First Time Post--Stripers in the Shallows

[Lee337]

Hello everyone,

Lee here. I signed up for SnaggedLine the day I got back from Afghanistan. I had a ton of leave time saved up and spent the entire time on my kayak chasing snakies, explaining why this is my first post. I'd like to add that I think it's great that there are so many fellow Maryland yakkers here and I look forward to meeting some of you in the near future.

I've had limited success with snakeheads since October, and I think I will be giving them a rest until Spring. I will, however, be trying my luck with Stripers next week. I'm in southern Maryland, but I haven't been after Stripers for a while. I usually throw buck tails with jerkshads attached...anyone have any another insights to share about what to toss this time of year? Maybe even some areas to hit, unless you feel I'm poaching your favorite spots. Thanks everyone.

[Mark]

Welcome home and welcome to Snaggedline.

I don't know your area but stripers seem to be prevalent in the main stem of the Bay and its tributaries here in Anne Arundel and Queen Annes Counties.

Soft plastics on jigs and crank baits are popular as are top water plugs this time of year.

I prefer to cast those lures in shallow waters while others do very well (better) trolling channels and edges where shallow water meets deeper water.

Good luck.

[Lee337]

Thank you Mark,

I'm accustomed to chasing Stripers in southern Maryland in places like Calvert Cliffs and Hog point. Pre 9/11 I remember fishing in close proximity to the gas docks and hitting so many of them that we would get tired. This will be my first attempt at Stripers on a kayak. I've never fished Anne Arundel or Queen Anne, perhaps I will give them a try some day in the foreseeable future. Thanks!

[dtandrade]

Welcome to Snagged Line Lee. I am in the Anne Arundel county are as well and have been having success trolling 1/2oz white jig heads with 4" Berkley gulp alive 4" chartreuse swimming mullets. I have fished down near the gas docks a few times on my buddies boat and have trolled umbrella rigs with chartreuse paddle tails and had success there, so there is no reason that setup I mentioned should not produce fish for youon the kayak. GOOD LUCK! And thank you for your service.

[whenican]

Likewise..... Welcome home & thanks for your service! Being in s MD you can launch & cast rat-l-traps & spinners near piers & structure in addition to what Mark said plus you could drop some cut bait. I caught a 16" striper w/a piece of bloodworm yesterday @Point Lookout. I usually carch them when I'm targeting w perch or croakers.... Go figure. Good luck & let us know how you do.

[J.A. Veil]

I have been trolling 4 lines from my kayak in shallow shoreline areas in the middle section of the Severn River. I am typically in depths of 2-6 ft. The bite has not been super fast, but I have been catching a few keeper rockfish on each trip. Yesterday I trolled for nearly 4 hours with only six fish caught -- 5 rockfish and one perch. Three of the five rockfish were keepers (20", 19" [that fish was really fat], and 18") plus two smaller ones. Perhaps my most noteworthy catch today was a 12.75" white perch that hit a trolled 4.5" paddletail. The fish definitely had a preference in lure color today. 4 of the 5 rockfish and the perch hit a Offshore Angler 4.5" Saltwater Sally paddletail in chart/glo color. The other rockfish hit a Berkely Powerbait 4" Ripple Shad in firetiger. The 5" paddletail that caught well on Mon did not get touched today, nor did a Storm Shad.


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If you don't like to troll, you can throw this type of lure or a swimming plug at shallow areas that have structure and moving current. Good luck.

[dsiekman]

Maybe that was my problem yesterday. I was fishing white, pearl, and glow/red. Not so much as a nibble but I marked some REALLY nice fish. Mostly hanging close to the bottom.

[dtandrade]

Maybe that was my problem yesterday. I was fishing white, pearl, and glow/red. Not so much as a nibble but I marked some REALLY nice fish. Mostly hanging close to the bottom.

I would definitely bring white and chartreuse with you. Try both and see what they are hitting and switch your other rods to those colors that are working. Chartreuse has been producing the most fish for me.

[imagine29028]

Rattletraps around docks on dropoffs....super fun

[Lee337]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of you and sharing your knowledge with me. I put all of your advice to use yesterday...and managed to hook into one striper at St. Jerome's inlet. I wasn't out there very long, but the conditions were excellent. I'm going (I think) to the M&G at PLO in a week or so, I'll try my luck then too!