Round House Round Two

[Kona]

 

[Avenger]

Sometimes the cetaceans come to you.
I blame for killing what had been a good tog bite!View attachment 121171

True. They're wandering around the ocean, they might just wander past you.



In case you didn't figure it out, I'm bad at titles.

 

[Avenger]

Using Bunker or other live bait of similar size for Stripe Bass I like 10/0 Owner Circle Hooks. Very good hookup ratio. Look at the size of a Striper’s mouth. They open quite large. I also like using monofilament line for this type of fishing. No braid. Shoulder the rod with enough drag to prevent backlashing. Don’t rush to grab the rod, take you time, leave it shouldered, slowly increase drag, and then pick up the rod and bring the fish in.

And keep your distance from the whales.

I've had excellent results with the 8/0 circle hooks on Stripers in the past, but usually with bait and/or on smaller Bass. So, I was a surprised they didn't work this time.

In this particular circumstance I have a feeling the size of the fish and the size of the bait (Snagging is not very selective) may still necessitate a larger hook. I've got all winter. Maybe I'll snell up a few bigger hooks just in case.

Right now I'm running mono on everything, but I'm thinking of taking the braid plunge. That's a subject for another thread.

 

[OVERBORED]

Thanks. I guess I feel a little better that I wasn't fishing for jellyfish with a net.

It was still disappointing. It would have been nice to get a picture of that fish. I'm sure it was comparable to the one the captain brought in. Just bad luck.

Sigh, there's always next year.

I know I'm repeating myself but Big Bass were likely caught a few times. They'll spit a bait if it doesn't feel right. I remember standing on the Meadowbrook bridge back in 80s watching one big bass after another ignoring whatever I or anyone else threw in front of them. Same scenario with schoolies and it's a bite on every cast!

FYI -If at the end of the day you have a couple live ones try swimming them around the bridges inside. Bass migrate out of the bays as well as along the beach. Always caught some nice ones at the bridges around Thanksgiving