Caption: Rob Vellucci shows off a behemoth striper caught on artificials off the New Jersey coast.
The Striper Coast Moves Into Fall
Joseph Albanese
Up and down the famed Striper Coast of the Northeast, water temperatures are at summer peaks. Although the waters of the East Coast aren’t as warm as they historically are at this time of year, most of the striped bass fled the back bays in pursuit of cooler climes a while ago.
They can still be found, however, by anglers willing to head out of the bays and into deeper waters. While the cooler water is favored, fish can’t live without food. This means you must also find the bait. At this time of year, depending on where you live, it is one of two things: Atlantic menhaden or Atlantic sand lance. You probably refer to menhaden by its many different names, such as bunker or pogy. And sand lances are more commonly called sand eels. Both can be abundant in September, and sometimes their presence overlaps.
Bunker is the primary bait through September. They can be found relatively easily when they are on, or near, the surface. Find them on your fishfinder if they aren’t. If you happen upon a school being forced out of the water, congratulations; you are in for some excellent fishing. Conventional wisdom says to throw a weighted snagging hook into the melee and send your freshly acquired bait below the school. Others reel it in and set it up on a three by three or fishfinder rig and then send it down.
Some skippers have begun experimenting with throwing outsized surf plugs into the action, with some incredible results. A 2- or 3-ounce surface plug can bring some violent hits and fast-paced action. Some of my friends experimented with this technique right off of New Jersey’s Sandy Hook area earlier in the season, and they were not disappointed! Over the course of two days they boated 40 fish over 18 pounds, including six over 40! The highlight of the show was a 52-pound behemoth that was safely released. The best plugs for this fishery seem to be Danny plugs and darters.
As the month progresses, start to look for sand eels to move back in from their offshore haunts. These fish have been hiding on deeper structure since the spring but are starting their migration now. Look for birds working to find schools being actively pursued. Because of the small size of this bait, this can be a great fly rod fishery. Use a nine-weight with an intermediate line and a Clouser Minnow or Surf Candy to cash in on these blitzing fish. Spin anglers can use diamond jigs in the 1- to 3-ounce range. When they are not showing on top, use your fishfinder to locate schools and lower your jig down to the approximate depth. Reel up past the school, and then let it fall in free spool. Pay attention on the drop; that is when most of your hits will come.
In the fall, when striped bass follow the eels back in, we will start seeing the traditional blitzes this fishery is known for. When it happens the way it’s supposed to, there is no better place in the world to be.
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