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Fishing the coastal United States.
The Surf and it's fish
Striped Bass fishing Reports
By Region
North East and Mid Coast United States
Stripers:
Morone saxitalis
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Bluefish: Pomatomus saltatrix
Common names: Snapper, Coctail Blues, Slammer Blues. (refers to
size)
Habitat: Bluefish can be found globally in all temperate salt
waters. From deep off shore waters to the beach surf. Little is
known of where they spend the cold winter months. Optimal water
temperatures for surf fishing are in the high fifties to mid seventies
degrees farenheit. Bluefish have a voracious appetite and will
eat anything that won't eat them.
Season: May through November. The spring and fall migrations are
the best times for fishing this species. Snapper blues or juveniles
can be taken frequently in August. When fishing for bluefish on
the beach look for working birds diving after bait fish. This is
a good indication that bluefish are actively feeding. If there
are no working birds in the area try surveying the beach at low
tide to determine where the cuts (in sandbars), troughs, holes,
rips, points of land, and jetties may harbor deeper water and favorable
bait conditions. Deeper water is indicated by the color change
of the water. Deep water is darker blue than shallow waters. Optimal
surf conditions along the beach are breakers around two to four
feet and the water must not be roiled or muddied. Onshore winds
are highly favorable as the wind drives the bait fish closer to
shore. With surf fishing, the best times are the morning rise (an
hour or so before daybreak and an hour or two after), the evening
rise, and at night. Two hours before and two hours after high tide
are best.
Blue fish in the surf.: The same set up you would use for striped
bass. Except you need to use wire leaders because of there teeth.
Do not put your fingers near their mouths. You may lose them.
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Blackfish: Tautoga onitis
Common names: Blackfish, Tautog, Tog
Habitat: Blackfish can be found in depths of 20 to 200 ft. They
frequent jetties, and seawalls. In bays and tidal rivers they can
be found near sod banks, mussel beds and rocky bottoms with structure.
(Structure meaning undersea reefs, manmade reefs, or large congregated
boulders that offer fish a place to feed and hide from larger predators).
Blackfish range in size from two to twenty pounds and is a long
lived species.
Season: May through November.
Tackle: The most important thing to remember when fishing for
blackfish is to have a rod tip that is light enough to feel the
gentle biting action of the fish. An example of this type of tackle
might include a seven to eight foot light to medium action rod,
and a spinning reel with twelve to twenty pound abrasion resistant
monofilament line. Light tackle can be used by the more experienced
fisherman, but be wary, the blackfish is a strong fish and if the
tackle is not heavy enough you will lose them. The newer fishing
lines such as Spiderwire have excellent anti-abrasion qualities
and should be considered if you are pursuing tog.
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Sea bass : Centropristis striata
Common names: Sea Bass, Black Sea Bass
Habitat: Black sea bass can be found in depths of 15 to 100 ft.
They frequent jetties, seawalls, natural and manmade reefs, and
rocky bottoms with structure. (Structure meaning undersea reefs,
manmade reefs, or large congregated boulders that offer fish a
place to feed and hide from larger predators). Black sea bass prefer
water temperatures from the mid forties to around sixty degrees
farenheit. Females are brown in coloration while males are generally
black. In the surf, sea bass generally range in weights from 1/2
pound to 2 1/2 pounds. Black sea bass are usually a bycatch by
surf fisherman who are after another species.
Season: May through November.
Tackle: For the jetty fisherman a seven foot, light to medium
action conventional/spinning rod, a spinning reel filled with twenty
pound monofilament or a 2/0 to 3/0 conventional reel with twenty
pound monofilament. The same rod setup can be used with Blackfish
(Tautog). Line test can vary between 15 to 20 pound test. Sinkers
should be heavy enough to hold bottom in the conditions you are
fishing. Bank sinkers are best in rocky areas.
Rigs: The rig used for this type of fishing is very similiar to
that of the Tautog. Leaders can be twenty to forty pound test.
