Surf Fishing A.I. weekend of 10/21-10/22

[Even Steven]

Headed down to A.I. October 21-22. What type of fish can I expect to be running this time of year?

Was down on 9/18. Caught 1 Kingfish (14"), 1 blue (16") and 1 smally Porgy.

Any suggestions for rigs? What weight sinkers will hold botton this time of year? Thanks!

Steve

[Bohica]

Stripers and blues.

Use a bunker noggin on a 6/0 circle hook and fishfinder.

Weight depends on sea conditions. Use the least amount of lead to hold bottom.

[Even Steven]

I see alot of people swear by the FF setup, sort of like this:



My question is, on the 100lb mono leader (which I am going at least 5"), should I be using a floater on there to keep the chunk bunker off the bottom?

Steve

[trowpa]

Steve - (another Steve?!? That makes...ummm...4 of us??? hehe)

Anway, Even (I'll call you that for clarity) - most people don't use floats on FF rigs for any one of these reasons (depending on the target species, usually all of them)

#1 - fish could shy away from it - bait isn't natural looking
#2 - fish could be a bottom oriented feeder
#3 - wind resistance when casting

However, if fishing for a species that you don't believe would be deterred by a float (aka blue fish), you can use a float to draw attention to the bait and keep it away from crabs and skates..... Most cases, this would be a non-fishfinder rig such as a fireball or mullet rig....

[max]

If I'm loosing a lot of bait to crabs and skates I go with a float. It doesn't seem to be a problem with blue fish and sharks. The one big down side as trowpa pointed out is it does cut down on casting distance.

[Even Steven]

Wow. Thanks so much for the quick reply. This forum certainly does provide alot of help and advice.

I am 32, have fished my whole life, and have never caught a striper. Please help to make the weekend of 10/21-10/22 my first Rockfish catch on A.I. !!

I need to figure out these knots to copmplete my rig (how to connect 40# shock lead with remaining line). I need to find a good supplier of beads also that will fit on 40# mono.

Is the idea of the bead so the sinker does not ride up and over the know which you connect the shock lead and remaining line? What kind of know is best for this?

What size barrel swivel would you recommend for a setup with 6-8" - 100# leader, 20' - 40# shock, and 12# remaining line? For a hook, will throw in a 6/0 Circle Octopus. My rod is 8 feet and reel is a Penn (non-conventional).

I am going with this rod for striper and am chunking with bunker and probably leaving the rod in the spike (I get jumpy with it in my hand at times and tend to jerk the circle hook right out).

Thanks for the help!

Steve

[trowpa]

I wouldn't worry about the beads for now. I like to keep things simple. Lots of choices with knots for your shock leader - that's kind of a can of worms, actually. I'd do a search for shock leader and see what you find. No shortage of opinions on "the best knot" Look at them all, find one that you can tie well, cast well, and is relieable for you. Personally I use what's called a "Standard shock knot" on blackbeard's site. But I think i'm the only one on this board that uses it lol so i'm not sure I thats much of an endorsement....

Definitely spike your rod, as you could sometimes wait for an awful long time before a hit.

Btw - I'm 32 as well and only caught my first (and second) stripers this past June (although sadly, they were caught in NJ, not on AI) and I couldn't have done it without the help of the folks here. You've come to the right place for help see below for the "chit eating grin" that happens when you hold your first one!

http://www.atlanticanglers.com/forum...read.php?t=862 (MY FIRST SURF STRIPER!!!!!)

Still waiting for my first AI rock too! Good luck....I hope to see you out there sometime.

[Steve]

You can buy beads at any craft shop. A bag of 1000 is 3 or 4 bucks. Different colors and sizes too. They'll fit heavy line, just look at the opening on the bead before you buy. Far less expensive than buying from a tackle shop.

You can use a 125# barrel.

[Even Steven]

There was a chart on here before of how to cut a fish for bait if anyone could point me in the right direction.

What is the bait of choice this time of year (fall) for Striper? Clam strips? Bunker? I'm not using live bait, so scratch the eels.

So, if using the circle hooks on a FF rig, I would just cast and let her sit in the spike until I see / hear a strike? Then just start reeling? Quickly? Slowly? Would I let the fish walk me down the beach or do I just hold my ground and try to remain in the same spot with rod tip up and reeling?

Now when the rod is cast out and sitting in the spike, do I just loosen the drag to very loose on my spinner reel so the fish can run a little before setting the hook or do I keep it fairly tight so minimal line is taken out?

Sorry for all the questions. I just think it's time I finally hook into a striper. I'm not getting any younger and I want to give credit to all on this great forum who helped when the day finally arrives and I land one.

