How to Fish for Striped Bass: The Complete Guide for 2024 (2024)

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Striper, Rockfish, Linesider… The Striped Bass is a fish of many names. No matter what you call it, one thing remains the same. It’s one of the most popular and desirable game fish in North America, with hard hits and runs that’ll keep you on your toes. Combine this with its ability to live in both freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water, and it’s easy to see why Striped Bass fishing has stood the test of time.

As well as its hard-fighting attitude, this fish tastes delicious and can grow huge. We’re talking between 10–30 pounds, although varieties weighing 80+ pounds have been recorded. It also has the honor of being the “state fish” of eight US states, from the obvious choices (New York and Rhode Island, anyone?) to places much further afield.

Long before it was targeted for its excellent game properties, the Striper was the Atlantic Coast’s prime market fish. This led to overfishing in this region, which means that this species is now heavily regulated. But don’t worry. Releasing your catch safely doesn’t take away any of the rod-bending excitement that Striper fishing brings with it. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Where to Find Striped Bass

Although the Striper is native to stretches along North America’s Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, this beloved sport fish has been successfully introduced into plenty of fisheries outside of its natural range. This includes places as far-flung as New Mexico, California, and the Carolinas. It can also be found throughout the Midwest and even along Canada’s West Coast, albeit in much smaller numbers.

As this species is so widespread, we’re focusing our attention on different regions within the USA where it’s most plentiful. Let’s delve in…

The East Coast

If there’s a spiritual home for Striped Bass angling enthusiasts, it has to be the US’s East Coast.Here, Striped Bass fishing isn’t just a sport – it’s a way of life. Due to commercial and recreational overfishing, East Coast anglers are very vocal about conservation and practicing catch and release.

• Long Island, NY: Smack-bang in the middle of the annual Striper migration, this is a mecca for surf and Striper fishing. You can find them all over the island and in the Long Island Sound, but the best fishing is around Montauk.
• Cape Cod, MA: Boasting access to Cape Cod Canal and Bay, Nantucket Bay, and the top fishing spot of Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod is a Striper haven. Overfishing has been a problem historically, so anglers practice catch and release, which means this Striper fishery is back at its best.
• Chesapeake Bay: Striped Bass is known as Rockfish in this area, but anglers view it as more of a precious gem! Catches around the 40 lb mark are common, especially near the bridge tunnel. This fish inhabits these waters year-round, but is closed for harvest from January–February.
• Jersey Shore, NJ: These fish migrate north each spring, which is when you’ll find ’em showing up all along Jersey’s Atlantic Coast. Ocean City, Long Island Beach, Sandy Hook, and Cape May in particular see plenty of Striper action.

The South

The East Coast often steals all of the attention when it comes to Striped Bass fishing. The US’s Southern States, however, have enough top Striper fisheries to really hold their own! This region boasts the “Striper Capital of the World,” Lake Texoma, as well as a variety of other fantastic hotspots.

• Lake Texoma: This fishery boasts a combination of freshwater and saltwater from the nearby Red River, and is the perfect habitat for Striped Bass. In fact, these fish love it so much here that they’ve started reproducing naturally. You can fish Lake Texoma from either Texas or Oklahoma.
• Savannah River Chain: Spanning the border between Georgia and South Carolina, this chain system is home to Lakes Thurmond, Hartwell, Richard B. Russell, and more. What’s even better, they’re home to plenty of Striper!
• Lake Lanier, GA: This man-made lake is pretty synonymous with Bass fishing. It boasts over 600 miles of shoreline and a booming Striper population, especially in February and March. Species weighing around 30 pounds are common here.
• St. Johns River: Striped Bass was stocked here and now thrives in this river, thanks to the cool springs that keep temperatures on the milder side. The brackish waters around Jacksonville are especially productive.

The West Coast

Unlike the East Coast, originally there were no Striped Bass in this region. Instead, they were introduced to the West Coast in 1879, when just over 100 fingerling Bass were released into the San Francisco Bay. Since then, they’ve thrived – although it’s definitely true that the number of Striper hotspots here doesn’t quite rival those on the East Coast.