Hook sizes to be used are eagle claw size 2/0 to 3/0. Hooks should
be snelled with the heavier monofilament leader.
Baits: Time and again the most successful method to catch more
fish is to reproduce on the end of your line what the fish is naturally
feeding upon. With the black sea bass, the number one choice is
fresh squid or surf clams. Other baits that will take black sea
bass are: sandworms, green crabs, chunks of bunker (menhaden),
and killies.
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Scup: Stenotomus chrysops.
Common names: Scup, Porgy
Habitat: The scup is a bottom fish and it can be found in the
same habitat of blackfish, black sea bass and fluke. The scup is
not a large fish, between 1/2 to 2 pounds is average. Can reach
six pounds.
Season: Late June through early October.
Tackle: The same tackle can be used for scup as the tackle used
for fluke and black sea bass. Light tackle is best for this fish.
It is more fun.
Rigs: A basic scup rig is as follows: similiar to the fluke rig
but with different size hooks. The three way swivel setup, in which
the running line is tied to one eye of the swivel, a single snap
is attached to the second eye of the swivel along with the sinker
and on the third eye of the swivel is attached the leader material
with the hook. Hook sizes are no. 6 eagle claw or no. 10 for light
tackle. Leader strength can vary depending on how rocky and abrasive
the bottom structure is. Twenty pound test is adequate in most
cases and the length from 18 inches to two feet.
Baits: Sandworms are bait of choice for scup. Bait the worm fully
on the shank of the hook and allow an inch or so beyond the hook
to flutter in the current. Fresh squid and clams will also work.
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Fluke: Paralichthys dentatus.
Common names: Fluke, Summer Flounder
Habitat: The fluke or summer flounder is found on sandy bottoms,
in the surf, inlets, bays and the mouths of tidal rivers. It can
be distinguished from other flatfish by having both eyes on the
left side of its head. Fluke can be found at depths ranging from
10 ft. to greater than 50 ft. From the surf fisherman's perspective
look for clean relatively calm water. A bottom fish, the fluke
is somewhat lazy and will wait in the current for food to be swept
his/her way. Fishing the drop tide as well as the flood can be
productive. In the surf, it is often hit or miss.
Season: Late May through early October.
Tackle: For the Jetty, a six to seven ft.light
to medium spinning outfit with 8 to 15 pound monofilament line
should work just fine. Bait casting rods and reels will do the
job as well. The trick here is to not leave your bait stationary.
Simulate a bounce on the bottom with the rod tip every now and
again to let the fluke know you are there. Casting in different
directions and locations from the jetty should produce results
if the fish are there. In the surf it is possible to hook up with
fluke using a light surf rod and spinning reel (like the Penn 6500
SS) with 15 pound monofilament line.
Rigs: Some basic fluke rigs for the land bound fisherman include
the three way swivel setup in which the running line is tied to
one eye of the swivel, a single snap is attached to the second
eye of the swivel along with a bank sinker. I always use bank sinkers
because of the rocks. It is a matter of choice. On the third eye
of the swivel is attached the leader material with the hook. Hook
sizes range from 1/0 to 4/0. Fluke hooks are off set hooks. Leader
strength can vary depending on how rocky and abrasive the bottom
structure is. Twenty pound test is adequate in most cases and the
length from 18 inches to two feet.
Baits: Bait of choice for fluke is the live killie. Although some
guys swear by live shiners even though they dont live as long in
salt water. Let them swim freely. The fluke is not particular in
its feeding habits. Many strip baits will work on the end of a
bucktail. Some examples include strips of squid, bunker, mackerel,
sea robin, and strips from the belly section of the fluke itself.
Always try to get fresh instead of frozen bait. The size of the
stips range from 1 1/2 inches to 3 inches in length. They should
taper towards the end. The idea is to simulate a fluttering action
of the strip bait in combination with the bucktail. Bait strips
should be 1/2 inch at the hook end tapering to a point on the loose
end. Make it look like a fish and you will attract fish.
