I know it's early to start talking about this but this time of the year I can't stop thinking about it. I'm debating whether or not to get shoulder surgery and was wondering if you could only fish the flats 1 month in the spring which one would it be. I know a lot has to do with the clarity and the temps but if you had to pick one before you knew what would it be?
Flats Fishing for Stripers
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Are you serious?? There really is only one month of good fishing and that's April without a doubt. The last half of April is more reliable. April 15th to may 15th would be optimal. If you like bait sitting and big fish, early April is good. Usually they close the flats for a week or so around May 3rd. The rules change every year so who knows, they'll probably keep it open longer but the big fish high tail it out of there come May anyway.
Questions...This will be my first spring fishing on the chessy, and I have no idea where to begin. I've been lurking long enough to gather that people troll in the spring for stripers, but what do you mean by "bait sitting"? Last summer I launched from Matapeake park and fished from the bridge south. Will that area be productive in April? I have always fished the Delaware bay and last summer I "discovered" the chessy. Thanks to a friend and this board it was incredibly productive and fun. Any pointers would be appreciated and applied! Tks.
I had a 10 fish afternoon last year March 20th while "scouting". As salmo said, it all has to do with the water temps and clarity. April is the month for bigguns. The fish come in waves together. I started March 20th and had several 35 inch rockfish into June last year.
The flats IMHO truely tests a fisherman. There is so much area to cover and so many variables can make or break you on any given day. You must think like a fish at all times up there.
Good luck with surgery and the flats season
The flats IMHO truely tests a fisherman. There is so much area to cover and so many variables can make or break you on any given day. You must think like a fish at all times up there.
Good luck with surgery and the flats season
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Bait sitting refers to anchoring up with chunks of bait on hooks. Many people would rather catch the fish on lures, such as topwater.
As far as trolling in spring, the fish will definitely come through the area, since most move up the bay to the upper tributaries to spawn. I think alot of people troll that eastern channel edge from Mattapeake down to Bloody Point in the spring and do just fine.
I usually fish way south of there in the spring (because the big boat is down south), but you should be able to search the board for Mattapeake or Bloody Point and find some reports from last spring.
Good Luck,
Mike
and people that use bait don't like topwater or lures?? many a "bait sitter" do both, and they do both well.
to me, "bait sitting" if for the fellers that would rather be catching at a time when lures don't work, or would rather just be fishing instead of waiting.
Plus, they are typically catching the biggest fish of the season...
if your shoulder hurts & you can't cast, you can start in the second half of March with bait & have great success.
Thanks guys. I had a great summer last year fishing, as I said, from the bridge down to poplar island....the water is so clear and clean compared to the Del Bay, and the schools of blues were a blast....and it's nice to be able to take home a fish or two for the table without worrying about mercury poisoning. As far as being a bait or lure fisherman, I say use whatever works at the time...of course lures can be more fun, and I always have a spare rod rigged with something flashy just in case. This year I want to get in on the jigging thing....what do they call it on here...."the force"...I'm guessing the technique is similar to using the new butterfly jigs for tuna?????
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The question is, can you get bait the second half of March? I've never had much luck with frozen but it's all in the way it was prepared when frozen.
But bait will also get some negative responses and for probably good reason. Fish will swallow bait, even with circles and circle hooks are designed to go down the fish's throat but catch the lip on the way out. I've seen too many times the fish regurgitate its stomach or the hook literally pulls it out. The catch and release mortality on those fish is very high and high in general for bait caught fish, circle hooks or not. But it's controversial and what Hedjbug says is true. Would you rather wait for the bite to pick up or fish and catch big fish early in the season?
This winter, Berkley gulp 10" eels rigged on jig heads have accounted for some BIG fish when nothing else worked. I'll be interested in trying them along with the proven 7" jerk shad when the season is young and the water is cold and dirty.
Come mid March the Mid bay area is alive with fish and often gannets diving on bait. The catch and release trolling and light tackle action in the mid Bay can be outstanding. But in the mid bay you're not using a jon boat or bass boat and the bite can be difficult to pin point. Reading this board will give you a pretty good idea where the concentration of fish are.
Best of luck everyone. Less than two months and it's ON!
But bait will also get some negative responses and for probably good reason. Fish will swallow bait, even with circles and circle hooks are designed to go down the fish's throat but catch the lip on the way out. I've seen too many times the fish regurgitate its stomach or the hook literally pulls it out. The catch and release mortality on those fish is very high and high in general for bait caught fish, circle hooks or not. But it's controversial and what Hedjbug says is true. Would you rather wait for the bite to pick up or fish and catch big fish early in the season?
This winter, Berkley gulp 10" eels rigged on jig heads have accounted for some BIG fish when nothing else worked. I'll be interested in trying them along with the proven 7" jerk shad when the season is young and the water is cold and dirty.
Come mid March the Mid bay area is alive with fish and often gannets diving on bait. The catch and release trolling and light tackle action in the mid Bay can be outstanding. But in the mid bay you're not using a jon boat or bass boat and the bite can be difficult to pin point. Reading this board will give you a pretty good idea where the concentration of fish are.
Best of luck everyone. Less than two months and it's ON!
Salmo... see Eles post in the other "zam" thread about using non offset circle hooks.
They have been proven to have a lower mortality rate (during C&R) than lures. Add to that using heaver tackle & the typical colder temps, bait fishing on the flats is fine by me. A big fish with a circle hook on 30# test in cold cold water vs a big fish on a topwater plug full of hooks on 10# line or a fly rod in warm water? I dunno, sounds like a wash to me.
Yes, you can find fresh bait from time to time early on. But, frozen will work in a jam. You will catch big catties 10-1, but the rock you do catch can be monsters. I would rather catch catties on bait than sit behind the ole computer & talk about it.
They have been proven to have a lower mortality rate (during C&R) than lures. Add to that using heaver tackle & the typical colder temps, bait fishing on the flats is fine by me. A big fish with a circle hook on 30# test in cold cold water vs a big fish on a topwater plug full of hooks on 10# line or a fly rod in warm water? I dunno, sounds like a wash to me.
Yes, you can find fresh bait from time to time early on. But, frozen will work in a jam. You will catch big catties 10-1, but the rock you do catch can be monsters. I would rather catch catties on bait than sit behind the ole computer & talk about it.
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No offense intended. I didn't say that I would rather cast lures than bait fish. I've been known to do both at the same time myself.
The question was "What is a bait sitter?" and it was answered. Maybe he wasn't aware of what types of fishing are available on the flats during the spring season, which is why I mentioned topwater.
Mike
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For those who haven't been a "Bait Sitter" on the flats before, me included, what baits are you typically using? I've LTJ, Trolled, and live lined but haven't fished using bait other than to catch more bait. Fresh -vs- Frozen? Obviously fresh would be better but what frozen bait have you used with success? Thanks in advance. Anxious for the season and warmer weather.
Mike
Mike
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I fished the flats for several years in a 14' jon boat with very good results. I could go anywhere on the flats i wanted to but you don't want to be out there when the winds get up as it can be pretty rough!
I've only been fishing the flats for a couple of years, out of the six times I fished I've fished with frozen herring and fished with lures. I've only caught 4 stripers with lures and a bunch of catties with bait. I have a 16' aluminum bass boat so I have to watch the wind forecast. I can't wait for the season to start. I love it down there. I still haven't caught any big ones. I hoping this is the year.
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