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Anglers in pursuit of striped bass face an nearly overwhelming alternative of lures to catch them. However, you solely want a number of lures to reliably catch stripers. In actual fact, you may be a bit underwhelmed if you happen to take a look at the lures I carry when concentrating on stripers. I often fish variations of only a handful of lure varieties which can be nicely matched for the circumstances. I’m fully assured with that handful of lures as a result of almost 50 years of striper fishing expertise has helped me slim down the alternatives to my confirmed favorites. You may lower out the 50 years of trial and error by utilizing my picks for the most effective baits for striped bass. Should you’re simply getting began or trying so as to add to your striper field, these finest baits for striped bass are a superb place to start out.
Finest Baits for Striped Bass: Opinions & Suggestions
Every of my high picks has an software the place it shines and my lure selections for any given journey will rely on water situations, whether or not it’s day or night time, and whether or not I’m fishing from surf, kayak, or boat. I’ve picked some lures which can be finest utilized in particular conditions like at night time in tough surf, and others that I all the time have in my bag.
Finest Bait for Striped Bass Total/My Private Favourite: S&S John Skinner Striped Bass Fastened Hook Bucktail
Key Options
- Weight: ½ to five ounces
- Smiling Invoice Head
- Hand tied
- Mustad 34184DT Hook
- Hackle feathers and full skirt for lifelike profile
Professionals
- May be introduced correctly in all situations and environments
- Extraordinarily productive
- Design makes for strong hookups and few misplaced fish
Cons
- Mediocre casting distance
Bucktails are the most effective bait for striped bass total as a result of they are often introduced correctly and are extremely efficient below all of those situations from boat, surf, or kayak. There are lots of wonderful bucktail producers, and I selected the S&S model bass bucktails as a result of they’re improved variations of what I tied for myself. My disclaimer is that I designed them, however they’re the product of years of expertise catching striped bass on bucktails. Of specific significance is correct hair density and the addition of hackle feathers on the hook shank to fill out and lengthen the bucktail’s profile. S&S produces an exceptionally well-tied bucktail with high-quality hooks of the correct dimension of their U.S.-based workshop.
Bucktails current a profile that matches lots of the issues stripers feed on. A bucktail of the right weight and hair density could be made to swim correctly in difficult situations resembling robust currents and turbulent surf. Whereas there are quite a few retrieve kinds, if you happen to can glide a bucktail close to the underside at a sluggish to reasonable retrieve within the presence of stripers, you’re prone to catch one. The most important mistake I see starting anglers make with bucktails is that they go too heavy. You don’t wish to drag or bounce on the underside, however swim above it. I tip my bucktails with 4- to 6-inch strips, resembling Otter Tails and Fats Cow Jig Strips. The mix of a well-recognized profile and a pure presentation provides stripers what seems like a straightforward meal, typically inflicting them to eat it. I discover bucktails to be so efficient for catching striped bass that I wrote a e book on the right way to fish them.
Honorable Mentions: MagicTail, Joe Baggs, Andrus
Finest Daytime Surfcasting Lure: Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper
Key Options
- Size: 5 ¾ and 6 ½ inches
- Weight 1 ¾ and a couple of ¾ ounces
- Via-wire development
- Two 4X treble hooks
- Big selection of colours
Professionals
- Lengthy casting
- Erratic floor thrashing entices fish, even in calm and clear water
Cons
A pencil popper is without doubt one of the longest casting lures in a surfcaster’s arsenal, however its actual energy is that it will possibly pull fish to the floor even when they’re not actively feeding. That’s why a pencil popper and particularly, the Savage Gear Panic Pencil, is my choose for the most effective daytime surfcasting lure. Lures catch fish by means of a mix of imitation and obfuscation. A correctly labored pencil popper can curiosity fish in calm and clear water as a result of it tears up the floor in such a approach that the fish can’t inform that it’s nothing however a bit of plastic or wooden. Pumping the rod whereas utilizing a sluggish retrieve will get this lure up on the floor and dancing. As with every floor lure, you should use it to search out lively fish and don’t want the fish to eat it for the fish to provide its presence away. A semi-interested boil behind a plug is extraordinarily helpful intel whenever you’re looking for good striper spots.
