Need some help guys...Please.

[mark crane]

Ok to make it short and sweet, last april started my first year fishing for stripers. I have spent tons of money on live bait and tackle and ect. going after the so elusive fish. I went average 2 days a week offshore numerous places untill mid december, and NOTHING. NOT ONE. Eeels, sandworms, clams, bunkerhead, bucktails mr twistertails, jigs, lures, swimbaits, i have tried it all. Monmouth beach, Port Monmouth, Keansburg beach, sandyhook, highlands you name it i have tried it. ANYWAY, I'm going out tonight around 10pm and gona fish it throught the early AM hours. I was wondering if someone could help me out with a sucessfull spot to try tonight you know in the raritan bay area offshore so I can catch my first striper. I know its early but i hear they are being caught. Other than that if I am still unsucessfull, its back to freshwater forever. I hate BLUES!!!!

[snichols]

Mark,

I can't help you with specifics in the Raitan Bay area but I can give you some practical advice.

I would try to throw either a swimming plug (slowly) or a plastic bait on a jighead in some backwater. Preferably around a bridge, sodbank or other structure. The fish can usually be found inland this time of year, due to shallower water and more bait being present.

If you are set on fishing the beach, I would get some fresh surf clam and heave it from your favorite beach. Another good option would be bloodworms or sandworms.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

By the way, after you get your first decent striper, you won't want to fish in freshwater any more. :D

[ 03-31-2006, 05:57 PM: Message edited by: snichols ]

[IGGY2]

Do yourself a favor and get yourself a good thermometer, and search some good back bay spots around Bridges and sodbanks just as Snichols said, find the warmest water you can and fish when the tide isn't running real hard, these early season bass will feed agressively at times, but not when the tide is running at it's peak, i caught some fish lastnight in south Jersey i fished for 4 hours in the same spot, and the fish didn't bite till the current slowed considerably, use small swimming plugs and soft plastics, and fish them as slow as possible.

[sweet release1]

night time and some plastics and you can not go wrong.please post when you get your first bass .i remember mine!!

[Outdoors]

Busy for the month of april, but if you don't have your first by May, lemme know and I'll take you to get it.

[cheapshot]

Mark,get your self sand worms,fresh clams thats it.
Locations Cliffwood Beach wall.Union Beach,2 spots Pebble Beach&The point.Once you get into either town just ask for those locations.Rig fish finder with 36"leader 7/0 bait holder hook.Good Luck.If you strike out get in touch with me through the barn,I'll show you the spots.

[cheapshot]

Well??????

[Chris Gatley]

I would look into a charter captain or guide. Not just because I am one but because from the sounds of it, you spent a lot of time and money with few results. a cappy or guide will cut to the chase for you. if you pick the proper person, they should teach you throughout the day. Catching fish is more than just throwing a swimming plug, plastic or dragging eels.

there are many captains and guides to choose from. question them and select one that you feel comfortable with

just my 2 cents

[Keeper Seeker]

Try all the above but I would suggest washing your hands and wearing some gloves... ;) Sounds like a case of poison fingers. ;) smile.gif

[fishnchip51]

I agree with chris gatley. when i was new to the raritan bay area I struggled at first. then I took a few guided trips and it has been great since. that area is a great fishery

[clamchucker]

Originally posted by Chris Gatley:
I would look into a charter captain or guide. Not just because I am one but because from the sounds of it, you spent a lot of time and money with few results. a cappy or guide will cut to the chase for you. if you pick the proper person, they should teach you throughout the day. Catching fish is more than just throwing a swimming plug, plastic or dragging eels.

there are many captains and guides to choose from. question them and select one that you feel comfortable with

just my 2 cents another vote for such. Steal with your eyes as well as your mind ;) believe it's the way the "most" of us learn anything anyway.

[ 04-01-2006, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: clamchucker ]

[homeless]

Quoted: "Try all the above but I would suggest washing your hands and wearing some gloves... Sounds like a case of poison fingers".

huh? I'm a lifelong freshwater (lure) fisherman, just started salt last year. Got some blues and some small Stripers. Hooked. What the heck do you mean here? The fish smell you and shy away?

also. What the heck is a bloodworm? feel free to laugh, but they are not nightcrawlers? thanks for the input.

[ 04-01-2006, 06:03 PM: Message edited by: homeless ]

[Bud H]

DO as Cheapshot is telling you and get fresh clams and fish last hour of incoming and first 2hrs of outgoing should hook up no problem.

[Fishfinder]

I did the charter thing in the beginning to learn how to catch them. Very seldom do I fish Raritan Bay and not catch any. Stage of tide is most important. I see a lot of boats that don't chum and don't catch any. Chumming is important. Good time to go on a weekend is 3:00pm on. Most boats that have been out all day leave around then. A bad day on a charter might be 10 stripers. Caught as many as 100+ on a goos day.

[cheapshot]

Mark,well how did you do?Are you still with us?Either you struck out and killed youself or you limited out and are still celebrating!!

[Bud H]

Harry I think he wanted us to practice up on our typing skills. hope he post again, I have some real hot spots to tell him and hope he has a gas credit card.

