Striper Season?

[Waal]

Hi all!

It's been a while since my last post, hope your all doing fine over there, but I was wondering when the Striper season gets underway on the east coast of the states.

Is a Striper a Bass?

Cheers! All information very welcome.

[Cdog]

Hi all!

It's been a while since my last post, hope your all doing fine over there, but I was wondering when the Striper season gets underway on the east coast of the states.

Is a Striper a Bass?

Cheers! All information very welcome.
Down in my neck of the woods, (Virginia) the schoolie rocks get active in late Oct/Nov. The big boys move into the Bay depending on water temps late Nov.

And yeah, striper are striped bass.

[basstardo]

Cdog pretty much hit it on the head. It seems the really big fish are usually caught in January when it's really cold in the ocean. Bay season is closed then, so there is a great catch and release fishery in the Bay, you just don't hear much about it.

[RuddeDogg]

Hi all!

It's been a while since my last post, hope your all doing fine over there, but I was wondering when the Striper season gets underway on the east coast of the states.

Is a Striper a Bass?

Cheers! All information very welcome.

For us it starts around September and picks up in October and November also.

[Waal]

yea September is the best and keep in mind "diamond Jim" is out there somewhere in the humongous ocean, or a shark ate him what a waste of 30k dollars.

Who is Diamond Jim?

We get bass here also in Scotland on the west coast in winter, but nothing like the size you have over there.

Thanks for the info guys, trying to persuade the missus to come on holiday, I could leave her shopping in NY for a week! Mmmm coercion is a fine thing.

[Sea Level]

Waal,

As the others have said, the fish is known as "Rockfish" in the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland / tidewater Virginia region. For decades there has been a "Diamond Jim" or large "Rock" that was tagged and released as the grand prize for the annual fishing season. If an angler was lucky enough to catch the fish during the season he could redeem the tag for a cash prize. In my youthful days when growing up on the Eastern Shore of the Bay the prize was $15,000. Apparently inflation has doubled the size of the award.

If you are going to drop off the Mrs. in NY to shop, you have closer choices to fish for this great gamefish -- the sandy beaches of Long Island, NY or New Jersey, where the fish is referred to as Striped Bass or just "Stripers". The season there peaks in October as the fish are migrating south from their New England summer residence to the vicinity of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

Another option; one that more closely replicates fishing along the rough ground off Scotland is fish Block Island; a coastal island off the mainland of Rhode Island. In early November, the last of the big fish pass by here on their southerly journey. The "Bass" as they are called in Rhode Island can also be caught in September - November all along the south shore, stretching from the mouth of Narragansett Bay, down Block Island Sound to Long island Sound.

Take your long underwear if fishing Block Island in early November -- it will remind you of home! Let us know if you make a plan and maybe someone could hook up with you.

[sand flea]

It really depends on where you are. Up in New England, their season is on now since the fish summer over in colder waters. By the fall, the fish will make their way down the coast and start showing up in New Jersey, then Maryland, and by winter they'll be at their wintering grounds off Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

In early March, they'll start to head up the Chesapeake (and other estuaries) for the spring spawn. By April, they're headed north again for summer. It's one big circuit.

The smaller fish will stick around the estuary they were born in until big enough to join the ocean run. Those fish are generally under 25" and less than three years old.

[Waal]

Waal,

As the others have said, the fish is known as "Rockfish" in the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland / tidewater Virginia region. For decades there has been a "Diamond Jim" or large "Rock" that was tagged and released as the grand prize for the annual fishing season. If an angler was lucky enough to catch the fish during the season he could redeem the tag for a cash prize. In my youthful days when growing up on the Eastern Shore of the Bay the prize was $15,000. Apparently inflation has doubled the size of the award.

If you are going to drop off the Mrs. in NY to shop, you have closer choices to fish for this great gamefish -- the sandy beaches of Long Island, NY or New Jersey, where the fish is referred to as Striped Bass or just "Stripers". The season there peaks in October as the fish are migrating south from their New England summer residence to the vicinity of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

Another option; one that more closely replicates fishing along the rough ground off Scotland is fish Block Island; a coastal island off the mainland of Rhode Island. In early November, the last of the big fish pass by here on their southerly journey. The "Bass" as they are called in Rhode Island can also be caught in September - November all along the south shore, stretching from the mouth of Narragansett Bay, down Block Island Sound to Long island Sound.

Take your long underwear if fishing Block Island in early November -- it will remind you of home! Let us know if you make a plan and maybe someone could hook up with you.

Sea Level,

Thanks for this information. I'll do a bit of research into this.

I assume I would need my rough ground tackle for the bass, sturdy rod (abu suveran xp) and a penn 525 suopermag, or 535. What bait do the bass take-on? What kind of rigs are you guys using etc for surf or rough ground?

Will let you know what happens.

Cheers!

[jcreamer]

Sea Level,

Thanks for this information. I'll do a bit of research into this.

I assume I would need my rough ground tackle for the bass, sturdy rod (abu suveran xp) and a penn 525 suopermag, or 535. What bait do the bass take-on? What kind of rigs are you guys using etc for surf or rough ground?

Will let you know what happens.

Cheers!
I use 12 foot rods Tsunami, 525 mad and abu garcia reels. My biggest this year was a small one
(35 nches.))

JC

[Waal]

Thanks all for the info! It's now a choice between Norway and Sweden for the winter Cod, or flying to the states for the bass. So If not this year maybe next. I'll keep tuned into the site as there is a lot of good info.

Tight lines to you all.

Cheers!

[sand flea]

Waal, what time of year are you planning to travel? If you come to the states, I'm sure you'll find lots of folks on here willing to take you chasing stripers.

[Sea Level]

Waal,

For bait fishing I would use one of my rods capable of throwing six ounce leads and a chunk of Herring -- Ian Golds Super Match or Purglas 350-2 with either a Penn 525 or 535 Mag.

In New England waters I prefer using a lure rod; a big spinning reel on an AFAW "Surf" rod throwing big poppers, swimmers or tin jigs.

Sounds like either trip is a winner.

Cheers back!

[saltandsand]

Waal,

Striper is but one species here on the mid-Atlantic. I've not fished your stretch of water. Haddock and cod are caught in New England. Lot's of other species too.

If I had the bucks I'd hop on a plane and catch some halibut in the Pacific and then hit Micronesia for a few months... if only I had the money and time...

Nice people, decent food, plenty of other attractions, and decent fishing... all up and down the Atlantic coast. Plenty of advice here on the board.

SS

[Waal]

Waal, what time of year are you planning to travel? If you come to the states, I'm sure you'll find lots of folks on here willing to take you chasing stripers.

Sand Flea, I had a look at the map, at virginia beach and outer banks, I also noticed that Hatteras pier and beaches were there also south of Outer Banks and Virginia Beach, is this where DRUMDRUM B&B is on Hatteras Island? How does that fish say Jan or Feb?

Otherwise if it could work, I would have to fly to NY and get a train south to Virginia Beach.

Would Jan Feb be a good time of year for the Striper in these areas?

I have one week! Flights are cheaper at this time of year.

Cheers.