The Striped Bass: A Top Game Fish for Fresh or Salt Water

The incredibly adaptable game fish, naturally found along the East Coast of the US, has been introduced to many of the large reservoir impoundments across the United States, and also to the Pacific Coast of North America. Striped bass are a top level sport fish, which has been introduced to many waterways outside their natural range.

The striped bass spawning ritual of traveling up rivers led them to become landlocked during lake dam constructions. Santee Cooper River in South Carolina was one of the first areas where they became landlocked during the construction of the dams. They are a migratory fish that move between fresh and salt water.

East Coast striped bass are typically found from the Carolinas to Nova Scotia. On the West Coast, stripers are found throughout the San Francisco Bay and surrounding coastline. They are also found in the California Aqueduct canal system, and many California lakes. Stripers are considered a cold water fish and prefer water temperatures in the 55 and 65 degree range. Therefore, if the water temperature goes above or below this range, bass can be tougher to locate, as they will migrate to warmer or cooler waters. In warmer areas of the US they are more likely to be found in fresh water lakes and rivers where the water is colder.

These guys are like any other creature and will seek-out comfortable surroundings. On hot days in the summer, the bass will look for shipping channels and deep holes to avoid the heat and find more suitable temperature and oxygen levels. Whereas, on a cooler day, you might find them close to the surface, just a foot or two below.

Striped bass prefer the cooler water with one of the landlocked striped bass populations in Canada located in the Grand Lake, Nova Scotia. They migrate out in early April into the Shubencadie River to spawn. These bass also spawn in the Stewiacke River (a tributary of the Shubencadie ).

Striped Bass Fishing is an Addictive Experience. 

Keepers commonly weigh in from 10 to 30 pounds. But they can grow much larger. Large stripers are commonly weigh-in at the 40 to 60 lb. range during tournaments. Stripers frequently feed in schools so when you get into them, you can usually count on a few fish! They can be very unpredictable found at different locations and different depths depending on the weather, time of year and even the time of day. Stripers love water movement due to changing tides or wind direction. Movement of the water stirs up sediment, which moves and attracts bait fish (who feed on the sediment). In turn, the feeding bait fish attract the stripers.

Types of tackle used 

Depending if you are fishing the surf, from a boat or for schoolies in the river, there are several tackle combinations to target these fish. Almost any rod and reel heavier than a light spinning outfit is suitable for striped bass fishing. The tendency is to use heavy fresh water or light salt water gear with a medium to heavy rod, and 10 to 12 pound monofilament line.  However, a medium to heavy spinning rod with 12 to 25 pound test line is considered ideal by many anglers for plugging, jigging, or bottom fishing. Some anglers, who work the beaches with plugs and live eels, prefer the long 9 to 12 foot surf rods and a conventional or spinning reel spooled with 20 to 40 pound line. The lighter the tackle, the greater the sport; also the smaller diameter lines are easier to cast. However, when fishing for the large cows, fairly heavy tackle is desirable.

Fly Fishing for Stripers is Gaining Tremendous Popularity

The ancient art of fly fishing, most renowned as a method for catching trout and salmon is gaining in popularity. Anglers are targeting a wide variety of species including pike, bass, panfish, and carp, as well as marine species, such as redfish, snook, tarpon, bonefish and our mighty striped bass. Lefty Kreh is most known for being one of the pioneers of saltwater fly fishing. Lefty started the craziness of fishing for huge Tarpon in the Florida Keys back in the day. Lefty Kreh invented the "Lefty's Deceiver" fly in the late 1950s as a streamer that would be easy to cast in wind and would not foul.

Here is a short video about matching the hatch when fly fishing for Stripers by Jose Wejebe .
Star of the fishing show "The Spanish Fly" Jose was a fishing legend who died tragically in a plane crash a few years ago. 

Live Bait Fishing

Common types of bait include menhaden, herring, bloodworms, and eels. These live baits are not used for catch and release fishing. Striped bass aggressively swallow their prey and any hooks attached. Although they may initially swim away, bass can later die from internal bleeding. To avoid creating fish mortality, you may want to use circle hooks. Circle hooks are shaped at an off-set angle so the fish hooks themselves in the corner of the mouth, and therfore are not swallowed. Swimming plugs like Rapalas, Rebels, and Rattletraps are popular lures that are great for catch and release fishing .

