NYSharpie
New Angler
Hey Guys!
My good friend Lep and I were chatting earlier this week. He and I, along with a bunch of our friends, recently went out for dinner. As you can probably guess, we talked a lot about fishing, and shared our stories from last season, along with seasons past. Striped bass is definitely a fish I love to catch. After years of watching these guys load up on bait with one throw of the cast net, I was committed to learn how to do it myself. I watched several techniques on Youtube, practiced in my backyard, and eventually landed on a technique that worked well for me. It's called "Cuban Style" demonstrated by Capt. Mike Smedley of Team Old School out of New Jersey (Great Bass fisherman by the way). I like this technique because it is easy to set up and doesn't require you to put an 11-pound net in your teeth. I did a quick demo video for the guys at the dinner. I asked Lep if our friends here would find it helpful, and he encouraged me to put it up on the board. I had trouble uploading my video, but put the one up from Team Old School. Link Below:
Once you get the hang of throwing the net, only half the battle is won. It's just as much about the guy at the wheel as it is about the guy with the net in his (or her) hands. Reading the screen, looking for the flips, cruising up to the bait correctly, circling around; these are all essential parts of the drill. It definitely needs to be a battery between the 2, and communication is a must. Even with this, getting the bait can definitely be a PITA!!! When you load up with a netful of bunker, however, it's a good feeling. Bait done, on to catching those prized Striped Bass!!
We are out of Jamaica Bay, so we are lucky to have a great Spring fishery (Fall too) in our backyard. Over the years, here a few of the things that I have picked up from my experiences, and fishing with Captains who are much better than me.
1. Early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the bunker! - Get out early. Less boat traffic, bunker are typically less spooky, and you have a few more shots of loading the net!
2. When Live Lining, we always try to find our own pod of bait and fish. It is easy to jump in with the crowd, and you will probably even catch some nice fish, but it is a much sweeter feeling when you move away from the pack, find your own fish, and have an area to yourself. In the area we fish, we look for structure, drops, and high spots. Mark these areas on your machine. Often times you will be rewarded with bigger fish, less headache's, and a steadier pick. Connecting with Inline Circle Hooks is definitely great for the fishery, however, it does take some getting use to by the guy holding the rod. I have become a fan of this clip called the "Bait Bridle" when sending down live baits. It is basically the Bridle technique, but all the work is done for you on this little clip you attach your hook to. I definitely recommend it! Here are a few pics of a few of the nice bass we pulled from our bay, last year, and in years past:
3. Equally as fun is the "Chunk Bite." It is also equally as important to catch fresh bait. Store bought "fresh bunker" will catch some fish, but it's nothing like bait you just pulled from the bay. On the nights we have a good tide, sit right, and are reading fish, we can have a steady pick of fish for 2-3 solid hours. What works for us is keeping the slick going, baits going with the slick, and using a simple fish finder rig and sinker when sending the baits back. We also try to use different presentations of bait and see what works best (Small chunks, big chunks, guts, head, etc...). These fish can be picky at times. A few pics from some chunking trips:
Looking at these pics definitely is giving me the itch to go catch some Stripers as soon as possible. The nice weather isn't helping my itch either. Lol. I have been very lucky to fish with many amazing Captains and Anglers over the years, many of whom have become some of my closest friends. Lep is definitely one of them! I have learned a lot from these guys! I look forward to seeing many of you on the water this spring!!! Tight Lines!
Frank
My good friend Lep and I were chatting earlier this week. He and I, along with a bunch of our friends, recently went out for dinner. As you can probably guess, we talked a lot about fishing, and shared our stories from last season, along with seasons past. Striped bass is definitely a fish I love to catch. After years of watching these guys load up on bait with one throw of the cast net, I was committed to learn how to do it myself. I watched several techniques on Youtube, practiced in my backyard, and eventually landed on a technique that worked well for me. It's called "Cuban Style" demonstrated by Capt. Mike Smedley of Team Old School out of New Jersey (Great Bass fisherman by the way). I like this technique because it is easy to set up and doesn't require you to put an 11-pound net in your teeth. I did a quick demo video for the guys at the dinner. I asked Lep if our friends here would find it helpful, and he encouraged me to put it up on the board. I had trouble uploading my video, but put the one up from Team Old School. Link Below:
Once you get the hang of throwing the net, only half the battle is won. It's just as much about the guy at the wheel as it is about the guy with the net in his (or her) hands. Reading the screen, looking for the flips, cruising up to the bait correctly, circling around; these are all essential parts of the drill. It definitely needs to be a battery between the 2, and communication is a must. Even with this, getting the bait can definitely be a PITA!!! When you load up with a netful of bunker, however, it's a good feeling. Bait done, on to catching those prized Striped Bass!!
We are out of Jamaica Bay, so we are lucky to have a great Spring fishery (Fall too) in our backyard. Over the years, here a few of the things that I have picked up from my experiences, and fishing with Captains who are much better than me.
1. Early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the bunker! - Get out early. Less boat traffic, bunker are typically less spooky, and you have a few more shots of loading the net!
2. When Live Lining, we always try to find our own pod of bait and fish. It is easy to jump in with the crowd, and you will probably even catch some nice fish, but it is a much sweeter feeling when you move away from the pack, find your own fish, and have an area to yourself. In the area we fish, we look for structure, drops, and high spots. Mark these areas on your machine. Often times you will be rewarded with bigger fish, less headache's, and a steadier pick. Connecting with Inline Circle Hooks is definitely great for the fishery, however, it does take some getting use to by the guy holding the rod. I have become a fan of this clip called the "Bait Bridle" when sending down live baits. It is basically the Bridle technique, but all the work is done for you on this little clip you attach your hook to. I definitely recommend it! Here are a few pics of a few of the nice bass we pulled from our bay, last year, and in years past:
3. Equally as fun is the "Chunk Bite." It is also equally as important to catch fresh bait. Store bought "fresh bunker" will catch some fish, but it's nothing like bait you just pulled from the bay. On the nights we have a good tide, sit right, and are reading fish, we can have a steady pick of fish for 2-3 solid hours. What works for us is keeping the slick going, baits going with the slick, and using a simple fish finder rig and sinker when sending the baits back. We also try to use different presentations of bait and see what works best (Small chunks, big chunks, guts, head, etc...). These fish can be picky at times. A few pics from some chunking trips:
Looking at these pics definitely is giving me the itch to go catch some Stripers as soon as possible. The nice weather isn't helping my itch either. Lol. I have been very lucky to fish with many amazing Captains and Anglers over the years, many of whom have become some of my closest friends. Lep is definitely one of them! I have learned a lot from these guys! I look forward to seeing many of you on the water this spring!!! Tight Lines!
Frank
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