[cheapshot]

Buddy,I think he killed himself! tongue.gif

[mark crane]

ok guys well, heres my story for the first trip of the year. So before we leave hillsborough, i call the "tackle box" to make sure that their bait machine is stocked and working properly, which is usually is. The guy on the phone says yes, its full with clams and worms. We leave around 9:30pm late enough so were no out there during incoming, which I have heard most of the action this early is during the outgoing. We drive 45 min, and pull up to the tackle box, only to find out that it is not taking any kind of currency tonight. ( bills or quarters ). Just great. F'd is what we are. I really had my sights set on some clams to leave on a couple rods while fishing plastics. So we drive to crabby's and Julian's, and both bait machines arent working. We head over to union beach off front street. I didnt want to wal over to pebble beach becuase I am not familiar with the area, and didn't want to get stranded when the creek fills in like people said and I doubt that at the time I was there we eould be able to walk across it. So we swallow our pride and fish jigs and plastics and nothing. Story of my life. Still waiting for that first striper.

[mark crane]

Oh yea and my operating system crashed on Saturday, just wanted to put that here for the people who thought I would not return. Im here to stay boys. Cheapshot you sound like a good guy and I will keep your offers in mind. Hey bud, was that last post really necessary? Come on.
Well looks like my second attempt will be this weekend if the rain holds off. Let me know if any of you guys are going to be in the area or whatnot. Thanks again all of you for your generous posts, and the time you took out to respond. I think that is the one thing all of us have in common that puts all personalities aside. The love to fish. I will keep the update.

Mark.

[ 04-05-2006, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: mark crane ]

[snichols]

Mark,

I don't know Bud but I think he was just having some fun....relax.

We're here to help as evidenced by the number of responses to your request.

Not being a smart a*s, but does everyone buy their bait out of machine in the area where you fish? I would suggest that you try to get to a B&T and buy fresh before your next trip, that way you won't be disappointed.

Again, you got some good advice on here, give it a shot. Good luck.

[mark crane]

you know what snichols, I am definetly not one who is for buying bait out of the machines. I work full time and don't have time to hit up the tackle box before it closes. That is just during the workweek. Weekends, no. I have all the time in the world on the weekends. Yes I have Effingers Sporting Goods 15 min away from me but did not find out untill yesterday that they sell bait. (spearing clams, worms ect.) Good thing is that they close at 9pm. So maybe this is where i should pick up some bait before head down there.

[Dar-Lynn]

Originally posted by mark crane:
you know what snichols, I am definetly not one who is for buying bait out of the machines. I work full time and don't have time to hit up the tackle box before it closes. That is just during the workweek. Weekends, no. I have all the time in the world on the weekends. Yes I have Effingers Sporting Goods 15 min away from me but did not find out untill yesterday that they sell bait. (spearing clams, worms ect.) Good thing is that they close at 9pm. So maybe this is where i should pick up some bait before head down there. 1. Cheapshot, is from Union Beach ... HE KNOWS!!! Plain and simple. Talk with him off line he will take care of you.

2. Call around the bait shops. You might find one that will 'put bait in the back' for you. Don't leave him hanging though, he'll never do it again.

3. No Clams??? Hit up a 24 hour supermarket .. they sell Clams.

4. Pick 1 thing. Right now, in Raritan bay, beginner = Clams. Learn how to fish them. Do you know how to rig these from the surf? What kind of rig are you using?

5. See number 1. (he is a captain ;) )

[ 04-05-2006, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Dar-Lynn ]

[FreezOrBurn]

Mark I know how you feel. When I came up here from florida I seached for stripers with the same vigor you did.

I got skunked plenty of times. But then I just listen and gathered info from this web sight and then I started hooking up! You'll get them, Grate to see how committed you are!

[Flyguy784]

OK Mark Crane, I don't believe you never caught a striper. We must fix! My name is Yank. The Susquehanna Flats are hot right now. I know you're up north. Best bass fishing there is in fall. I fish the flats often, wanna go? You'd have to come down here but I'd be willing to break that cherry for you, so to speak. Weather is not so good now but if your interested just Email me at Flyguy784@comcast.net and we'll set you up. I went out last week and we got 30-40 bass each. Mostly dinks but the girls are in there and more on the way. Balls in your court.

[fishlanz]

there are lots of fishing clubs in the area I am sure that you could joun one or two and find that there are allways a few guys that like to share some of there "secret" spots to club members the fishing up there is great ....you will find that the tide plays the most important roll. I won't be up there till mid may but if ya still don't have one by then shoot me an e-mail I will get ya one ....

[fishlanz]

if you are going to use clams ....use only fresh and chum a bunch

[cheapshot]

Mark,next time you head out this way and can't get bait call I'll have it ready for you.Just call the moring of.

[mark crane]

i cant say how much i appreciate everyones helpfullness and extent of generosity on this website. you are all a great group of guys. really. im going to see what the schedule looks like for the weekend and let you guys know where im headed. ill post later, i have some things to do around the house. thanks!

[outlaw]

Originally posted by homeless:
Quoted: "Try all the above but I would suggest washing your hands and wearing some gloves... Sounds like a case of poison fingers".

huh? I'm a lifelong freshwater (lure) fisherman, just started salt last year. Got some blues and some small Stripers. Hooked. What the heck do you mean here? The fish smell you and shy away?

also. What the heck is a bloodworm? feel free to laugh, but they are not nightcrawlers? thanks for the input. Homeless, I think the gloves is just ball bustin.
I too am an avid freshwater fisherman as well as salt many here on the Barn are too. Alot of sweetwater lures will work for the striped one, just the hooks and eyes will go bad fast. And bloodworms are totally different from nightcrawlers. In salt use the bloods. I grew up fishing Malaga lake ever try there? Chech out the Freshwater Forum. and if you like a laugh check out the Dry Dock. btw welcome to the Barn.

[ 04-08-2006, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: outlaw ]

[bluestriper]

mark you can always jump on stalker charters or any of the barn sponsors here they are all great capts.and will get u that elusive first bass. thanks and good luck to ya.