Striped ones have arrived

[basswipe]

Started getting the first fish of the year this past week

There have also been reports of large schools of bunker.

Let the games begin!

[cocoflea]

I don't know where your fishing at but in the western sound it's just getting stared I'm heading out now

[Angler]

Very large schools of adult Bunker are from Bpt harbor up north. Stripers were all around Fishers Island this past weekend.

Keeper Fluke in front of the RI beaches after the Striper hits slowed down.

It's time boys. go get um.

[Fishbreath]

So are you guys fishing from boats or from the surf?

[Angler]

Boat.

This is a time for very fast paced fishing. You have a very large supply of real food (bait). You are trying to fool a fish into eating something made of plastic, metal, and or wood while he has literally thousands of bait fish all around him. Speed is needed. Speed in getting on breaking fish ASAP. Speed in your casting and speed in your lures. They are aggressive but only when others are aggressive. In other words feeding triggers feeding. It’s easier for multiple fish to attack bait then individuals. You can also trigger this feeding with your lure.


You need to drop your lure on them. Don’t bother trying to fish the edges first and not spook them. Run and gun on their heads.

Blue’s kill plastics. Try Plugs and very large spoons ripped in. Stripers will nail them same as Blues.

Chunking or live lining is most likely the easiest way to hook a fish. Larger fish are usually under the more aggressive smaller fish. They will readily pick up your offerings.

Good luck

[Fishbreath]

Good stuff! Thanks for the info. :beer: :D

[basswipe]

I plug the surf.

One thing we're having this year that in past years we haven't are lots of pogies(bunker)and no pogy boats to suck them up.BIG bass being caught right now just not by me!

[Angler]

Never heard Bunker being called pogies before. And I’m very happy there are no boats netting up all the bait. More bait equals more and larger fish for all.

For surf casting I recommend you fish with 2 poles. Dead stick one with a chunk and cast with the other. Leave the bail open on the chunking rod and tuck the line under a rubber band to keep it from going out. This way when that cow runs you’ll still have a pole.

[FLOATSUM]

Never heard Bunker being called pogies before. And I’m very happy there are no boats netting up all the bait. More bait equals more and larger fish for all.

For surf casting I recommend you fish with 2 poles. Dead stick one with a chunk and cast with the other. Leave the bail open on the chunking rod and tuck the line under a rubber band to keep it from going out. This way when that cow runs you’ll still have a pole.

3 poles!
1 eel
1 chunk / plug
1 fly
;)

[basswipe]

I'm a diehard plugger.It always be 1 pole for me.
Though I do have an insanely large collection of plugs!

[RuddeDogg]

I too have a good sized collection. I much prefer to fish that way.

[CrawFish]

For surf casting I recommend you fish with 2 poles. Dead stick one with a chunk and cast with the other. Leave the bail open on the chunking rod and tuck the line under a rubber band to keep it from going out. This way when that cow runs you’ll still have a pole.

Instead of leaving the bail open, you could also loosen the drag. Just a thought.

[cocoflea]

or you get a reel with the baitrunner feature

[Angler]

Crawfish I fish most times with lighter line than the fish’s weight I am targeting. Drag is set to max using a weight prior to me taking my first cast. The only thing I will do to increase my drag after that is palm the reel when I have no other choice. With a rubber band on the end of the pole all I have to do is pick up the pole, close the bail and set the hook. If you loosen the drag you won’t be able to tell how much drag is to much until after you break off that possible trophy fish.

Flea, Very good advice, Thanks
I have always been a spinning mono guy. This is my first year trying level winds and braided lines. Bait runner is defiantly next..

[cocoflea]

I have a baitrunner and it make life much easier I hope you get one for Father's Day and if you don't go treat yourself to one