Striped bass tend to feed most actively at dusk and dawn, where they can hunt smaller fish under the cover of darkness. Therefore, your success rate will increase if you fish at these times. When bass feed they will push bait to the surface. At times marine birds such as terns and sea gulls will flock to the feeding school hoping to pick up an easy meal. Keep your eyes peeled for birds working the surface while on the water.

Narragansett Bay Striped Bass Fishing: Catch and Release

When fishing for springtime Providence river stripers you may want to narrow your search by finding bait (pogies). Remember, the bait is always on the move, with bass in close proximity. Certain locations may have tons of bait one day and be devoid of life the next.

It's a good idea to keep in mind that although the main Providence shipping channel is very deep, and at times can hold fish, make certain to check out old dock pilings, rockpiles, humps, ridges, river mouths, rips and channels, and don’t hang around if you’re not marking fish on your sounder or hooking up. 

Try another spot. Hot spots can change on a daily or even hourly basis during the spring, so move around.

Striped bass are considered by many to be a true game fish; but are actually very good eating. Once my freezer is well stocked with keepers, I will start catch and release fishing. Here is a few 32-34" fish I caught slow trolling live pogies in the Providence river.

Man, it just makes you feel so good inside, when you release a couple of these bad boys.

I love these fish and would like to see more of them around. (Maybe if R.I. left more pogies in the bay their numbers would multiply).

I know I'm bitching now, BUT...

I have heard reports of the commercial pogie boats, around prudence island, taking pogies before they even get up into the Providence and Seekonk rivers.

I want to know when is Rhode Island going to learn. If they left more pogies in the bay to do their thing, they would not only have have a "world class striper fishery" on their hands, but a cleaner bay!

And any fishery which draws people from around the country, or the world for that matter, pumps a tremendous amount of money into the local economy. Just look at the Florida Keys and Cape Cod, to name a few!

Nuf said... thanks for reading and watching my stuff!!!!! Leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you guys - especially the guys who fish the river!

Paul Beaudette - THE CRAZY POGIE

Striped Bass Fishing in the Seekonk River

Published on May 28, 2014
In the beginning of the spring striped bass migration into Narragansett Bay the large keeper stripers (over 28" in length) seem to head for the most inner reaches of the Seekonk River all the way up to Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Even though the school of pogies (forage fish) is in the main shipping channel of the Providence River, the big boys opt to pass right by and high-tail for the upper reaches of the river where there seems to be very little bait to feed on. Go figure!

If this year is anything like years past as the season progresses and the river waters warm beyond the stripers comfort zone, the bass will leave the river system and settle in the deep, cool waters of the Providence shipping channel for the month of June.

This is when the Providence river action really picks up and you can grab a few bass while snagging pogies at the main school. From the shipping channel  many of them leave the Bay in the hotter months of July and August.

The "keepers" prefer the cooler ocean waters in the summer months feeding along the R.I and Massachusetts shore line at night and heading to the deeper waters during the day.

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James Slater wrote and performed "We are Friends of Old Seven" a video b...

Atlantic Menhaden Advisory Panel Says NO to a Healthier Narragansett Bay

In a proposal letter to the Atlantic Menhaden Advisory Panel, Tom Kutcher, Narragansett Baykeeper for Save the Bay, said, “We urge you to recommend that the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management ban the commercial purse seine fishery for Menhaden in Rhode Island State waters. 

The proposal recommend to the RIMFC and the Director of DEM that these changes are implemented before the 2014 season.”

Even though the proposal went on to outline the multiple benefits of leaving the Menhaden in a somewhat enclosed bay like Narragansett:

• Provide including direct forage for a variety of bay species
• How they are an integral component in the food web, 
• How spawning stock is critical to RI 
• How menhaden can remove substantial nitrogen from Bay waters (detritus or dead organic material is constantly floating through the bay to the ocean).
• An adult menhaden can filter up to four gallons a minute.  Purging particles that cause turbidity, this filtering cleans the water, allowing sunlight to penetrate and encourage the growth of plants that release oxygen and provide a healthy habitat for fish and shellfish.

The AP panel voted status quo, which meant they did not approve the ban on purse seine fishing in state waters. Panel members expressed their satisfaction with the Narragansett Bay management area plan which features regular airplane and helicopter monitoring.

AP panel members said the program also includes restrictions on industry that have been effective in striking a balance between user groups for the past three years. Regulations for the past three years have included closing purse seine fishing north of Conimicut Point up the Providence River as well as in western Greenwich Bay. 

