HARVEST MOON STRIPERS

As the days of summer draw to a close and the cool autumn nights start to lengthen, striper fishermen all along the Atlantic coast start to have visions of trophy fish being brought to the boat or the surf. While a good many fishermen are pulling their boats for the season, the striper fisherman is just getting prepared for the most productive part of the striper season.

Even though stripers have been in the area for a few months, most fishermen realize that a summer full of feeding on eels, pogies, mackerel and squid only helps to add bulk and weight to the muscular frames of the mighty striper. During the fall months when stripers are feeding heavily in preparation for their southern migration, trophy fish are most likely to be caught. Though good sized bass are caught from shortly after their spring arrival in may, the biggest fish of the season are generally caught under the harvest moon.

One of the greatest pleasures of fishing during the fall months is that fishermen are not bothered by the small boat maniacs that take pleasure in buzzing anglers, excessive speed and a general disregard for others. Beach fishermen have little trouble claiming a small piece of real estate to work plugs or cast a bait to the foaming surf. By this time most fishermen have laid their rod and reel combinations to rest for the long winter months. The waters and beaches belong to those that realize the joys of late season bass fishing.

There are many different baits for attracting fall bass. One thing that I have found over the years is to slightly cripple the bait when using live offerings. Large stripers seem to be lazy and don’t like to chase after a lively bait. When the bait is exceptionally lively, smaller and more energetic stripers will be the first to take advantage of it. When presenting pogies, for example, clip the pectoral fins. This forces the bait to swim in a lopsided and erratic manner making it easier for the striper to hit it. Some of the other baits that can be effective are sea clams, mackerel, herring and squid.

One of my favorite fall fishing experiences is to fish the rips. The Deer Island Rip just outside Boston is one of the most productive striper spots around. On just about any moonlit night boats can be seen working the rip. Anchoring above the rip and working a bait into the rip has proven to be a successful method for many a bass fisherman. Good sized bass have fallen victim to any one of a large variety of large plugs that are worked on any given night.

Some of the best plugs worked under the harvest moon at the rip are the Stan Gibbs, Goo Goo Eyes and Big Momma plugs. Some fishermen take the time to turn out copies of these proven fish catchers. Other fishermen prefer to present large spoons such as Pet Spoons and Bunker Spoons.

Stripers are nocturnal feeders and the best chances for catching a keeper fall during a night tide. When fishing the rip, work your trip so that the moving tide will create the strongest currents at he rip.

Fishermen will argue back and forth about the use of a leader at the rip. Most are in agreement that a leader should be used but frequent active debates occur when the use of a steel leader is brought up. Longer leaders are generally preferred when using spoons.

There are other areas that produce great harvest moon stripers. The Winthrop shoreline is one of these areas. Consisting of numerous rocky stretches and prime bass habitat, Winthrop draws fishermen from both the North and South Shores of Boston. Bait can be successfully drifted into the rocky shores with ease. Generally because of the shallow and rocky waters, fishermen prefer to use heavier gear so that the fish can be controlled and brought to the boat in a short time. The longer the fish is allowed to fight the greater the odds of a break-off and lost fish.

Because of the somewhat difficult terrain within this area, it is advisable for fishermen to make a dry run during daylight hours to familiarize themselves with the area.

Along this area, the best catches seem to be made during the hours of midnight to four in the morning. It appears that the largest of the bass are the most active during this period. A large number of anglers prefer the incoming tide despite the numbers of bass that are caught during the outgoing.

Crossing Broad Sound, Nahant is also prime striper grounds for late fall stripers. Bass Point is one of the heaviest fished locations in Nahant. Many stripers are landed during the moon tides and some of these fish will approach the magic fifty pound mark. Both fresh and artificial baits have been responsible for catching the attention of these trophy fish. Despite the difficulties in parking and in some areas the complete lack of parking, surf fishermen can be seen casting baits to the night pounding surf.

Late night boat anglers can be observed working the areas around Joe Beach Ledge and Shag Rock. Drifting live baits in these areas often time prove to be a deadly technique. Bucktail jigs, tipped with a strip of squid, mackerel or herring also produce good numbers of heavy stripers. Be prepared to lose some equipment as the bottom claims it’s share of gear every trip.

The best jigs seem to be those that sport a big black eye, often surrounded by a red circle. It never hurts to modify your offerings if it poses the slightest possibility of success

If conditions are right and there are not too many lobster pots in the area that you choose to fish, try using a tactic that is popular and productive among Great Lakes salmon fishermen, the side planner. This will allow you to get your baits very close to the rocks without the fear of grounding out. This tactic has become more popular as fishermen learn that these planners can deliver the bait without spooking the fish.

These are only a few of the areas that will produce heavy harvest moon stripers. Instead of putting the boat up for winter early and becoming a living room quarterback during Monday Night Football, why not try casting a plug or delivering a bait to a waiting striped bass. Who knows, you just might land that trophy of a lifetime. Tight lines!