Honorable Mentions: Darkish Matter, Madd Mantis, Gibbs, Tsunami Talkin Popper
Finest Striped Bass Bait for Evening Fishing in Calm Water: Daiwa Floating Salt Professional Minnow Plug
Key Options
- Size: 5 1/8, 6, and 6 ¾ inches
- Weight: ⅞ to 1 7/8-ounce
- Dives to three toes
- Saltwater hooks
- Inside weight switch system
- Massive collection of colours
Professionals
- Wonderful prey imitation
- Works day and night time
Cons
- Minnow plugs are comparatively mediocre for casting distance
Minnow-shaped plugs imitate lots of the baitfish stripers feed on and are extremely efficient. The Daiwa Salt Professional stands out due to its lengthy casting distance and flexibility. Daiwa SP Minnows solid nicely for this class of lure due to an inner weight switch system constructed into the lure. It additionally handles turbulence and present higher than different minnow plugs. The SP Minnow will lower by means of a stiff wind in your face, and given a deliberate regular retrieve, will plow by means of reasonable surf turbulence whereas nonetheless swimming accurately. Its erratic motion places out vibrations that fish can find at the hours of darkness and might’t resist at any time of day.
Honorable Mentions: Cordell Pink Fin, Bomber Lengthy A, Yo-Zuri Inshore Minnow
Finest Striped Bass Bait for Evening Fishing in Tough Surf: Tremendous Strike Little Neck Swimmer
Key Options
- Size: 6 inches
- Weight: 2 3/8-ounce
- Two 3/0 treble hooks
Professionals
- Good casting distance into the wind
- In a position to deal with tough surf
Cons
Fishing tough surf at night time could be extraordinarily productive for striped bass and in these situations it’s a tricky alternative between tying on a darter or bottle plug. However, the bottle wins for versatility and its superior casting distance. My choose for finest bottle plug is the Tremendous Strike Little Neck Swimmer as a result of it casts nice, has wonderful motion, and its plastic physique lasts indefinitely—it even stands as much as bluefish. Bottle plugs can lower by means of very vital wind, and with a number of quick cranks, could be dug into tough seas. When a bottle plug is swimming accurately it pulsates the rod tip, giving helpful suggestions to the angler that the plug is working accurately. Bottle plugs match the profiles of enormous baitfish and have repute for catching high quality stripers.
Honorable Mentions: Gibbs Casting Swimmer, North Bar Bottle Darter
Finest Darter: Tremendous Strike ZigZag
Key Options
- Size: 6 ⅝ inches
- Weight 2 ⅜ ounces
- Two 3/0 treble hooks
- Swims 2 to three toes deep
Professionals
- May be fished within the quickest rip currents
- Exceptionally productive
Cons
Subsequent to the bucktail, a darter may be the most efficient lure for giant surf caught stripers at night time. The most effective darter is the Tremendous Strike ZigZag as a result of each swims correctly proper out of the package deal. Additionally, as a result of it’s plastic, it received’t waterlog or get broken by bluefish. Regardless of selecting a bottle plug over a darter within the nighttime tough surf class, I’ve spent extra time fishing a darter than a bottle after darkish. I feel I can say with confidence that darters have most likely landed extra large stripers for surfcasters at night time than bottle plugs.
However, darters take observe to make use of. If you fish a bottle plug you’ll really feel a pulsation on the rod that indicators it’s swimming accurately. With a darter, you’ll want what I name “darter religion” to trust {that a} darter is zig-zagging as meant. One tip for fishing a darter accurately is whenever you’re fishing it in present or shifting water, dig it in with a number of quick cranks to get it swimming. When there’s water strain utilized to the lip, it can dart forwards and backwards in an inconsistent sample that triggers stripers.
Honorable Mentions: Northbar Montauk Darter, Gibbs Darter
Finest Needlefish: Tremendous Strike Tremendous N Fish
Key Options
- Size: 5 ¼, 6 3/8, 7 ¼ inches
- Weight: 1 to three ounces
- Imitates sandeels
Professionals
- Wonderful casting distance
- Can deal with tough water
Cons
Needlefish are already versatile lures, however the size and weight choices of the Tremendous Strike needles permits anglers to dial in simply the correct lure for the given situations. A needlefish plug seems to be little greater than a stick, however pull it by means of water with some present or turbulence, and there’s simply sufficient wobble to get stripers to commit. Needlefish lures have accounted for among the largest fish caught on the striper coast. As with bucktails, there’s a number of variation in dimension and weight with these lures, permitting the angler to adapt to altering situations.
