The striped bass is indeed a unique and marvelous creature. Although there are no set concrete methods to catch one, here are a few tips which will improve your chances. The information below was compiled from the included booklist and my own personal experiences.

1.Bait

Use the freshest bait possible. Live bait has always been my rule and works the best. I like to have something that moves on its own at the end of my line. Large sea worms and live eels will bring results. Live eels are the number one "over the counter" live bait. Live herring are undoubtedly among the top bait for big fish but not as easy for the surfcaster to acquire. Frozen or fresh cut bait is excellent also. My survey in 1996 had the types even in popularity.

You should try to handle the bait as little as possible with your hands. The striper has an excellent sense of smell and water will magnify any fragrances. Your mosguito, tanning lotions, and even sweat will be sensed by stripers. It will not take your bait if it smells you. There is a substance called L Serine which is in the oils of our skin. This gives everyone their own distinct body odor. This substance will rub off onto your bait and it will send fish flying. The research on this subject is controversial in some corners, but when I use gloves to bait my hook I do catch more fish. Hook placement is critical. If the striper sees or feels the hook she'll drop it.

Research has shown that male stripers do not live as long as their female counterparts. It is most likely that the keepers you are taking home are females, breeders, that produce thousands of baby stripers each season. If you take her home, its less fish for the future. Males can reach "moby striper" dimensions but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule. The stripers you take home mean less for future generations. I always carry a camera and have an extensive record of what I've caught. If you need to eat fish, go to a restaurant.

It never ceases to amaze me how grown men, who possess good minds, will stand on a beach or a bridge and try to cast their line to China. Look for disturbances along the beach, rips, rocks, etc. That's where the fish will be. I've been on bridges with other fishermen and watched them cast to the moon for fish that were swimming around the pilings they were standing upon. Be observant. Remember, they frequent shallow water. If there is a good rock or disturbance a ways out go for it, but most likely your chances are just as good much closer. It depends upon the terrain or sub terrain. Casting should be only as far as the third breaker and can be closer depending on the location. My daughter hooked a 32" striper, bottom fishing, with her line just 10 yards from shore.

Stripers have excellent eyesight. Snap swivels, big spreader rigs and weights will be seen by an older, bigger striper. It's not impossible to catch one using such commercially available rigs but your chances for success are less. From a bridge I use split shot when the current is strong, but for the most part I use the weight of the bait only. I use an octopus hook with a three foot, 30lb. test monofilament leader. I will use a snap swivel for convenience, but if I suspect that big fish may be present I will remove it and tie the hook directly to the end of my line. When fishing from a beach I will use floats that I've added reflector tape and eyes to and try to keep it close to the bottom. The high/low rig is also a good rig to use. There are valid arguments for both methods but your personal preferences are all that matters. In the heirarchy of stripers the small are at the top of the water column, the larger fish at the bottom. Again the rule is: the more stuff you have on your line the more likely they'll see it.

There are many written rules about tides, yet in my experience its anything goes. Stripers like moving water. They will always have their nose pointed toward the current. If the tide is incoming, or out going, cast your bait up-current of where you think they are and let it drift into them. Stripers are traditionally lazy. They are waiting for something to come to them so take advantage of the situation. It could be the up-current side of the bridge or the down- current side. Either way, they will be among the pilings waiting for something to come to them. Fish accordingly. If I'm fishing the up-current side I'll cast out and let it drift toward me and the fish. If I'm fishing the down-current side I drop it among the pilings and let it drift out. It works. Be prepared to lose some hooks either through snagging or break offs after a fish has gone into the pilings. The fish you DO get are well worth the trouble.

This type of gear is a personal matter. Fishing rods and reels are subject to greater things than ratios and ball bearings. Your budget plays a big part. With four kids I don't have a lot to spend on ultra gear. If you can afford it, GOD bless you, If not, do the best you can. Here are some things to keep in mind. For surfcasting you need at least an 8 foot rod for ease and effeciency. It helps to have a tall rod. It helps when fishing in rough water. My daughter's 32" was caught with a 6 foot freshwater rod with 12lb. test, go figure. Make sure your rod has some backbone. The striper is not the greatest fighter but it is strong and heavy.

