Striped bass are fun fish and they can be found in areas that are populated with shipwrecks, boulder piles and reefs. These areas in particular seem to be favored haunts of the striped bass. Those who have had the pleasure of fishing Long Island, particularly the Connecticut side are well aware of some of the well known reefs that can be found in that area. Don’t get too focused on the height of a reef when you’re scoping out ideal spots however, you want to pay attention instead to the steepness of the hill. Schools of striped bass can be found in as little as ten feet of water and as deep as eighty feet, there’s no norm. The main reason that reefs are popular is their unique funnel formations that allow them to feed at the crest of the peaks found there. To land stripers in these areas, you will want to spread your bait across the water column and let it be carried down to the crest of the peak. The more pronounced the funnel shape, the more success you’ll have locating striped bass. The reef line will help you find the crest.

Cruise up-tide from the reef once you have located the top. You can use your fish-finder to assist you. Remember that even if you do not see any hits on the fish finder does not mean that there are not striped bass in the area – they typically cling fairly close to the structures making them difficult for even the most advanced fish-finders to track. As a rule, you should most likely start off in waters that are about 20 feet deeper than where your reef crested. With your boat out of gear, drop your rig all the way to the bottom. If you have difficulty reaching bottom, consider adding some additional weight. Remember, that you will want to be fishing approximately three to six feet above the bottom so you do need to know where it is. As your boat drifts, you will soon grow accustomed to where the bottom is in different areas. As you feel the sinker hitting the bottom, simply crank your reel handle to bring it back up. It is best if you attempt to keep your line as vertical as possible as it will help you manage your line better. It’s important to bear in mind that as you drift uphill you are going to contact the bottom more frequently so make sure you keep an eye on your line.

As you travel around in your boat, you’ll find that you need to keep an eye out for specific landmarks while you’re drifting. This will help you map the area where you are getting hits. Using visual landmarks along with your GPS and fish-finder can be a major help when you are fishing unfamiliar areas. In general, if you find one striper in the area, there are sure to be more there. Your fish finder may not be a lot of help when you’re scanning for the simple reason that stripers tend to hug the sides of the structures they are hiding in. Unusually shaped structures in the area are likely to be hotbeds of stripers since they are drawn to large boulders, sharp drops in depth and piles that are different from the rest of the area.

You’ll almost always find striped bass on the upside of a hill but you may also find them on the downside. You will most likely need to do some testing to find out where the stripers are feeding and once you find out you will have a great deal of success. Keeping your line at the proper depth is critical – your bait should not be less than three feet and not more than six feet from the bottom. You might also get caught off guard with occasional fish or two landing on your rod while it’s in the rod holder.

Circle hooks are probably the best choice for stripers. The 5/0 or 6/0 circle hooks baited with eels are probably the most secure. This will avoid you needing to set a hook, all you’ll need to do is lift the tip of your rod or let out the slack a bit and reel it in. Menhaden, hickory shad and scut will more than likely require an octopus hook in the 8/0 size.

When you are getting prepared for a saltwater fishing adventure, having the proper equipment is essential. Some of the most popular products on the market include shimano spinning reels, okuma fishing reel, and van staal reels.