How do stripers strike

[Doublerunner]

Just wondering on this. In my 1st year here of striper fishing all my fishing has been done with plugs so my experience is limited. But in thinking about where the fish has been hooked, all my catches have been hooked with the center treble. This means they are striking from the side or I am setting my hook late and getting lucky in catching them with the center treble. I am sure if you're dunking chunked bait then that does not apply to this. But what if you're fishing live eels? I've heard that stripers will typically hit these head on so then why wouldn't they do that with a plug as well

[zimno1]

it all depends on where in proximity the lure is. in that i mean, we have all seen her blast a plug right off the bat as it hits the water and have had her follow the plug as far as two feet from the beach before allowing it escape. water clarity and time of day will cause this i'm sure. while the plug can be moving toward the fish on the retrieve if she is underneath and looking up? she already knows the plug is coming as heard it hit the water already. and, has cued in on it's location, and it's receptors are keying in on it's movements as it gets closer or moves away. as it moves by, the lateral line and chemo receptors are confused collectively as sense of smell is paramount so now it will "investigate" a prospective offering by approaching it and at that moment it moves by triggers the strike and it could be that reason for a later than usual hit as smell has not made it immediately woof if down. i'm no rocket scientist but i make this assumption based on the fish's senses.

[dpohlson]

Most of what I've read of the species, and my experience says the striped bass will try to strike head on OR attempt to turn the bait around in it's mouth. this being do to the fact that fish scales generally have one smooth direction, and a direction that will catch in ur throat.

If you think about it, eels can be 12" long and more, and they always seem to hit them head first. I'd say head first for active quarry. For crabs and chunks, and trash (I've seen them eat hot dog chunks), I think they just suck em any way. Another good reason to use circle hooks. Circle hooks are more of a pain to bait, but they do decrease mortality.

[duquette5]

Well so far this season I'd have to say that stripers strike infrequently