• California: If there is a spot that’s on par with the East Coast, it has to be the San Francisco Bay. Depart from San Francisco itself, and focus your attention near Alcatraz and Treasure Islands, and Raccoon Strait. The Sacramento River south of Butte City, Lake Havasu, and the California Aqueduct canal system are also Striper hotspots.
• Oregon: This fish initially migrated to Coos Bay from California. It’s remained strong in this area and throughout the entire Coos River System. The Umpqua, Coquille, and Smith Rivers also boast thriving Striper populations, especially during the fall.

Best Time to Fish for Striped Bass

Spring

During this season, Stripers linger off open beaches and around rips and tidal streams that flow into bays or open waters. In New Jersey, juveniles and small males leave their wintering spots and make their way to open waters. Late spring ushers in some really big Bass here! The Chesapeake Bay is especially action-packed during this month, too, as the spring Striper run takes place in April. Lake Texoma’s Bass fishing also heats up now.

Summer

In June, larger Striped Bass varieties depart from New Jersey’s waters and head north towards New York, so follow their lead and make your way to Long Island and Montauk. California’s Striped Bass head north from San Francisco Bay to Point Reyes and Monterey Bay during summer, meaning that shore fishing for Striper is at its best. June and July are generally the busiest months on Lake Texoma, thanks to the number of Striped Bass!

Fall

For fall’s hottest Striper action, head to the border between South Carolina and Georgia, where the Savannah River’s chain of lakes lies. Richard B. Russell Lake is perfectly positioned here, and it offers up some of the best fall Striper fishing available. On the Chesapeake Bay, huge Striped Bass make an appearance in late fall.

Winter

Winter is often an angler’s least-anticipated month, thanks to the combination of colder weather and plenty of fish making their way to deeper or warmer waters. Not when it comes to Striped Bass! The majority of these fish migrate south and congregate at the mouths of rivers and bays. They can be found throughout the Chesapeake Bay, the Carolinas, and pockets of Cape Cod Bay. But don’t forget about the Northeast entirely. The Hudson River in New York is a hotspot in winter, too.

How to Fish for Striped Bass

Technically, there are many different ways to chase and catch Striper. Luckily, the setup you’ll need is generally the same, no matter whether you’re fishing in saltwater, freshwater, or brackish water.

Striped Bass Bait

First things first: the Striped Bass is a voracious and opportunistic feeder who will take a variety of baits. This means that, while you never quite know what they’ll attack, there’s a good chance you have something in your tackle box or live bait well that’ll lure them in.

Prefer using live bait? You have quite the list to choose from. Eels, bunker, herring, shad, crabs, bloodworms, and sandworms are all effective in tempting Stripers. The most effective bait overall, however, has to be menhaden. You can cast them on weighted rigs, drift them, or cut them up for chum, and they’ll lure your Bass in effectively.

If you’re using artificial lures, try mimicking these bait fish with plastic or rubber eels, a swim shad, or by combining a tube lure with a live worm. Diamond and parachute jigs are popular, too.

Striped Bass Tackle

When it comes to your setup, the main thing to consider is the size of the fish you’re seeking. If you’re chasing smaller schooling Bass, using medium-light spinning tackle is the key. A 7′ medium rod with fast action will do the job perfectly, and is something that many anglers already have in their fishing toolbox. You’ll be able to cast light lures but still handle a large fish if it bites!

If you’re expecting to encounter schools of huge fish, opt for a heavier spinning outfit. This will enable you to drift or “chunk” larger pieces of live bait into the current, and can be used for vertical jigging with heavy spoons and jigs over underwater structure. This setup is perfect for more hardcore anglers who want to do some heavy-duty trolling with large bait across saltwater fishing grounds or larger lakes.

You don’t need to invest in any special tackle for Striper. Braided or fused lines weighing 30 pounds or more, attached to a 30–50 lb fluorocarbon leader, will do the job.

