The autumn run is a chaotic and fantastic time to be a striped bass angler. Despite the fact that fishermen all through a lot of the Northeast can rely on about two stable months of fishing for migrating stripers between Labor Day and New Yr’s, there’s a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” really feel that causes us to solid with a way of urgency that wasn’t current again when the bass had been migrating north.
To assist benefit from this 12 months’s fall striper migration, we’ve compiled this “Survival Information” by surveying among the most devoted surfcasters within the Northeast and sharing a few of our favourite suggestions for the ultimate months of the striper season. – Jimmy Price
Know When to Fold ‘Em
It’d be unattainable to pinpoint the precise finish level of any 12 months’s fall run. From a realistic standpoint, the it ends on the winter solstice, however from a extra romanticized view, the autumn run doesn’t finish till the final surfcaster hangs up his gear for the season.
Late-season storms or extended chilly snaps will hurry the fish alongside, however it’s virtually sure that the fishermen stop earlier than the stripers do. Listed below are the cues that our surveyed surfcasters use to determine when to name it a season.
“The primary accumulating snow is once I begin to clear out the truck.”
– Craig Cantelmo, New York
“I journey it out as near Christmas as I can within the surf. I’ve heard ghost tales of large bass slinking by in winter when most surfcasters have lengthy put their gear away. And about 8 years in the past, I capitalized on one such event when it was nearing late December. Bunker had been nonetheless round, and there was rain bait together with heavy bass within the wash, and never one other soul round. My spouse (then girlfriend) was with me and we fly fished and used common gear till darkish, although the fish had been nonetheless feasting. As we drove off the seaside, a snowy owl was in our path. It was my first time ever seeing one at evening and, it was an superior sight!”
– Stephen Lobosco, New York
“I normally simply go till the wheels fall off. Whether or not it’s me or the fish first is the query.”
– Frank Goncalves, Massachusetts
“In years previous we might have some large bass on herring very late within the season, at instances on the finish of December into January. For me, it’s laborious to get bass to decide to a plug when the temps begin to fall into the low to mid 40s, and that’s once I usually pack it up.”
– Chris Voorhees, New York
“Fall run normally ends first or second week of January for me. When fish get actually small and I can’t really feel my arms, I’m completed.”
– Mike Gleason, New Jersey
“I normally hold it up after the second week of November, although I’ll fish later if the climate cooperates. We’ve had some phenomenal fishing right here in Rhode Island round Thanksgiving in years previous.”
– Earl Evans, Rhode Island
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WATCH: Encore | Fall Run Finale – OTW Shorts
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Keep Cellular or Keep Put | Fall Run Survival Information
Reap the Rewards of Autumn Storms | Fall Run Survival Information
