Striped Bass Season Opening Day Starts Off With A Bang!
- By: Richard Natoli
- on
March 1st was Striped Bass Opening Day in the New Jersey backwaters and creeks!!
Conditions were, well, not ideal to say the least.
Some rain came through the night before along with colder temperatures posing a slight obstacle for us.
But that didn’t stop us from hitting the water!!!
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Equipment Used:
- Rod: TFO Pro S Medium-Heavy
- Reels: Penn Fierce 3000
- Line: PowerPro 15lb Braid
- Leader: Ande 20lb Monofilament Leader
- Lure #1: The Mulligan
- Lure #2: Gold Digger BOMBER
- Lure #3: Slam Shady BOMBER
- Scent: Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam Exclusive Scent
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The water was DIRTY from all the rain and runoff from the night before.
I could roughly see about 6-8 inches down into the water next to my kayak.
But we knew there were striped bass around – we just had to find them!
Taking all of this into account, the presentation was going to be of paramount importance.
I started out throwing the 4-inch Alabama Leprechaun Mulligan but nothing would strike.
So I bumped up to the 5-inch Gold Digger BOMBER to see if that could trigger any bites.
This is an all-black lure with gold and silver flecks sprinkled throughout.
Darker lures are the ideal match for murky water conditions.
There was a slight cut with a moving current in front of us.
All I was doing was casting the lure right in the middle and letting it fall down to the bottom.
Then I slowly bounced the lure back to me feeling for subtle taps and bites.
The fish were very finicky and the bites were quite timid.
So each bump I felt was a fish I was going in for the hookset as well.
Moreover, I was consistently applying additional Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam scent to my lures throughout the trip.
Especially when it comes to fishing in muddy water, take advantage of anything you can to enhance your presentation.
Scent is an excellent way to trigger more strikes in water with less than stellar visibility.
Another thing to keep in mind is that these are migratory striped bass on the move.
Sometimes a school will pass through and the bite is ON but then some time will pass with absolutely nothing.
Until another school comes along and the cycle repeats.
The classes of fish will change too.
One school may be full of smaller schoolies and the next may be full of 25lb+ breeders.
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This trip was all about the lure color choice and size.
In this case, the BOMBER profile excelled in multiple colors.
Adding Dr. Juice or an additional scent only enhances your presentation and helps lead the fish right to your hooks.
Finding The Fish Help
In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.
1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)
These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.
2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)
This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.
3. Community Reports (live feed)
The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.
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- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
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- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Do you normally fish with 15lb braid for inshore striped bass? Do you plan to go up in strength when the big girls arrive?
Great report Rich. A little grind never hurts especially when they are biting and even the smaller ones can be a big time and they can be quite aggressive
I love watching the bass migrate up the coast. Particularly, when the monsters come in to spawn.
I’m 100% with you. Still waiting for the big girls to arrive!