Resident Stripers

[trimlc]

The idea of resident stripers has been on my mind for a long time now...and since were all physcho about fishin....I'd like input.
I fish Indian River Inlet during the summer when there are no other Striped Bass to be found anywhere close. Just throw a heavy bucktail during the running tide in the right rip.....your gonna catch 'em, along with some Blues. There are always Stripers that stay put, w/out migrating north. It just boggles my mind a little. I know that the water temperature plays a big role, and the current flow and availablilty of bait keeps them around, but why don't they migrate north like the bigger fish. There are no stripers on the coast line at this time for miles North or South.....as far as I know...only at the inlets.
I take stock in "Bergmanns Rule" which states that the smaller the animal the more surface area, and therefore its easier for the smaller fish to maintain a internal temperature that is agreeable in the warmer water..... Why don't these fish stay offshore in deeper water, and why is it just the shorties? Is IRI that good of a habitat to hold Stripers year round?? If thats the case, are there "resident stripers" ot OC Inlet year round...because OC Inlet doesn't get near the Sharpie fame IRI gets. Any thoughts?

[Charkbait]

iri = 80+ft deep

[Jsmoothie36]

From what i've noticed fishing the 50 bridge in Ocean City there are definietly stripers around during the hot months in the summer. I always thought the only time i'd be able to catch them was the fall and spring. However i've been catching plenty of shorts off the bridge and a few keepers here and there. But Every time i go theres atleast one 36+ incher caught.

[captcl]

They seem to favour the night at OC inlet. I think that probably because they are protected(in the 3mi)so you don't get much of an offshore sample.They get summer shorts to the north so it would be the food source and the "protection" for the juvenile fish. They are out there outside the 3mile just look at the commercial violators(and recreational) over a 3-5year period.
It could eventually change at IR, cycles of the speices,food and habitat.Think about the Trout in Del Bay!

[Sam]

I've seen large pulled from the Ocean City inlet during June/July. They are deep and like eels and live spot.

[FishStu]

You have to look no further than the Chesapeake Bay to see a LARGE population of resident stripers that are very active even in water temp in the upper 80's.
It common to see large schools of breaking stripers around 18" or just under all summer. Down deep stripers over 18 are not uncommon.

[_4Runner_]

everytime i see this thread, i get excited

[TJones]

There's definitely resident stripers around OC and IRI... mostly small but there are keepers too... and some stay all winter, not just summer. Rt. 50 bridge is great structure for bass... most years a good fisherman could catch a bass there any month of the year if he really wanted too.

[trimlc]

Its always in the back of my mind....I go to IRI probobally 15 times a year...trying to "master" the area. There are always shorts...but here shortly, there should be some big boys heading south.....can't wait.