Finest Popper: Tremendous Strike Little Neck Popper
Key Options
- Size: 4 ¼, 5 ¼, 6 inches
- Weight: 1 to three ¾ ounces
- Sorts: Floating, sinking, and additional heavy sinking
Professionals
- Casts far
- Floor splashing entices fish, even in calm and clear water
Cons
Popping plugs are wonderful search baits that draw fish to the floor. The most effective popper is the Tremendous Strike Little Neck as a result of its three lengths and eight weights interprets to versatility in profile matching and dealing with wind and water situations. Commonplace floor poppers are often in my surf bag, proper subsequent to pencil poppers. They share lots of the qualities of pencils, resembling being lengthy lasting and in a position to pull stripers to the floor. However, they will transfer extra water as a result of their massive cupped face. I desire the Tremendous Strike Little Neck Popper as a result of it’s fabricated from plastic, which suggests it received’t get water logged and stands as much as toothy bluefish. It additionally has prime quality {hardware} that doesn’t must be swapped out.
Honorable Mentions: Gibbs Polaris, Tsunami Floor Blaster
Finest Spook: Musky Mania Doc
Key Options
- Size: 7 and 9 inches
- Weight 2 3/4, 3 1/4 ounces
- Plastic physique
Professionals
- Zig-zag glide mesmerizes stripers
- Rattles for added attraction
- Sturdy
Cons
- Comparatively poor casting distance
- Not nice in tough situations
When the chew will get powerful, stripers will hit a spook after they received’t contact different lures, and the most effective spook for stripers is the Musky Mania Doc. It is a lure that may catch stripers when nothing else will, which may be stunning as a result of the unique spooks have been designed for largemouth bass. Spooks are significantly efficient in calm water when they’re retrieved slowly with rhythmic pulls on the rod that get the plug making extensive forwards and backwards darts and leaving a wake on the floor. These lures are hottest with New England striper anglers, however they work anyplace hungry stripers swim.
Honorable Mentions: Darkish Matter Astro Spook, Jigging World Spook
Finest Metallic Lip Swimmer: Gibbs Danny Floor Swimmer
Key Options
- Size: 4.5, 6, and seven.5 inches
- Weight 1 1/2, 2 1/4, and three ½ ounces
- Tunable by bending the road tie
Professionals
- Wonderful when stripers are feeding on massive bait fish
- Works day and night time
Cons
- Comparatively poor casting distance
- Not nice in tough situations
The Gibbs Danny Floor Swimmer has a seductive motion and huge profile that triggers large stripers, which is why it’s my alternative for finest metallic lip swimmer. As with the spook, these aren’t nice casting lures, however the seductive motion is irresistible to stripers. These are significantly efficient when the bass are feeding on bigger baits resembling grownup bunker, snappers, or herring. They’re easy to make use of too. Simply retrieve slowly, and the plug will do the remainder. You can even strive a sporadic twitch of the rod that makes the bait skitter and splash to set off a strike. There are lots of nice metallic lip swimmers available on the market, however my go to is the Danny Floor Swimmer as a result of Gibbs makes prime quality baits that all the time swim nice out of the package deal, good finishes, and high quality parts.
Honorable Point out: Tsunami Timber Flat Nostril Swimmer
Finest Metallic Lure: Tsunami Diamond Jig
Key Options
- Weights: ½ to 16 ounces
- Colours: Chrome, Gold, Glow
- Erratic fall
Professionals
- Unmatched casting distance
- Will get to the underside quick
- Nice sandeel imitator
- Can deal with the roughest water
Cons
- For surfcasters, if casting distance isn’t a difficulty, there are often higher selections
You want a diamond jig in your sort out field as a result of no lure casts farther, and so they are available a variety of weights, making them ultimate for boat anglers fishing diversified depths and present strengths. Few lures are extra simplistic than a diamond jig. They’re only a diamond-shaped piece of lead with a reflective coating and a single hook. However, they’re additionally some of the well-liked saltwater lures. They’re ultimate boat fishing lures as a result of they are often fished very successfully in deep rips. Widespread boat shows embrace yo-yoing and squidding. Yo-yoing is the place you repeatedly sweep the rod skyward and let the jig fall, often close to the underside. Squidding includes dropping the jig to the underside and retrieving it rapidly by means of the water column. When stripers feed on sandeels, diamond jigs most likely account for the majority of the stripers caught. However, I’ll often solely use diamond jigs for surf fishing when the fish are out of attain of different lures.
Finest Mushy Plastic: Tsunami Swim Shad
Key Options
- Lengths: 3 to 9 inches
- Weights: 3/8 to six 1/4 ounces
- Pre rigged
- Paddle tail
Professionals
- Very reasonable look and swimming motion
- Versatile
Cons
- Bluefish and different toothy predators can destroy them
Few lures can imitate a baitfish higher than an internally weighted comfortable plastic swim shad. Tsunami provides 9 completely different dimension and weight mixtures that make this a lure as versatile as a bucktail. Few lures can imitate a baitfish higher than a comfortable plastic swim shad. Simply drag it by means of the water, and it’ll swim like an actual fish. You should utilize a gradual retrieve, jig them, or differ your retrieve to elicit a chew. The bottom line is selecting the best size and weight to match the dimensions of the predominant forage and the depth the stripers are feeding. The Tsunami Swim Shad’s versatility and ease of use make it my best choice for a comfortable plastic lure.
