Great Report D!

On Friday night I packed up my kickboat in the back of my truck and loaded all my gear to go striper fishing at the Forebay early Saturday morning. I got an even later text from a friend Friday night. It said, "Stripers are being caught at Tioga."

Now my first instinct was to post on this site then I thought I better get my facts straight. At 1130 pm I finally decided to unload my pontoon and go striper fishing off the beach.

I hit the beach Saturday morning around 6:30AM and to my amazement there were about 25 guys lined up on the beach. There were a lot of stripers caught but most of them were undersized. I did see a couple of guys with two fish limits around 22 inches.

I used my perch set up, carolina rigged 6" sandworm. The only change was my leader. I used 20lb test line. I fish for stripers this way because it allows me to catch some nice perch and if the stripers are there they will hit the sandworm too. I caught 3 undersize stripers and got about 4 good hits that bent my rod in half but I couldn't get my small #2 hook to stick.

When the bite is more consistent I'll start using a stiffer rod and throwing hair raiser and stuff. So far this year is going well for the striped bass. Fish are being caught from Seaside to Palm Beach.

My only advise at this point is pick a beach and start casting. The fish are scattered so I don't think anyone beach is better than the other right now. Guys were able to find holes that held 8-10 stripers but majority of not all were undersized.

The bellies of the fish contained anchovies and sand crabs.

Hope this helps. Glenn

Great report as always Glenn.... will try to head out there by weekend and throw some plugs.

I made it out this afternoon and went to the backside of Orchard Supply. Nobody was out there but me. That wasn't a good sign. First thing I thought was all the stripers had moved on. My better judgement told me that "all" the stripers didn't leave so I started out towards Fort Ord.

The water was nice with a little seaside here and there but it wasn't anything you couldn't work around. I made it half way to Fort Ord and threw a Hair raiser and trap with not one single tap. I fished all the way back to my starting point and got there as the sun was setting. Again not one tap, tug or solid bite the whole way back.

I was ready to give up but I knew if I was going to catch a striper it would be just as the sun disappeared. Lucky me....I hooked one right at the waters edge!

Tough afternoon of fishing but I didn't go home empty handed.

Glenn

very nice Glenn...........it's whats for dinner... thumbs up.

Hey Glenn

Thanks for another great report along with fantastic pic. It was a real pleasure meeting you yesterday at the shop. Nice VS by the way.You will fit right in with the Montauk crowd with that. I am saving up for one this summer. That looks like a 150? See ya in the suds .
Lee

Euro, that fish was the perfect size for the bbq and just the right enough for dinner. Thanks for checking in!

Lee,
You got it Lee! It was very nice to meet you too and to actually talk to an East Coast Striper Guy!!! Yes the reel is a 150. I have to thank my wife for that one. I don't think I would have bit the bullet without trying one out first but she's a no nonsense shopper! Best reel I ever used as far as quality and drag goes but it's not the smoothest thing in the world. It strong as a winch. Anyone looking to get a VS should know it will feel stiff when you reel and it's designed that way. The seal tolerance are so tight to keep it water proof. You give up a little but you are getting a true water (and sand) proof reel. I know the thread is titled Marina Beach Stripers but chime in Lee with what's happening in your area.


The bite has definitely slowed down at Tioga. Back to the drawing board with a lot of walking and casting.

Yup you nailed it. Feels stiff at first when compared to the fancy shimano's etc.. I have gone back to the old Penn 704z just because its easy to take apart and service (until I can afford the VS). No other reel is more regarded out in Montauk than the VS. There is no way to keep sand and salt out when getting knocked down repeatedly and swimming out to rocks. The thing is all the fancy reels will fail after a few days of hadrcore surfcasting and then they ain't worth %$*. Eat sleep fish like madmen when chasing the fall run and no time to be having your reel lock up and trying to dismantle it on the road. Ya I'm down with the VS although it's mostly because of the type of fishing I do back east. Most guys out here don't quite get that and that's totally understandable. I took my friend from Santa Cruz with me on one the trips back east last fall and he has been bidding on VS on ebay. He saw it first hand. Your wife must be quite special I'm sure. Most guys have to hide there VS from their significant others.
Thanks Glenn

Haven't posted in awhile but I went out in Monterey today to plug the outgoing. There were only a few fishermen out and I fished my spot with no one within a quarter mile. I got hit about 45 minutes in and got my first surf striper this year =]. Heres the pic

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Congrats!! FYI, picture didn't post but thanks for the report.

Nice job SJ!!!

Thanks for the report....but where's the picture?

Glenn

I don't know how to attach an image onto here. I know I've done it before but for the life of me I can't remember how. It's on my Iphone though.

On Friday I fished the incoming tide from the Sand Plant almost to the barge. The water looked great and clean of any debris. All I got was one good hit. I about ripped the tail off of my swim bait. Even though the water was nice the holes at the beaches further south look a lot nicer.

This morning I went back to the backside of Orchard and started walking towards Fort Ord. Got several hits from small stripers. Caught 4 undersized. Caught one fish 26" but all beat up from a sea lion so I let him/her go. Then I caught another 26" from the same hole that I kept!

Great day of fishing. Rod was bent the majority of the time. I hope this keeps up.

Glenn

ALOHA GLENN ,

NICE STRIPER, I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GET OUT TO THE SURF AND DO SOME CATCHING. YOU HAVE SOME GREAT POSTS, YOU MUST BE ONE HECK OF A FISHERMAN. I GREW UP IN MARINA WHEN I WAS YOUNGER BUT NOW I LIVE IN SOUTH COUNTY CLOSE TO THE LAKES, I DO ALOT OF BASS FISHING BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE SURF. I ALSO TAKE TRIPS TO PYRAMID LAKE IN NEVADA FOR CUTTROAT TROUT GOT A NICE 12 1/2 POUNDER IN FEBRUARY. HOW DO YOU FISH YOUR GRUB OR MINNOW? I SAW ON SOME OF YOUR POST THAT YOU CAROLINA RIG A SAND WORM BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR GRUBS & MINNOWS? HOPE TO GET OUT THERE SOON.

MAHALO, AND HAVE A VERY ALOHA FILLED DAY!!!!!!!!!

STEVE

That's a cutthroat? It looks like a big brown trout.

Yep Cutthroat, I believe they only have Lahotan Cutthroats, Sacramento Perch and a fish called Cui. Pyramid Lake is on a Indian Reservation about 30 miles outside of Sparks Nevada. Here a better pic of a smaller Cutthroat around 20 inches.