striped bass ARW

Hey y'all,

Been out a couple times on the yak to ARW , but still searching for my first table fish on the my kayak :p.  Heard it's mainly shaker halibut I wanted to transition to targeting stripers. Any recommendations for rigs or otherwise ?

I've been trying trolling paddletail with 0.5/1oz jig heads around current edges, jigging from the yak, and three way trap rigs(with frozen anchovies)

Any suggestions appreciated!

Well heck...you're doing the work and now you gotta go where the fish are.   Getting your live bait set up mastered is an advantage as well.  Read reports like an addict.  I've spent much gas and time finding live bait from shore then stressing out getting it to my live well. It's ok to leave no fish to find fish.  Discovering new launches and reading those tides is quite the learning curve.   Tides for launches and for feeding habits.  I hope you get that newb 38" hali..happens all the time...well, on occasion all the time...

https://www.norcalfishreports.com/fish_reports/saltwater_reports.php

Sometimes if the report pics have a little landmark backdrop I can find at least a general location to find em'.

Thanks for the resource and pick me up. Will definitely try to do some sleuthing .

Ya I am assuming just getting a read on the tide and how to read my fish finder properly is a better and more reasonable goal right now. Been using the fish icons on the finder (split screen with clearvue), probably need to wean off of that. I think I been finding the bait well with it and casting into areas close where the pelicans are diving. Probably just need more hours on the water.

Wondering if there is any general guidance on often to change your rig ? For example do you change leader length/bait/lure on the three way after like two passes/30 mins over your target area if your trolling if you don't get any hits?  Or is it just a feel based on your knowledge of the area and tides?

 

I've only caught a few stripers in the Bay, but I don't really target them there. When I have caught stripers in the Bay, I was trolling herring for halibut.

A little ways up river in Benicia, I know that trolling A-rigs with chartreuse or white swim baits works great. Blue chrome rattle traps work well too.

I would focus on shallow flats that are adjacent to deeper water, and also look for current breaks and places where the fish can ambush bait. I would say a good 80% of the stripers I've ever caught, regardless of location, were in less than 10' of water. Could be confirmation bias too though - I usually look for places less than 10' to target stripers.

Thanks so much the tips will definitely check out the a rig!

Fastest way to learn to catch fish is to follow the guy catching fish.
Which means go fishing on Mondays wherever Eddie is.

Fastest way to learn to catch fish is to follow the guy catching fish.
Which means go fishing on Mondays wherever Eddie is.

Haha, very true!

Just went out this morning from 530 to 10. Basically low tide to start of high. Hit two shakers (16-17 inches)  around first wall. . changing my leader length to 3 ft  and dropping sinker from 6oz to 4 oz helped did the trick. I think I got a striper by the opening between the two walls but came off. Hit the three way rig. Thanks for all the tips!

Just went out this morning from 530 to 10. Basically low tide to start of high. Hit two shakers (16-17 inches)  around first wall. . changing my leader length to 3 ft  and dropping sinker from 6oz to 4 oz helped did the trick. I think I got a striper by the opening between the two walls but came off. Hit the three way rig. Thanks for all the tips!

Boom!  That's what you get!   On a Wednesday no doubt!  How many #'s?   

Fastest way to learn to catch fish is to follow the guy catching fish.
Which means go fishing on Mondays wherever Eddie is.

You’re silly my guy!  What about Wednesdays?  No threadjack here just hali stoked like Dex.  Not fat but 10#’s dressed.

Is that another Tomales fish or Bay fish?

Is that another Tomales fish or Bay fish?

Tbay

Score! 

I've only caught a few stripers in the Bay, but I don't really target them there. When I have caught stripers in the Bay, I was trolling herring for halibut.

A little ways up river in Benicia, I know that trolling A-rigs with chartreuse or white swim baits works great. Blue chrome rattle traps work well too.

I would focus on shallow flats that are adjacent to deeper water, and also look for current breaks and places where the fish can ambush bait. I would say a good 80% of the stripers I've ever caught, regardless of location, were in less than 10' of water. Could be confirmation bias too though - I usually look for places less than 10' to target stripers.

Definitely agree with all this.

Thanks for the reports and pictures guys.