Striped Bass on Live Bunker
For livelining large baits, we recommend a conventional rod and reel combo consisting of a Shimano Torium 20 reel on a Tallus conventional rod (model TLC-70MHA). This is a very versatile conventional outfit and is perfect for nearly all northeast chunking applications.
We recommend loading the reel with 30lb Berkley Big Game attached to a 3-4ft length of 50-80lb Berkley Big Game Fluorocarbon leader using a #10 Mustad Rolling Swivel. The rig is completed with a 8/0 Mustad 92553BL Ultrapoint Beak Bait style hook. This is an incredibly sharp hook and is the most effective hook when using large live baits.
Wire Leaders?
When they are alot of blues around we switch to 80lb Big Fluoro, but never to a wire leader. Wire leaders tend to greatly reduce the chance of a pickup and the 80lb leader is typically tough enough to get the blues to the boat for a quick release.
Hooking Baits
The best hook placement for swimming live bunker is on the top of the bait just behind the dorsal. This will allow the angler to steer the bait and keep the bait in the hit zone when a fishing is chasing it. This method is best for very slow drifts or when anchored in shallow water with very little current or none).
When drifting deep baits an egg sinker (typically 4oz or more) should be placed on the main line ahead of the swivel. The hook must be placed in the nose of the bunker. However, a very big hook set is needed to pull the hook out of the bait and into the striped bass.
Snagging Bunker
We typically use a 7 foot spinning oufit loaded with 30-50lb braided line. The thin diameter of the braided line allows use to easily cast an un-weighted 10/0 Mustad treble hook (3551-DT) over a bunker school. We reel very slowly and when we feel a slight tick on the line we take a swing to set the hook. This works nearly every time. If we feel alot of vibration in the line that suggests we have snagged the bunker well behind the head and will leave that bait in place to see if it gets picked up.
