YOUR STRIPED BASS FISHING GUIDE

It's essential to get to know the fish you will be chasing before you blame it on the gear, time of year, or bananas.

• Striped Bass are very sensitive to changing water temperatures, currents, and tides. They prefer cooler water temperatures around 60 degrees. Where they move and the path they take will heavily depend on those three factors.
• These fish can't control where their groceries are located, so knowing where to find their baitfish is key to finding them. Finding these fish in open water usually means they are chasing after a large school of small fish.
• Along the east coast, you can follow their migration from the Chesapeake Bay in early spring to New York where the summer, and as the leaves begin to fall, they head down south, as far as North Carolina.

The average size is about 30 inches in length and around 10-20 pounds. Females will outgrow males since male stripers typically only reach approximately 20 pounds.

Anglers enjoy the thought of the "big fish," and landing the biggest Striper ever caught would take the netting a striped bass more than 81 pounds and 15 ounces! That fish was hooked in 2011, in the Long Island Sound area. The Bucket List catch for an avid striper fisherman or woman is one meeting the treasured 50-pound mark.

Striper Bass are unique since they can be found in freshwater and saltwater. The best time of year to catch Striped Bass will depend on if you're fishing in a river, lake, ocean, or reservoir. We will break it down by the seasons, and while all seasons can be productive, the best season to fish for any angler is when spawning creates the most predictable activity.

• During Spring, anglers near the coast will want to fish around the tidal rivers. Striper Bass Fishing on a landlocked body of water will require targeting the shallow water areas near flats and windblown banks during the early spawn.
• During the Fall, if your a shoreline fishermen on the coast, your best bet will be fishing at night. When aboard a charter boat off the coast, head out in the early morning or late evening and hope for cloudy conditions. Freshwater anglers can find these fish just about anywhere on the water, ledges and points are an excellent place to start.
• During the heat of the day in the summer, they will dive down to the deeper water and then move to feed in the shallows at dawn or dusk.
• Stripers love colder water, but winter fishing for stripers can be hit or miss. Once you locate a hungry school, you've hit the jackpot. Another bonus during this season is less fishing pressure and traffic on the water.

For non-landlocked fish, you can also look at their migration routes. The Chesapeake Bay and its feeder rivers are the most significant contributors for Striped Bass on the Atlantic Coast. Other prime migration areas are the Delaware River, Hudson River, and on the west coast, the San Joaquin River.

Check out our top places to catch a striper. If one of these locations is near you, then chances are any time of the year will keep your lines tight.

Top 10 Striped Bass Destinations

• Beaver Lake - Arkansas
• Lake Texoma - Oklahoma and Texas
• Norfork Lake - Virginia
• Outer Banks - North Carolina
• Martha's Vineyard - Massachusetts
• Virginia Beach - North Carolina
• Montauk - New York
• Lake Cumberland - Kentucky
• Lake Lanier - Georgia
• Bull Shoals Lake - Arkansas

You don't have to fish one of these bodies of water to catch a cooler full or land a trophy. The best way to increase your chances is to head out with a local expert and ask them for fishing tips. Once you learn the Striper's habits in your area and the techniques to use, you will have memories for a lifetime.

There are many techniques to catch Stripers. Anglers should choose a method that is best suited for their body of water, the time of year, and the depth of water.

• Trolling is a favorite among anglers fishing for striped bass. Trolling is the activity of placing a fishing rod in a rod holder, letting out some line, and driving the boat at the appropriate speed. This method allows you to cover a large area until you find the fish and also puts a lot of hooks in the water, increasing your odds.
• Deepwater fishing for Striped Bass can be difficult without the proper equipment, such as a fish finder. During the peak of the summer heat, they will often head to deep structure areas underwater. You need to use a weighted soft plastic lure or live bait to get down deep enough.
• Shallow water fishing is an excellent technique during the spawn or at dusk and dawn. Striper fishing doesn't get more exciting than catching them on a topwater lure.
• When fishing from the shoreline, you can choose your preference of fishing with bait or casting out striped bass lures, such as plugs or spoons, from the surf, pier, or bridge of your choice. When using lures, make sure your treble hooks are sharp and the proper size.
• These fish get some late-night severe munchies, so take advantage of this and enjoy them at prime time. The best fishing tips at this time are for safety. So make sure you have the proper lights for navigation and waterproof lighting for emergencies. This might seem weird, but try lures that are darker in color after the sun has set.
• Many anglers enjoy fishing on their favorite bass river and striper fishing with a fly rod. Fly fishing for striped bass will take very specialized gear and a variety of lines at different sizes. While this method takes some investment and a lot of research, it can certainly pay off.

Before eating fish, it's essential to make sure the waters you harvested the fish from have been designated as safe for the consumption of its fish.

Smaller fish that meet the local size requirements are the best to eat. The texture is like that of cod or tuna and has excellent flavor.

Depending on the local fisheries management goals, rules and regulations can vary from size limits, bag limits, to catch and release only. All anglers will need to check online for the requirements of their fishing spot.

Fishing guides and charters are a great way to get educated on not only how to catch fish, but ensuring that the fish populations are left better than we found them for future generations. After all, these lakes are also the guides livelihood, and they are some of the most passionate conservationists.

• Maryland, South Carolina, and Rhode Island all claim this fish as their official state fish.
• They can live up to 30 years.
• Anglers helped raise the Striped Bass population to over 55,000,000 from 5,000,000 in 1982.
• They are Anadromous. Meaning they can live in both saltwater and freshwater.
• The Coosa River in Alabama and Georgia and Lake Texoma are one of the few places in the nation that landlocked striped bass can reproduce naturally. Other landlocked bodies of water require striped bass being stocked on an annual basis.