Purse Seine fishery for Menhaden in Narragansett Bay - The Real Truth

The purse seine fishing provides little to no benefit to the public.

In fact, it delivers a net loss. for the last several years, a single purse seine participant has exploited RI waters in Narragansett Bay and has landed its catch in Massachusetts.

The gains to the State of RI from licensing fees total about $300 for this company to remove, from YOUR bay, up to 120,000 lbs DAILY. 

For this small fee, this fishery has been granted the right to reduce the nutrient removal benefits provided by menhaden, weaken a recreational fishery that contributes nearly $180 million and 1,200 jobs to the RI economy, and directly diminish the ASMFC allocation available to RI recreational and commercial fisherman to only 78,000 lbs. of menhaden yearly (a result of the company fishing in Narragansett Bay and landing in Ma.

The law states "Rhode Island has historically managed its fisheries for the benefit of the people of the state, as an ecological asset, and as a source of food, income, and recreation". the current menhaden purse seine regulations do not effectively promote those benefits, and in fact, harm several.

In my opinion the baitfish situation is not good.  Just about all the big bait (menhaden, mullet and herring) were in decline last year. I saw no peanut bunker at all this past year. The last good run of peanut bunker (baby menhaden) was about 5-7 years ago along Barrington Beach. NO BAIT NO FISH!!!!

Get involved and let your public officials know how important a cleaner, healthier Narragansett Bay is to you! Thanks for listening...

Get out of the Cold This Winter and visit the Florida Keys

 

Key West Sunset

  I’ve probably been to the Sunshine State 50 times in my 30 years of traveling down, no exaggeration, but every trip to the multicolored waters of the Florida Keys seems as "brand new" as the very first time. I Truly LOVE the place! 

   For those who have never made the trip, check it out!

   Most people know the Florida Keys and Key West as a great getaway. One of the most unique places on earth. Calm. Serene. Laid back. Just the right setting to recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your spirits.

 
But a getaway to the Florida Keys and Key West is much more than peace and quiet. And not just because of the legendary fishing and the world’s most spectacular dive sites.

   The Keys mean history. Art. Theater. Museums. Shopping. Fine dining. Entertainment.

   All told, 120 miles of perfect balance between natural beauty and extra-ordinary excitement. Between relaxation and activities. Between the quaint and the classic. And you’ll find it's accommodations just as diverse as it's pleasures. 

   
From some of the best camping spots in the country to luxurious hotels. From charming bed-and-breakfasts to rustic, family-owned lodgings. In other words, the keys offer something for everyone.

Here is a video featuring the islands starting in Key Largo and ending in Key West - The natural beauty is AMAZING!

 

 Key Largo

   The moment you leave the mainland and cross into Key Largo, you’ll want to kick off your shoes and put your bathing suit on. And that’s just the perfect attire.

   Because Key Largo is the Diving Capital of the World. 

   America’s most dazzling underwater parks and reefs are waiting for you here. From John Pennekamp State Park and the National Marine Sanctuary, to the crystal clear waters of Molasses Reef and the underwater caves of the French Reef. You can also explore the 510’ U.S.S. Spiegel Grove, which is one of the largest wrecks ever in divable U.S. waters.

  And if you want to take a break from diving, we’ve got great fishing here too. But there’s plenty more to do onshore. Like a family outing to Harry Harris Park. A visit to Dolphins Plus or Dolphin Cove where you can actually go swimming with these friendly and highly intelligent mammals.

   Or breathtaking ventures into the Everglades, which just happens to be the backyard. You can also journey back to a simpler time in historic Tavernier and explore railroad stations, churches, pioneer homes, a school, and family-owned stores from the turn of the century. Or experience a bit of old movie magic checking out Bogey’s “African Queen” and locations where scenes from Key Largo and PT 109 were shot.

Islamorada

Tarpon

   Imagine. Two oceans full of the world’s most sought-after gamefish. Marlin, tuna and dolphin in the Atlantic.

   While the backcountry offers a grand slam shot at permit, tarpon, and bonefish.

   You’re now in Islamorada, the Sport Fishing Capital of the World.

   The variety of fish swimming these waters makes Islamorada a favorite of divers too. But here you can also catch fish on dry land. Like acrobatic dolphins and other deep sea stars at the Theater of the Sea, on Windley Key.
 
   Or cast your sight at the colorful collection of arts, crafts and other island treasures in the shops and galleries at Rain Barrel, on nearby Plantation Key. Perhaps you’d like to pick your own camping site, grab a fishing pole and kick back at Long Key State Park.

