Don’t allow wind or rain to prevent you from enjoying summertime striped bass fishing in the Northeast.
Courtesy Shimano
Like any sport, you can invest as much as you desire in preparation for your next saltwater encounter. However, northeast striper expert Blaine Anderson mentioned that the summer months provide ample opportunities for anglers with even basic tackle to engage one of the region’s top sport fish.
“It’s easy fishing and the entry barrier is low,” Anderson affirmed regarding the amazing action of the warm season. “These fish are aggressive, and you can catch them throughout the summer.”
The striper extravaganza is plentiful across this famed area, featuring perennial hotspots like Block Island (Rhode Island), Fishers Island (New York), Plum Island (Massachusetts), and numerous reef systems such as Connecticut’s Bartlett Reef. Anderson anticipates his best chances where the current swirls around rocky structures.
“Any reefs in 15 feet or shallower will yield results, but a boat equipped with a trolling motor will help you access shallower waters,” Anderson explained. “I can go as shallow as 3 to 4 feet. Caution is key because of the large boulders, but that’s what holds the stripers there.”
Indeed, the shallowest rocky areas require careful navigation, so proceed wisely. Often, the rewards far outweigh the risks. Just remember that the draw is always about feeding. Bunker (menhaden) and other forage are no match for the ocean’s current, but stripers are perfectly built for such circumstances.
“It’s similar to trout in a river or stream; stripers will wait in the eddy behind a boulder for something to swim by,” Anderson remarked. “They’re strong swimmers, so they aren’t bothered by the current. However, bait is vulnerable and will be swept over the boulder field, becoming easy prey.”
“Some days you might not see any bait, but other days, it could be everywhere, and stripers will be feeding aggressively. This can vary from day to day, but they’ll always inhabit the reefs, and the presence of more bait means more activity from them.”
Best Time to Fish for Stripers
Numerous smaller striped bass linger around the boulders and rocky structures of the Northeast. Interestingly, the largest fish are often found near the biggest boulders.
Courtesy Shimano
According to Anderson, the fish will feed in nearly any summer condition, yet he favors calm, overcast days — possibly with a bit of fog. It’s more about the mood than the fishing, but the atmosphere is unmistakable.
“Everything feels so peaceful; you can hear fish feeding from afar,” Anderson said. “In calm waters, I suspect the fish can hear the rattles in your (artificial) lures, making it easier for them to locate it.”
Regarding the time of day, Anderson describes summer striper fishing as a constant adrenaline rush.
“In the past, during my guiding days, the weather or tides didn’t matter — we’d fish from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.,” Anderson explained. “You can catch them at high noon, even under a clear sky, but I prefer the low light of dawn, as you’ll often be the first to reach your spot.
“Many boats can spook the fish, but if you arrive first, you can take it slow and quietly with the trolling motor, landing several before others arrive.”
Lures and Tackle for Striped Bass
Some anglers prefer using longer rods when casting larger 7-inch topwaters. Opt for a rod that measures a minimum of 7 feet, 6 inches.
Courtesy Shimano
For simplicity and undeniable fish attraction, Anderson noted it’s tough to beat a large 7- to 9-inch topwater walker. His preferred choice is the Shimano Current Sniper Splash Walk in bone white or bunker.
“The topwater strikes are explosive, but even if the fish aren’t being aggressive, those big topwaters will still attract them,” Anderson explained. “From there, you can switch to subsurface lures. These large topwater lures let you cover significant areas, but the advantage of the Splash Walk is that with sharp rod twitches, you can almost make it walk in place. You mainly turn the reel handle to eliminate slack in the line.
“Sometimes, the fish want a different approach. Occasionally, you’ll twitch it and allow it to rest, and the fish will come up and strike it during the pause. But if there are big fish nearby, you will definitely notice.”
Blaine Anderson’s Tackle Preferences include: a 7-foot, 6-inch medium-heavy Shimano Terramar XX Southeast spinning rod combined with a Shimano Twinpower XD 4000 reel, which features 50-pound PowerPro Super Slick V2 braid and a 30- to 50-pound fluorocarbon leader.
“They’re not particularly line shy, but I usually start with a 4- to 5-foot leader, as that leader shortens throughout the day as I change lures,” Anderson explained. “This setup works well for hook sets and extracting fish from boulder fields.”
When he’s not catching fish on topwater, one of Anderson’s go-to options is a jerkbait that mimics local forage size. Top choices are herring, bone white, and white with spots. Another alternative is a large soft plastic twitchbait like a Lunker City Slug-Go or Zoom Super Fluke. Anderson recommends rigging these lures on 4/0 to 5/0 belly-weighted hooks (or jig heads suitable for the water depth).
Live Bait Fishing for Striped Bass
Live eels and scup rank at the top when selecting live baits for striped bass. Each year, massive stripers have been caught using live line techniques.
Courtesy Shimano
Alongside lures, numerous Northeast stripers are caught using natural baits. Anderson mentions that live eels are a favorite in Block Island, especially after dark. If you castnet a batch of 12- to 14-inch bunker, you can catch stripers nearly anywhere.
“The simplest method is to live line them on circle hooks in the same areas where you would throw your topwaters,” Anderson stated. “In deeper current areas, you can fish bunker on 3-way rigs with a heavy weight on the bottom. You must keep it low; on some days, 16-ounce weights may be necessary.”
Scup (also known as porgies) also attract stripers, but skip the castnet and catch these resilient bottom dwellers using hook and line. A dropper-style rig baited with squid or sandworm chunks will do the trick. Then, rig scup on a bottom 3-way rig.
“When live lining without weight, I prefer to get shallow and let the baits swim near the boulders,” Anderson advised. “Being about 100 feet away is ideal so that you can adjust your angle when fighting the fish out of the boulder field. With 3-way rigs, it’s best to maintain a more vertical position. I like to fish live baits in a more up-and-down manner.”
Blaine Anderson’s Tackle Preferences for live lining include: a 7-foot, 6-inch medium-heavy Shimano Teramar XX Northeast casting rod paired with a Shimano Trinidad 12 or 14 reel spooled with 50-pound PowerPro Super Slick V2 braid. For 3-way rigging, he uses a 7-foot medium-heavy casting rod with a Shimano Torium reel filled with 50-pound PowerPro Super Slick V2 braid.
“If you’re 3-way rigging, ensure that your rod is sturdy enough to handle the weight of the sinker you’re using while still having enough strength to fight the fish,” Anderson clarified. “You wouldn’t want to attach a 16-ounce sinker and then watch the rod bend entirely before you get your bait in the water.”
Regardless of how you pursue summer stripers, Anderson describes the ideal fighting technique as a mix of patience and persistence. In essence: maintain even pressure.
“I believe the most common error is when anglers become overly excited and pull back too quickly, causing the rod to fully load,” Anderson remarked. “When they crank a few times and lower the rod tip, the rod unloads, which can lead to the hook popping free. I prefer to maintain consistent pressure on the rod whether I’m pulling on the fish or reeling down. The angle of the rod should remain constant.”