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.

Fish finders and GPS systems are nearly requirements when you’re angling for striped bass. They will help you identify the best fishing areas. Don’t be too concerned about not finding the stripers on the fish finder – even with the best technology their habit of sticking close to the sides of their hide-away makes it hard to find them. You will find the most success if you start out in waters about 20 feet deeper than the reef crest. You want your boat so that it is drifting, and then drop your line over the side and make sure it goes all the way to the bottom. If you’re having a challenge getting to the bottom simply add a bit of weight and you should solve that problem fairly easily. The ideal depth for stripers is between three and six feet from the bottom so you’ll want to make sure you stay in that zone as much as possible. You will want to try to make sure that your line stays nearly vertical – this allows for better line management. As your boat drifts, you’ll find a variety of bottoms so you’ll have to make sure that you pay attention. You’ll quickly get accustomed to the feel that your line has once it hits bottom – crank up your reel if your sinker hits the bottom.

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.

While in most cases, stripers are found on the up-side of a hill, it is not all that uncommon to find them at the crest of the hill or even on the down-hill side. It will require some experimentation on your part to find out exactly where they are feeding. Do not forget to keep your line in the proper depth so that your bait is three to six feet of the bottom at all times. You may find that even a properly placed rod in your rod holder will land the occasional fish or two.

If you are looking for a more secure way of catching stripers, you should be considering a 5/0 or 6/0 circle hook when you are using eels for bait. These circle hooks do not require a hook to be set, you simply need to let out the slack and reel it up or lift the tip. Most anglers agree that there is little (if any at all) downside to the circle hook. If you are using menhaden, hickory shad or scup for bait, you will want to switch to the 8/0 circle hook.

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 okuma reel and van staal fishing reels.