Raritan Bay... giving up on stripers

[Seaclusion]

Well my 3 trips for stripers, well lets just say haven't been productive. Lots of blues and a few small stripers. It looks like I may not taste fresh stripers this year.

So I am taking a friend and his young son and my son out this weekend. I think I am gonna go for some flat ones. Do you think I am better off heading to the back bay Keyport area or near the hook? If it is real nice and only if it is nice outside may be an option. In a 21'CC I am very careful with a 9 year old on board.

[Gr8ful Fish]

... Do you think I am better off heading to the back bay Keyport area or near the hook? If it is real nice and only if it is nice outside may be an option. In a 21'CC I am very careful with a 9 year old on board.

Seaclusion:

Let the weather and tide conditions dictate where you should fish ... with the high price of fuel, combined with concern for the safety of kids, there's no reason to run any farther than necessary.

Within a stone's throw of both the AH and Keyport marinas, you can find channel edges, mussel beds, river mouths, and areas with irregular bottom features that will produce keeper fluke. ;) There are also a ton of short fluke, sea robins and cocktail blues to keep the kids interested with constant action. :cool:

You may have to weed through quite a few shorts, but let the kids fish the squid strip/spearing bait while you beef up size to either an oversized strip bait or a bucktail tipped with a strip. ;)

Try to "fish through" the little ones by pulling your bait away from the strikes that don't make your eyes grow wide. :rolleyes: Once you do get that bone jarring slam, drop the rod tip, and rattle his eyeballs. :eek: :D

Good luck! I hope both you & the kids enjoy themselves. :cool: :)

- Gr8ful