You'll need a sand spike to set it in although I like to hold the rod more often than not. You can make them from PVC very easily and they're not usually too expensive anyway. When you need five its cheaper to make them.

There are an infinite number of hook types you can use. I use moderately sized octopus and baitholder hooks of the 4 to 6 size range. It is extremely important to keep the hooks as sharp as possible. It is also a good idea to make up your hook rigs before you go out. I'll sit and watch TV and make up a dozen or so rigs( this is even better done during the off season). Since I fish mostly at night, it can be a real burden to tie a rig while the action is getting hot. You can save a lot of money making them yourself. The two common snell knots are easy. I buy 20lb or 30lb monofilament(cheap stuff) for my leaders. The hooks are cheaper if you but them bulk. Mustad, Eagle Claw, and the new Japanese brands are reliable.

It is a good idea to scout your spot during the day before you go out at night. Know the landscape. I'll go to all my fishing spots during the day at low tide to check out the structure. At one spot I found that there was an old engine block in the middle of the channel. When I went there at night the block was submerged and there were big stripers hiding behind it. I knew where they were because I knew why they were there. One of the hardest things about fishing the beach is your fellow fishermen. You'll undoubtedly find yourself shoulder to shoulder and backs to the wall on a beach. You'll cross lines, get tangled, etc. Most average striper fishermen will usually knock off for the night around 11 or 12. The diehards, the ones who study the fish will be arriving just about then. You might see or hear them but most of the time you won't. They'll know where they're going, and why. The rule is to be patient. Even the biggest beaches will get crowded sometimes. Just think of it as one of the few times you have something in common with the entire crowd.

Yes you can catch stripers during the day, but it is harder. If they can see well at night, imagine how well they can see by day. The bigger fish will be more active at night. At night there is less distraction, fewer boats, no people in the water swimming. If you're at a beach fishing and there are people swimming your chances are less. If you're going to fish in the dark, do that. Very often the first thing a new striper fisherman buys will be a Coleman lantern, or some other kind of fancy light. They'll set it on the beach, light it up and start fishing. Meanwhile the stripers, whose eyes are sensitive to bright light, have left the area. A small flashlight is all you need. I bought a headlight/miners light which is great since it frees both hands. Use lights sparingly and never shine them into the water. The rule is the less light the better.

Fishing for striped bass is fun relaxing and challenging. It is also extremely beautiful. The sunsets and sunrises are breathtaking. The sights and sound of the wind, water, and waves bring a peace that is rarely found these days. The stars are brighter, shooting stars abound... it is a great experience. But there are other things there as well. Skunks, racoons, mosquitos, and black flies can all make your trip a miserable experience. I've had racoons come right up and start eating from my box of sea worms, and was cornered on a bridge by a skunk that could not get across the grated part of the bridge and seemed to think that I was the reason for his aggrevation. Beware the human animal too. Once on a bridge, I was standing by the side of the road replenishing my bait. Two cars full of youths drove by and threw their pizza crusts at me as they passed. It happened so fast I didn't know what happened until I saw myself covered in pizza sauce. The two women these cowards hit at the same time were hurt during the same attack. Be careful, don't let your guard down. You could get injured or lose your life. It's only a fish!

Talk to other fishermen, read books from the list on the previous page. Talk to bait shop owners. An informed fisherman is a successful fisherman. Don't be afraid to experiment. Most importantly, get out there and fish. Experience is the best teacher. you'll learn from your mistakes but as you learn you'll get better. By the way, don't forget to bring a camera with you. I have hundreds of pictures of the fish I have caught. The wife won't put them in the family album, but they're a great reminder of a wonderful experience.