When I'm not out on the bike I like to fish for Stripers.This page is dedicated to all the info I have found on the subject for me and others to use.
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live NE conditions
Go to wavewatch.com for your local surf forecasts
Go to wavewatch.com for your local surf forecasts
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Rockfish?!?
The striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York and New Hampshire. The fish is commonly referred to as the rockfish. The fish supports a $6.5 billion per year industry with 60,000 jobs as a recreational game species.
WTF???Mass is the place for Rockfish,ahh Stripahs!
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Canal Tides
http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/956.html
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Canal Cam-East end
http://www.telecamsystems.com/capecodcanal/autopan2zoom5.htm
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C.C. Canal cross section
More info...
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We call'em Stripahs here!!!
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Striped Bass
This is the Cape fish of choice. Stripers are in abundance. There are overwintering schoolies in the shallow water bays and coves, and the migratory keepers always moving along the East Coast throughout the seasons.From Florida to Maine, the Striped Bass is King (or rather Queen). Keepers are 30" or better in Massachusetts (2000 regs.) and that means females aged nine and older, males about 11. The migrants start arriving at the Vineyard in April or so depending on the water temperature and the arrival of the herring and squid they feed upon. If the herring and squid are in, so are the Stripers. First keeper stripers are usually caught on bait, herring and chunk bait, at night along the Islands and the southern shore of the Cape. Next they find their way up the Cape Cod Canal and along the south side to Monomoy Island blocking their ocean side northerly path.
Great fishing is enjoyed by everyone livelining herring along the canal in May, a Bournedale permit is required to take the Herring from the run on the west side. The shore is lined here with fishermen and for a reason. There is no best place to try but the mouth of the run is sure popular.
Along the south shore, schoolies and keepers bite silver spoons, white plugs and poppers. Remember, the Striper is both a scavenger and primarily a night feeder. Try everything and go in the dark for the biggest fish.
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Watch the birds!
So what do you look for while trolling in the ocean or sitting on the shore where there are no bridges or rock piles sticking out of the water? You look for birds and schools of bait on your fish. Gannets are a key size to finding the bait. These are large white birds with black tips on their wings. If you see them “working”, diving into the water, there’s a great chance a school of bait is below them. And where there’s bait, the fish should be close by. Slowly troll towards the working birds and work the outer edges of the bait school. This is where the larger fish will hang out. One thing you should never do is run full steam into a school of bait and birds. This is the quickest way to split the bait and drive the fish away. Plus it will greatly increase the amount of enemies you just made on the water. Both captains agree. Capt Scott reminds us, “If you are first to the beehive, don’t barrel thru the middle. Try the outsides first; attempt to circle the bait balls, just like the natural predators do. Occasionally getting closer, you’ll find the fish you are targeting.” “For us,” says Capt. Dave, “the basic rules are Bait and Birds. While a “beehive” of sea birds is a sure sign that bait has been pushed to the surface, it is also a sign that any boat within sight will be running towards it to try and catch fish. If you’re lucky enough to be first or alone, you can work the edges and pull fish off of the bait.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lures
-Top Water/ Subsurface. Top Water action is probably the most exciting since you see the strike. This 
technique is utilized when the water temps are on the warmer end of the scale. This is because the fish are readily found closer to the surface and more active. Whether fishing at night or during the day, throwing a top water bait will drive Stripers nuts. If fishing at night, I’ll be working the light lines and shadows under the spans. Night fishing in the fall can find the Stripers stacked up right on the surface like cordwood. Here lures like MirrOlure “Top Dog”, “Catch 2000”, chuggers, poppers, lipped crank baits, bucktails and Storm lures are the arsenal of choice. If on the rocks at the islands, cast the lure right into the rocks. Work the side of the island with the most wave action and let the crashing waves wash the lure into the rocks. Start to work the bait away for the islands and work it all the way to the boat. Sometimes you can have a fish following a bait for a while before striking. Once you see a 34 inch bucket mouth crash a top water plug, you’ll know why its one of the favorite techniques among anglers.
