Berkeley Striper Club (2024)

FAQs

What month is best for striper fishing? ›

Often, throughout the Atlantic region, anglers can find the most success with striped bass ranging from the beginning of September till the end of April. Like most fish, a striper's appetite is dialed back during the winter from the lack of available bait and the lower water temperatures inducing lethargy.

If you're striper fishing in NJ's open waters, you'll want more heavy-duty equipment. Try a rod that's rated medium-to-heavy and suitable for up to a 30-puond line. For baits and lures, most anglers swear by live bait.

Generally speaking, shoreline stripers are nocturnal feeders, particularly in summer months. If I'm targeting big stripers, prime time for me is between sunset and sunrise. There are a number of exceptions to the rule about night fishing. Overcast, foggy and rainy days will extend your fishing times, sometimes all day.

Massachusetts. Summer in Massachusetts brings on the striped bass runs especially near Chattam. During these runs the striper fishing is arguably the best in the world. Anglers from around the world travel to Chattam to experience the non-stop action and stout tug from one of these formidable gamefish.

Bunker is hands-down the best bait for Striped Bass (we'll lump in alewife here in freshwater, as you can use them in similar ways). Cast them on simple weighted rigs, drift them, or cut them up for chum. The simplest tactic is to chop the tail off and liveline it in a school.

The current recreational size limit for striped bass in NJ is 1 fish at 28” to less than 38”.

“If you have some chop on the water, they won't hesitate to get right below the surface. “The interesting thing about stripers is that you may find them in the middle of the day in 50 to 80 feet of water, but they won't be anywhere near the bottom. They'll typically be between 10 and 30 feet down.”

But they tend to be most active in the early morning just before sunrise and the evening just after sunset with about a two hour window of heightened activity at both times. The lower light during these time periods helps striped bass more easily see their prey when hunting. It also provides cooler water temperatures.

A study performed at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science showed that a striper's vision is sensitive to a wide range of colors from blue to red, but is most sensitive to yellow and chartreuse. Many baitfish, like these alewives, cast a yellow sheen when the sun is low in the sky.

New Moon tides and big tides around the Full Moons will be periods to target. Remember, big tides mean lots of moving water, which almost always translates to better fishing. Bass are ambush feeders and wait for prey to be swept out into open water to feed.