Tips: Gentle waters are preferable to big swells. The technique
is to cast the lure and let it sink to the bottom and then lift
the rod tip to bring the lure up a foot or two and then let the
lure fall back.
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Weakfish: Cynoscion regalis
Common names: Weakfish, Sea Trout, Squetegue, Weakies
Habitat: Weakfish range from Maine to Florida on the atlantic
seaboard. The best scientific information available indicates that
weakfish are presently severely overfished and in danger of collapse
due to fly net commercial fishermen along the east coast. Average
Weight - 1 lb., Peak Weight - 20 lb. Weakfish can be caught in
the surf, bays, and jetties flanking inlets. In mid to late summer
weakfish prefer the calmer waters of bays and inlets where grass
shrimp and natural bait are in abundance. The morning and evening
rise are the most productive. Night fishing with bucktails (I prefer
white) is also productive. The weakfish can be found either near
the surface water or the bottom.
Season: Weakfish may be caught from May to November along the
New England Coast.
Tackle: Light to medium spinning tackle with 12 to 20 lb. monofilament
line can be used to catch this fish.
Rigs: Use an 18 inch mono-leader tied directly to the main line.
Then use a size 2/0 or 3/0 offset hook. Something like a fluke
hook will do. Plugs and spinners can be tied directly to line with
a loop knot or single black snap to facilitate quick changes of
artificials. No leader is required for artificials, just tie them
directly to running line. This includes bucktail jigs. Slow to
medium retrieves are best for plugs and spinners. The rhythmic
pop, pop of the rod tip with a slow retrieve works best with bucktails.
Baits: Clam necks, sand worms, blood worms, grass shrimp if available,
squid, killies, and live lined eels are excellent baits. Baits
are best left to sit on the bottom or float 2 to 3 ft. above the
bottom a little while before your slow retrieve continues.
Tips: The weakfish derived its name for the soft mouth parts that
is characteristic of this fish. Due to its weak mouth structure
a net for landing this fish will be useful. For those of you who
have fished for trout in fresh water, the weakfish is remarkably
similar in its appearance and fighting abilities to its fresh water
cousin.
Under Development: More to come.
Southern United States East Coast
Striped Bass
Blue Fish
Cobia: Rachycentron canadum
Common names:
Ling, Lemon Fish, Sergeant Fish, Crab Eater
Habitat : This species has a broad habitat range.
Cobia range from Massachusetts to Argentina in the western Atlantic, but their range is worldwide in warm waters. It can be found from estuaries, mangrove sloughs, or coral reefs in coastal water to the open ocean. Cobia are often associated with floating objects, including flotsam and moorings.
Averaging 15 to 30 pounds, they can reach up to 100 pounds
Rigs and Bait: Shrimp, squid and large spoons, plugs and jogs are good baits used with wire leader and 15-25 pound test monofilament rigs.
Tips: Will definitely take pitched baits and lures on light tackle, and is a very tastey large fish. Anglers should look behind larger cruising and feeding rays, and around bridge pilings, bouys, floating weeds, and reefs for a cobia, then pitch a live bait such as a mullet, eel, pinfish, or croaker well in front of the cobia on light takle (15lb-30lb test) with a short leader of 40lb-50lb mono. Alternatively, cobia are fond of large bucktail jigs with soft plastic tails or tipped with squid. In the Northern Gulf of Mexico, cobia often migrate on shallow sand bars just beyond the beach, making for excellent sight fishing and pier fishing. In the winter, cobia also often enter coastal spring fed rivers and power plant discharges in Florida. In the Chesepeake, cobia lurk around the CBBT islands and also enter inlets near Buckroe Beach VA.
Red Drum
Black Drum
Atlantic Croakers
Southern Kingfish
Gulf Coast
Gulf Kinfish Whiting
West Coast