Common Striped Bass Techniques

At their core, Striped Bass are structure-loving fish. Any technique that allows you to focus your attention around rocky areas, and other nooks and crannies can lead to success. This will differ depending on where you choose to fish, what time of year it is, and whether or not you’re fishing from a boat.

If you’re fishing from a boat, you’ll usually be:

• Trolling. You can cover large areas of water until you hit the jackpot – a large number of fish! This technique is common on large lakes and open waters, especially when the fish are further offshore. If you’re going to be trolling, try implementing either an umbrella or mojo rig. These rigs help to create the illusion of a school of bait fish, which attracts Striped Bass.
• Drift fishing. This is especially effective for the times when Stripers can be found in cooler waters, lurking towards the bottom. Drifting is effective as you’ll keep your bait in the “strike zone” while you search for a school of fish. Cut bait such as strips or chunks of fresh fish, especially menhaden and squid, are effective. Anglers choosing to drift while using artificial lures should opt for jigs and heavy vertical jigging spoons.
• Chumming. This technique allows you to anchor in one spot, usually over underwater structure where Bass often congregate. Once you’re in place, you can chum menhaden oil or similar from your boat, with several rods rigged and hooked up with chunks of fresh bait.

As Stripers also spend a lot of time near coastlines and even in brackish rivers and marsh flats, fishing for them on foot is common. Below, we’ll dive into some common rigs that you can use when fishing from a boat or on foot.

How to Go Topwater Fishing for Striper Bass

There are plenty of ways to rig your line for Striper – we’d need to write a whole book to cover them all! We’ve decided to cover some of the most popular rigs below. One of the most common ways to target these fish is with light tackle and topwater lures, as shown in the video below:

Opt for a 7–8′ medium spinning rod. Attach a 40 lb braided line to a 40–50 lb fluorocarbon leader, then connect your lure to the leader. One of our favorite lures for topwater fishing is any topwater popper capable of mimicking a “walk the dog” movement. This erratic, zig-zagging movement catches the attention of Stripers, especially during the summer months when they’re on the prowl. This rig works if you’re on a boat or fishing from shore, and is a great option for newbies and experienced anglers alike.

Other Common Striped Bass Rigs

Fish-finder rig. Perfect for surf fishers, this rig is popular along the beaches of New Jersey. It consists of a leader with a hook, then a barrel swivel which is tied to the main line behind a fish-finder weight slide. The fish-finder rig is ideal for large pieces of bait, around 2–4 inches in size. You can use your standard Striper fishing gear, and will want to use a circle hook between 1/0 and 5/0 in size.

Mojo rig. Also known as parachute rigs, mojos are a type of lure that are seriously heavy. They can weigh as much as 2 pounds or even more. They’re perfect for anglers who want to plumb deep waters without having to add extra in-line weights. This makes them especially effective when trolling for Striper. Some anglers like to combine two mojo lures for extra weight. Others prefer to combine a mojo lure with a lighter parachute lure. This means they can present lures of different colors and sizes in deep waters.

Umbrella rig. During the summer, Stripers are on the prowl for schools of bait fish to feed on. This makes it the perfect time to fish with an umbrella rig. Umbrella rigs consist of metal crossbars, usually weighted in the center, with either four or six arms each ending in a loop, where you attach a swivel with clips at both ends. They’re made to imitate a school of bait fish, and are most effective when simple casting and retrieving, especially from shore or a pier.

Striped Bass Fishing: An Encounter With Game Fish Royalty

By now, we think it’s pretty clear why Striped Bass has endured as one of North America’s most famous game fish. Doing battle with one of these guys is like living through history, they’ve been part-and-parcel of America’s fishing scene for that long! All that’s left now is to experience a Striper fight first-hand. You know where you need to go, and you know what you need to bring. Rods and reels at the ready – let your battle with this famous fish begin!

If you’d like to read about other underwater residents, visit our Fish Species: The Ultimate Guide blog post.

Have you ever been Striped Bass fishing? Where did you go? Any tips and tricks you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments. We love hearing from you!