technique is utilized when the water temps are on the warmer end of the scale. This is because the fish are readily found closer to the surface and more active. Whether fishing at night or during the day, throwing a top water bait will drive Stripers nuts. If fishing at night, I’ll be working the light lines and shadows under the spans. Night fishing in the fall can find the Stripers stacked up right on the surface like cordwood. Here lures like MirrOlure “Top Dog”, “Catch 2000”, chuggers, poppers, lipped crank baits, bucktails and Storm lures are the arsenal of choice. If on the rocks at the islands, cast the lure right into the rocks. Work the side of the island with the most wave action and let the crashing waves wash the lure into the rocks. Start to work the bait away for the islands and work it all the way to the boat. Sometimes you can have a fish following a bait for a while before striking. Once you see a 34 inch bucket mouth crash a top water plug, you’ll know why its one of the favorite techniques among anglers. -Jigging. Bucktails have been used to land big Stripers for years and are still very effective today. Either tipped with cut squid or with artificial rubber curly tails, bucktails are a must in a Striper tackle box. Work these baits right along side the pilings of the spans, jig them over the tubes, or drop them in the rocks. To get the most out of the bait, drop it down then “Jig” it up and let it fall again. Repeat for a while and then try different depths if no takers. Stripers are opportunistic feeders. Since they have flat tails, they don’t have the speed advantaged like their forked tailed cousins. Therefore, many times the fish will hit the baits on the slow freefall. This is a time when braided line can come into play. Since braid line has little to zero stretch, you can feel the fish hit the bait and you’ll also be able to set the hook with more authority.
Other jigging baits include Diamond jigs, Hopkins spoons, heavier Storm Lures or Gotcha Plugs.
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Overhead casting
The overhead cast can be improved on by using a method called the unitech.
To begin, place the sinker near your feet in the sand.
To begin, place the sinker near your feet in the sand.
Don't be tempted to step forward as that would defeat the advantage of centrifugal force which you need to attain distance.
Be sure you maintain enough tension on the line to make sure the rig stays clipped if you're using a clip down rig but not enough to lift the sinker
(if you're not using a clip you should be, it keeps the bait from doing an imitation of a helicopter).
(if you're not using a clip you should be, it keeps the bait from doing an imitation of a helicopter).
Keep your leading arm higher than the trailing arm.
What happens using this method is that when you start the cast, the sinker will lift off the ground and swing away from the direction of the cast.
This begins the "load" on the rod which in turn helps you generate the stored energy needed for a long distance cast. As the cast progresses, you are pulling down and into your body with the leading hand as you "punch" up with the trailing hand.
The leading and trailing hands become lower and upper as the rod is leveraged through the cast. It is important to continue pulling the lower hand into the body at the same time you are pushing with the upper hand. Practice will tell you the best release point for distance and accuracy.
This is a very safe cast and it will increase the distance you
get over the standard overhead cast.
get over the standard overhead cast.
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Surfcasting for Striped Bass
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Striped Bass Fishing Information
Great page and info.Click on the pic for the link.
Striped Bass Fishing Information
Great page and info.Click on the pic for the link.
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Fishing Knots
Also from StriperSurf.
Albright Knot The Albright Knot is primarily used for joining monofilament lines of unequal diameters, such as your main line to a fluorocarbon leader or shock leader. It is not an easy knot to tie but a good tight Albright is small and won't catch on the rod guides during a cast. | Perfection Loop A Flyfisherman's knot, the Perfection Loop knot is used at the ends of the leader belly and the tippet.See also Albright Loop |
Blood Knot Commonly used to join two lines of about the same diameter. A good alternative to the Albright knot but not as good as a Surgeon's knot. | Snell Knot The Snell Knot provides a strong connection when fishing with bait and using a separate length of leader. (You can only use a Snell Knot with a leader.) |
Crawford Knot  The Crawford knot often is overlooked by even the most skilled anglers because its a pain to tie! It is a very versatile knot for tying most types of hook, swivel, or lure "eyes" to a leader or line. | Spider Hitch  This is the faster, easier knot to create a double-line leader. Under steady pressure it is equally strong but does not have the resilience of the Bimini Twist under sharp impact. |
Dropper Loop  This is the basic knot for a High Low Bait Rig, with practice it is very easy tie. It is used on so many other rigs it's a knot you should learn to tie. | Surgeon's Knot  This is the knot surgeons use to put you back together so its a safe bet its a good one. If you tie it good and tight it is an excellent knot for joining your main line to your leader. |
Lou's Loop or Homer Rhode Loop  I don't know who should get the credit for this one but its a great knot since it allows the lure to work freely at the end of the line. Use this knot especially on Minnow type plugs. | Trilene® Knot  The Trilene® Knot is a strong reliable connection that resists slippage and premature failures. It retains 85 to 90% of the original line strength. |
Palomar Knot The best all around knot and very easy to tie, even in the middle of the night when you're standing in the water. It has been proven to be one of the strongest knots to hold terminal tackle since it retains 100% of the line strength. | Uni-Knot One basic knot which can be varied to meet virtually every knot tying need. I normally prefer an improved clinch or palomar over the uni-knot. |
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Thoughin eels
Joe Brotz, Eel slinger for Striped Bass from James Waldron on Vimeo.------------------------------------------------------------
Canal Cruisin
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Fillet-yo-Fish
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Cape Cod Canal...
It's loaded with them!
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