader. Lures: Soft plastics, topwater lures, swimbaits, and jigs.

Fly Fishing:

How: Striped bass can be caught on a variety of fly patterns, including baitfish imitations and poppers. Fish around structure such as rock piles, drop-offs, or jetties. Vary your retrieve speed and technique until you find what works best.
Gear: Rods: 8-10 wt fly rod. Reels: Reel to match size fly rod. Line: Floating/Sinking/Intermediate depending on situations. Leaders: 9-12ft 15-20lb fluorocarbon leaders with tippet sizes ranging from 8-12lb. Flies: Clouser Minnows, Deceivers, and poppers.

Surf Fishing

How: Look for troughs, sandbars, and other structure near shore. Cast out with bait or lures and let it drift with the current. Vary your retrieve speed and technique until you find what works best.
Gear: Rods: Medium to heavy surf rods. Reels: 6000-8000 size spinning reels or 400-size conventional reels. Line: 30-40lb test braided line or fluorocarbon leader. Hooks: 5/0 to 8/0 live bait hooks, or circle hooks when using live bait to reduce the risk of gut hooking.

Trolling

How: Trolling is a popular method for catching striped bass, especially when they are in deeper waters. Use downriggers or planer boards to get your lures or bait down to the desired depth and troll along drop-offs or underwater structure. Vary your speed until you find what works best.
Gear: Rods: Medium-heavy trolling rods. Reels: Trolling reels with high line capacity. Line: 40-50lb test monofilament or braided line. Lures/Bait: Umbrella rigs, bucktail jigs, swimming plugs, live eels, or live baitfish.