Thanks in advance!

Steve

[trowpa]

Ok - i'll take a stab at some of these....
THe chart is here: http://www.hatterasoutfitters.com/faq_baitprep.htm

Clams seems to be used more in NJ shore and north..but i'm pretty sure they would catch fish on AI too. I caught my only 2 stripers on Clams
But...99% of people on AI use bunker.

As far as hooking the fish w/ circle hooks and a FF rig, there is some art/some science...but basically you wait for the fish to run with it (how long? That's the art!) and then start reeling steadily, not to quick..the fish is running remember - that will do most of the work...

As for when to go down the beach, this is also an instinct thing, but mostly, i try to keep the fish going out straight from my rod and at a 90 degree angle from the shore - that gives you the most control. If the fish goes down the beach too far, you end up with your line hit sideways by the waves, and the fish hitting the waves, wash, and sand before you're close enough to control it...so, if the fish is running fast parralell to the beach, walk down with it if you have to, to get yourself back at 90 degrees.

For the drag when you're spiked - if you have a baitrunner type reel, that's ideal - you want just enough resistance to keep the line from going out by wave/wind action....then when the fish is running, you tighten the drag to engage (not set!) the circle hook. Tighting the drag when spiking not only works against the circle hook design - it also leads to lots of lost gear!!!!! Of course, there are subtle things about drag too (more art coming in). Some people feel that if you leave the drag tighter while spiked (but still loose enough not to pull the rod into the water) you hook up more often due to the "sling shot" action of the rod....that's up for debate, but that's why you'll see people use more weight than really necesary to hold bottom and tighting down on the drag sometimes....

Anyway - usual caveats apply as i'm a rookie at this stuff, but this pretty much somes up what I've taken from my experiences thus far and the advice i've heard (at least the parts that have sunk in).

[Coop]

Bait,,,bunker chunks, including heads

Change bait every 15 - 20 minutes,,,circles, no setting the hook, let her hit and swallow, if its spiked, by the time you get to the spike, hook should be set,,,use sharp hooks,,,you can hold your ground or walk with her, I think the choice is yours,,,many will say hold your ground, others will say walk down the beach,,,,if she's running down the beach, I am going down the beach with her, with rod tip up and tension at all times.

set the drag,,,not reel loose, some tension, just make sure if a big one gets on, she can run and not take the rod out to sea.

[Even Steven]

Originally Posted by trowpa

Ok - i'll take a stab at some of these....
THe chart is here: http://www.hatterasoutfitters.com/faq_baitprep.htm

Clams seems to be used more in NJ shore and north..but i'm pretty sure they would catch fish on AI too. I caught my only 2 stripers on Clams
But...99% of people on AI use bunker.

As far as hooking the fish w/ circle hooks and a FF rig, there is some art/some science...but basically you wait for the fish to run with it (how long? That's the art!) and then start reeling steadily, not to quick..the fish is running remember - that will do most of the work...

As for when to go down the beach, this is also an instinct thing, but mostly, i try to keep the fish going out straight from my rod and at a 90 degree angle from the shore - that gives you the most control. If the fish goes down the beach too far, you end up with your line hit sideways by the waves, and the fish hitting the waves, wash, and sand before you're close enough to control it...so, if the fish is running fast parralell to the beach, walk down with it if you have to, to get yourself back at 90 degrees.

For the drag when you're spiked - if you have a baitrunner type reel, that's ideal - you want just enough resistance to keep the line from going out by wave/wind action....then when the fish is running, you tighten the drag to engage (not set!) the circle hook. Tighting the drag when spiking not only works against the circle hook design - it also leads to lots of lost gear!!!!! Of course, there are subtle things about drag too (more art coming in). Some people feel that if you leave the drag tighter while spiked (but still loose enough not to pull the rod into the water) you hook up more often due to the "sling shot" action of the rod....that's up for debate, but that's why you'll see people use more weight than really necesary to hold bottom and tighting down on the drag sometimes....

Anyway - usual caveats apply as i'm a rookie at this stuff, but this pretty much somes up what I've taken from my experiences thus far and the advice i've heard (at least the parts that have sunk in).

That was awesome! Thanks for the advice. Where in Eastern PA ya from neighbor?

Steve

[trowpa]

Macungie - you?

[Even Steven]

Originally Posted by trowpa

Macungie - you?

Springfield, Delaware County (about 10 miles West of Philly). Not sure where Macungie is.?

Steve

[trowpa]

Macungie is just SW of Allentown. I am about 2 miles from Dorney Park. I work in Horsham - a little closer to you. I believe Bohica lives near you as well. Small world - looks like we were both born in 8/74 too ;)