   Or explore the wild tamarind groves and Mexican sisals planted by Henry Perrine in Indian Key Historical Site. And if you feel daring, drop by Lignumvitae Botanical Site and ascend to the highest elevation in all the Keys - a dizzying 18 feet.

Marathon

   Fly into Marathon airport and you’re landing right in the Heart of the Keys. A place where pirates once roamed. Where the diving is clear and inviting. And fishing means record breaking trophies. Archeological digs at Crane Point Hammock have revealed seven centuries of visitors, residents and natural treasures. And at the Museum of Natural History you can hike on nature trails that date back hundreds of years and enjoy a variety of exhibits and special events.

   The Dolphin Research Center, on nearby Grassy Key, was once the site of Flipper’s Sea School and where Flipper’s original 1950’s movie was shot. And while much of Henry Flagler’s railroad to Key West was destroyed by a hurricane, when you travel along our historic Seven Mile Bridge (which is actually
6.9 miles), you’re driving where Flagler’s mighty locomotives once roared.

   Of course, your visit here wouldn’t be complete without checking out the old conch houses on Pigeon Key, which is only accessible from the old Seven Mile Bridge. Or a nice, refreshing dip in the inviting waters
of Sombrero Beach. Yes, Marathon is not only in the Heart of the Keys, it has more than plenty to steal
your heart.

The Lower Keys

   It’s real. And breathtaking. The kind of natural beauty that doesn't exist anywhere else. From our pristine
waters to the spectacular Great Heron National Wildlife Refuge. Put on your gear and explore the incredible artificial reefs of the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, named after the HMS Looe which ran aground here in 1744. But while you marvel at certain reefs that nearly break the surface, please remember not to touch them. They’re protected.

   The Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge is home to several hundred miniature deer. If you want to see them, the best times are early morning and dusk. If you want to capture one, don’t forget to bring your camera. Of course, the fishing here is outstanding, especially in our huge backcountry. And so is kayaking and canoeing the inland waters at Watson’s Hammock. And if you want to find out what a gorgeous beach is really all about, visit Bahia Honda State Park and its camping areas, cabins, marinas and picnic grounds.

Key West

   Whether you drive or fly into Key West, one thing’s for sure: there’s simply no place quite like it. An island city of palm-lined streets boasting Victorian homes, gingerbread conch houses and mansions on the National Register.

   John Audubon and Ernest Hemingway lived here. One had a passion for preservation. The other, a great zest for living. And that combination gives Key West its unique personality. The moment you get on world famous Duval Street, in Old Town Key West, you do more than feel the ambiance. You become apart of it.

    Sure, Key West is dive shops and charter boats. And glorious sunsets. But it’s also a Bahamian Village. Historic Forts. Lighthouses. Theaters. Museums. Galleries. Festivals. Markets. Sidewalk cafes. Legendary pubs. Even Truman’s Little Whitehouse. You don’t need a car. Tour the city on foot or by trolley. Mingle with some of the world’s most fun-loving characters. And find some of the best made cigars and aloe products anywhere. Key West is unique. And unspoiled. A feast for your heart and your soul.

Incredible Fishing

   Come and fish in the waters of the Florida Keys & Key West where fishing legends were born. Ernest Hemingway fished the waters of the Florida Straits between Cuba and Key West for giant blue marlin. Zane Grey applied his angling and writing skills to the in-shore and backcountry of the Florida Keys, landing sailfish and giant tarpon. Just a few of the 225 species of gamefish that prowl the crystal clear waters of the Florida Keys.

  But you don’t have to be a legend or a writer to enjoy the thrill of big game fishing year round in the Keys, just bring your boat on down or charter one. Charter boats and guides are available to introduce you to one or more of our natives that bite. Deep sea fishing experienced captains are waiting to take you into the Gulfstream just minutes away from the dock where you can test your angling skills against the sailfish and marlin.

   Backcountry guides have staked out the flats where tarpon and bonefish await the anglers preferring to use light spin or fly tackle or perhaps a party boat that offers a day or night fishing trip to the pristine coral reefs for snapper or grouper. Remember you don’t have to be a legend or a writer to enjoy big game fishing in the Florida Keys, but you may run the risk of becoming a legend in your own time.
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Cruising on Narragansett Bay with my Carolina

Sometimes it's not all about the fishing, it's about the adventure - I love being on the water. Here is a video I shot cruising around the bay enjoying the day.