Advice Please!

[Old Glory]

Hi I have had some early season success livelining macks for stripers. Now that the Macks have moved on what technique should I use to go after stripers?

I live in the Cape Anne Area and will be in a boat.

Last year I chunked herring on the drift and at anchor with very little success at the groaner and along Plum Island.

What is the best time to fish? I usually was able to get out at 9:00 am and fished until 3:00. Is early morning better? 4:00 am?

Is chunking effective or should I try something else? Can you use eels during the day? Live bait seems to be best.

Where should I jig?

Where can I "make bait" by catching my own? Will the sabiki rig work on fish other than macks?

Any other locations you can suggest?

Thank you very much for your advice and suggestions.

I will post my reports after every trip.

[tightlines]

No offense but you have way too many questions for anyone to answer.......

With that said so many factors to consider.....if you are looking for big bass I would suggest fishing at night with live eels. Find some structure in 20 feet or less and hang on. As it gets warmer you need to fish either early or late to have the most success, unless you jig in deeper waters.

Tight lines

[Old Glory]

Thanks tight lines. Still trying to learn the ropes.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[kachemup]

Fishing out of the Merrimac, we usually like livelining in the Mouth, then comes chunking. Pay attention to your tides, that seems to be one of the biggest variables when fishing for Stripers and try different techniques per rod when bite is tough, fish do not always like the same thing....Much like us, which is why us 'men' can get ourselves in predicaments well anyways, good luck out there

[shoefish]

OG- all great questions. I'm a bit north of you, so while I can't answer as to local knowledge, I can answer some of your other questions...see below...

Originally Posted by Old Glory

Hi I have had some early season success livelining macks for stripers. Now that the Macks have moved on what technique should I use to go after stripers?

What is the best time to fish? While it depends on the spot that your fishing, in general I always try to fish on either side of the high slack. Like I said, this will vary depending on what spot you're fishing, but I have found it to be a good general rule for me

Is chunking effective or should I try something else? To me this is the most effective way. Just be sure to work your chunk baits- don't just set them under a balloon like so many people do.

Can you use eels during the day? Not a big eel fisherman, so I'm not sure about this one

Live bait seems to be best.Not always- sometimes the big fatties are too lazy to chase around a frisky bait

Where should I jig?While I don't know your area, I'd probably start by finding some sharp drops in your area and cruising over them to see if the bass are holding, then drop down to them

Where can I "make bait" by catching my own? Try going into a local tackle shop and they should be able to point you in the right direction

Will the sabiki rig work on fish other than macks?Absolutely

Any other locations you can suggest?The Isle of Shoals is where I fish and there is usually a decent pick out there. If I were you though, I'd probably just try achoring and chunking in spots that have good structure where stripers could hang in dead current and ambush anything moving by.

Thank you very much for your advice and suggestions.

I will post my reports after every trip.

Good luck out there dude, and let us know how you do!

Shoe

[Animal 1]

While I'm not familiar with your area,I'll tell you this,eels will definitely work during daytime.However,it totally depends where you're fishing.The place we fish,off Fischers Island,Ny,the bass are there to eat scup.PERIOD!You could drift eels over them all day,and MAYBE get a chopper.Liveline some scup,and you're on.Then if we move to the other end of the island they'll take eels all day long.(They will still eat scup there,as well)You might kinda notice a pattern here. We use tiny pieces of squid,or clamworms to get the scup.
Another thing that works great(some places)is live hickory shad,they can be caught easily with the sabiki rig.Good luck.

[Fissues]

HOLD ON ! The macks haven't left yet! They were jiggin em' up like mad today in Gloucester Harbor and Marblehead. But when they do leave go 1 mi. SE of the Eastern Point breakwater in 180' of water, you'll see the parkin lot of comm boats there by then, an chunk like mad at 20 to 40' down. It's phenominal!! They been doin this for 25 yrs at this spot and hammering their comm limits like nothin. Each boats dumpin at least 150-300# of herring X 80 boats thats a lot of bait and a sh*tload of MONSTER BASS! Use HUGE chunks of herring/pogies an chum 1/4" slices constantly. We use 8 to 10 rods, w/4 in back up, and run in circles on the deck all day. Watch out for those nasty tuna, the'll really screw up yer bass action. If you need liveys, jig'em up at Norman's Woe. Last little island on the right on the way out of G.H. in tight.

[captkev1]

Thats the way to do it, just got to learn to deal with the dog fish.

[Fissues]

Originally Posted by captkev1

Thats the way to do it, just got to learn to deal with the dog fish.

Dogs? No problem, Just slice'em open, take out the live babies and liveline the pups! MMMMMMMM! striper candy!

[chumtini]

Originally Posted by Fissues

Dogs? No problem, Just slice'em open, take out the live babies and liveline the pups! MMMMMMMM! striper candy!

Dude, you have fissues.