Honorable Mentions: Storm Swim Shad, Lunker Metropolis Slug-Go
Finest Trolling Lure: Hogy Good Tube
Key Options
- Lengths: 16, 19, and 24 inches
- Colours: Black, wine, and bubblegum
- Mustad Hoodlum Stinger Hook
Professionals
- Phenomenal productiveness
- Can troll in as little as 5 toes of water
Cons
- Will get bit by interference fish resembling porgies and sea bass
These lures have an nearly magical potential to get large stripers to hit any time of the day. From shallow kayak trolling, to boat fishing over deeper construction with assistance from egg or drail weights, these lures set off hits. Actual worms aren’t essential, as I’ve used Berkley Gulp worms on the ends of my tubes for a few years with nice success. You may catch large stripers with a tube and worm in a number of toes of water within the spring or 20 or extra toes within the warmth of summer time. It’s uncommon to discover a lure that may cowl a lot of the water column with an ideal presentation, however the Hogy Good Tube does it. I troll these weightless in my kayak in 6 to 10 toes of water, however can simply transfer out to 25 toes with the addition of a one-ounce egg sinker. Deeper water could be fished with heavier sinkers. The important thing to catching fish on a tube and worm is to troll them slowly. I goal to troll these lures at round 2 mph, adjusted for the present pace.
FAQs
Perhaps the higher query is, “What received’t they eat?” Regardless of the entire mystique surrounding stripers, they’re scavengers. Once I used to maintain an occasional striper, I’d all the time look at abdomen contents, and I’ve discovered nearly each form of fish and crustacean of their surroundings. I even discovered a crimson and white ball-point pen within the abdomen of a 28-pound striper. The one factor I’ve not present in a striper’s abdomen is one other striper. I did nevertheless encounter a giant lifeless striper with a smaller striper caught in its throat.
I feel essentially the most direct path to a giant striper is a reside or rigged eel fished at night time. There’s a saying that goes “What’s the distinction between a striper caught on an eel and one caught on a lure?” Reply: About 20 kilos. Eels do an excellent job of attracting massive bass and culling massive bass from colleges of predominantly small ones.
If fish dimension doesn’t matter, worms are an exceptional striper bait. If my life trusted catching a striped bass, I’d fish with sandworms after darkish. The usual backside rig has a small cigar float to maintain the worms a few toes off the underside. That’s to not say that they received’t work within the daytime, however you’ll possible encounter extra interference fish.
Tips on how to Select the Finest Bait for Striped Bass
The most effective recommendation I might give to a brand new striper angler could be to buy a number of confirmed lures, and go from there.
begin for a surfcaster could be to get bucktails in weights starting from ¾ to 2 ounces, together with the strips talked about within the bucktail part. Should you’re going to fish inlets, you may want some 3-ounce bucktails relying on depth and present. You’ll additionally need a few pencil poppers within the 2-ounce vary. Add a few floating 6-inch Daiwa SP Minnows. Should you’re going to fish reasonable to tough surf at night time, embrace a bottle plug and 6-inch sinking needlefish. To spherical out your surf casting package, embrace a number of Kastmaster lures within the 1-2-ounce vary. I point out these over diamond jigs as a result of they are often labored shallower.
Should you’re a ship angler you’ll need the identical lures, however as an alternative of the Kastmaster, go along with diamond jigs of the suitable weight for the place you’re fishing. These will possible be within the 2-6-ounce vary.
With all of those bass lures, maintaining it easy with pure colours and white is all the time a sensible choice. It’s additionally important that you simply change into a daily buyer of a well-respected sort out store near the place you propose to fish. These are the native consultants and in nearly all circumstances will provide help to enthusiastically.
Remaining Ideas
My method to lure choice is to stay to what I’ve confidence in, as a result of that eliminates one variable within the equation of catching fish. There are such a lot of different issues to consider, resembling whether or not the tide is true, or the water high quality is OK, or if the fish are literally current. Solely after I’ve established all of that can I experiment with something new, and even that can possible be only a refined change on what’s already working. New anglers, or skilled anglers on a brand new fishery, are confronted with the problem of constructing that preliminary confidence of their lures. In case your goal is striped bass, I’m assured that my solutions for finest bait for striped bass will get you to a spot the place you’re anticipating successful on the subsequent solid since you consider in your lure choice.