Captain Henry Feeney joins Andy and Rich for a trip down to NJ to find a big body of striped bass that has been chasing herring off of Sandy Hook. They vow to leave the bait at home and go only equipped with light spinning tackle. They use only swimming plugs and a couple of poppers to score dozens of fish including several keepers to prove that these fish can be effectively targeted with artificial lures.
Most anglers would “match the hatch” and fish live herring. However, this one of the few times that artificial baits are more effective. Aside from the dramatic strikes, it is much easier to run and gun (race to fish blowing bait on top) than to drift live baits. The stripers tend to move quickly and jump from one herring school to the next.
If you have questions about any of the equipment used during the show, please contact us.
Click here for our Striped Bass Plugging gear recommendations.
Preview Clip
(scroll down for full length show)
Watch on YouTube or share this link: http://youtu.be/oUGcVSKqu8o
Full Length Show
Watch on YouTube or share this link: http://youtu.be/rbkNr831oL0
Frequently Asked Questions
The recommended tackle for striped bass fishing off Sandy Hook is light spinning tackle. This setup allows anglers to effectively use artificial lures such as swimming plugs and poppers to catch a variety of striped bass, including keeper-sized fish.
Artificial lures are preferred in this scenario because striped bass are actively chasing herring schools, making rapid movements from one school to another. Using lures allows anglers to quickly move and cast to different spots, which is easier than drifting live bait and helps to provoke dramatic strikes.
Swimming plugs and poppers are the primary artificial lures used during the trip. These lures are effective in imitating the baitfish movements that attract striped bass, helping anglers catch dozens of fish efficiently under the conditions described.
Yes, the page offers a dedicated section with gear recommendations specifically for striped bass plugging. Interested anglers can find detailed suggestions on the appropriate tackle to use for this fishing technique by following the provided link or contacting the host for more information.
Yes, the full-length fishing show featuring the striped bass trip at Sandy Hook is available to watch on YouTube. The page provides direct links to both a preview clip and the full show for easy online viewing and sharing.
This trip is unique because the anglers choose to forgo live bait and instead rely solely on artificial lures with light spinning tackle. This approach highlights the effectiveness of plug fishing for striped bass chasing herring, offering a more active and dynamic fishing experience compared to traditional live bait methods.
