Reading Shore Conditions for Striped Bass
Anglers are much more tightly lipped about their shore fishing than boat fishing and consequently, getting good shore fishing reports is difficult. I don’t even bother asking around when shore fishing, rather I just run the playbook based on the conditions and season.
Wind
In a perfect world, an onshore wind is best for bringing fish close to the beach or shore. The only problem with an onshore wind is that it impedes your ability to cast lighter lures. As a rule of thumb, I especially appreciate an onshore wind in the night or very early morning when targeting big stripers on a nocturnal prowl for big baits. In the spring and fall, migrating stripers are pushing/herding bait against shoreline structure, an offshore wind can help you with distances as the bait fish will do their best to avoid shallow water when getting pounded by birds and fish.
In New England, many anglers make a big deal about wind direction, following the old adage that “fish bite best from the West and least when wind is from the East.” I personally think the importance of wind direction has more to do with consistency and change. In other words, if the wind is out of the same direction for several days, a shift to another direction, no matter what it is, will typically impact the fishing, either improving it or making it worse.
In New England, the prevailing wind is from the west by southwest, so it’s natural to assume west is ideal since that is the wind direction when you will be fishing the most. An east or northeast wind is associated with stormy weather, which most people avoid when it comes to fish, but the time leading up to the wind shifting in those directions and even when the wind is blowing that way can produce great fishing.
If there are no visible signs of feeding fish, I will fish loud and noisy lures such as poppers, Hogy Dog Walkers and lightly weighted softbaits in light and variable conditions in attempt to “call in fish.” In heavy wind conditions, I’ll fish subsurface lures such as weighted softbaits, Hogy Epoxy Jig® Lures and metal jigs and Hogy Sliders to work subsurface.
My Rules Of Thumb for Wind:
- Spring/Fall: Adjust lure weights to reach fish in various conditions.
- Summer: Focus on spots with onshore breezes where possible, especially in conjunction with favorable tide conditions.
Tide
Tide is a big deal to all fishermen but a huge deal for shore fishermen. Categorically, moving tide I best, Some spots fish better on an incoming tide, others on an outgoing tide. On a low tide, sometimes you have better access to wading out to structure that you wouldn’t have had access to at high tide. Other spots will benefit from a lower tide as the reduced water will filter and confine fish to more specific and easily targeted area such as a channel in an estuary. Spots that fish well on a higher tide are those where big fish will be brought to your feet and those areas with fully exposed large rocks at low tide and fully covered at high tide. Lastly, many anglers swear that slack tide results in the biggest fish. I find this to be true at slack high tide at spots that tend to fish well at high tide.
My Rules Of Thumb for Tide:
- Moving Water: Ideal for casting at the majority of spots.
- High/Low: Identify which tides fish better at each spot and factor that into you planning.
- Slack Tide: Determine what spots produce big fish at high slack tide.
Time of Day
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. During the spring and fall, it is possible to find great action even if the sun is high in the sky since at these times of the season the fish will be migrating and looking to feed heavily.
Season: Seasonality is another huge factor. Here on Cape Cod, many spots that fish well in the spring are slow in the summer and vice versa. Know how fish migrate in your area and what baitfish will be migrating through and adjust accordingly.
FAQs
Arguably one of the best fishing rigs for catching stripers is the fish finder rig. However, the the in-line sinker drift rig and Carolina rig come in a close second. (Although, some anglers swear by the in-line sinker drift rig and use it exclusively when striper fishing.)
What are the best conditions for striped bass? ›
Striped bass are most active during low-light periods and at night. They will extend their feeding activity into the daylight hours during the spring and fall migrations, and during stormy weather or on cloudy, overcast days.
How to fish for stripers from shore? ›
Casting bait or lures directly into current works great, but fishing around the edges of the current is even better. Depending on the spot, fishing with the wind in your face (or at your back) can be productive. Fishing with the wind in your face blows bait close to shore and brings the stripers to you.
What is the best bait for striped bass from shore? ›
Bunker (Menhaden)
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.
Do striped bass like high or low tide? ›
Spots that fish well on a higher tide are those where big fish will be brought to your feet and those areas with fully exposed large rocks at low tide and fully covered at high tide. Lastly, many anglers swear that slack tide results in the biggest fish.
What time of day are striped bass most active? ›
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.
What month is best for striped bass fishing? ›
Fishing success improves as the water warms up in March. Stripers that winter in the bays start moving upstream to fresh water for spawning. During the spring, the bulk of the legal population is spread throughout the Delta and as far north as Colusa and Princeton on the Sacramento River.
What depth do striped bass like? ›
“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.”
How do you chunk striped bass from shore? ›
Rigging up for chunking bass on the hook is just about as basic as it gets. A quality 150-pound Spro barrel swivel attached to 3 feet of 50-pound fluorocarbon leader via a uni knot, then tied to an 8/0 or larger circle hook via uni knot or snell.
What pound line for striped bass? ›
Line matters! Captain Mike recommends sticking with a 10-pound or 12-pound test. Plus, it makes catching striped bass a lot more fun.
Good swimming lures for Striper mimic many types of Striper's favorite baits like Herring, Spearing, Mackerel, Menhaden and many more of the most common baitfish in the Stripers range. Plastic is the most prevalent material, but wood plugs are popular as well.
What is the best jig for shore fishing? ›
There is a great number of manufacturers and jig models that can be used for shore jigging. Some of the best and most popular of lures are the HTO Shore Jig, Maria Shore Blue EX, Maria Mucho Lucir, Maria Metal Flicker, River2Sea Searock, and DUO Press Bait.
Are bucktail jigs good for stripers? ›
In terms of versatility, the bucktail is the ultimate striper lure. It can be fished near the surface or on the bottom, jigged vertically, or retrieved like a plug.
What is the best rig for catching stripers? ›
The fish finder rig is one of the most popular and effective fishing rigs for catching bottom-dwelling species. It usually has a pyramid sinker attached to the sinker slider, a bead, a swivel, and a leader line which ends in a snell knot and a hook.
What size rod for striper fishing from shore? ›
If you don't have to cast your bait out very far an 8 to 10 foot rod will work well for this type of fishing. Bait rods are stiffer and heavier, and are manufactured in many different sizes and ratings. Usually shorter 6 to 7 feet in length.
What is the best rig for fishing from the beach? ›
A Carolina rig is one of the best saltwater fishing rigs because it can be used with both artificial or natural saltwater bait. It is probably the best fishing rigs for keeping bait close to the bottom while preventing it from getting hung up on the bottom.
