A Striper Kind of Day

Striped Bass are one of the most well known saltwater gamefish that frequent our waters in Boston. The striped bass is an apex predator with the capability to function in freshwater as it breeds there. Stripers are constantly on the prowl and consume many crustaceans and bait fish a like.  Spectacle Island has proved a great place to get kids fishing and catching. Today we got a small bass on a piece of clam. The kids had a blast reeling it in. Although this striper is small, it has the potential to grow up to be over 50 pounds! Getting kids excited about fishing is a great way to spread the knowledge and potential preservation of one of our greatest recourses!!

Our waters are full of bass, but sometimes they seem illusive. Here are some tips to tackle some:

Match the Hatch: learn about where you are fishing, and what kinds of bait frequent that area. For example if you are fishing a small cove or inlet, smaller bait might be key to success as there might be small baitfish in the cove. Open water calls for bigger bait, as it provides more of an area for schools of fish to pass through.  Urban areas might call for some junk food ( hotdogs, bread) as the bass might have come accustomed to eating the scraps of tourists food.

Try to Target Deep Channels: During the summer bass like to hang out in cooler water through out the day. Try to gauge how deep the water is by looking at colors. Darker water generally means their is a drop off, while lighter water indicates shallows. Try to aim your casts towards deeper water.

Look For Birds: If on the off chance you see birds crashing into the water and splashes beneath them this indicates a "blitz". A Blitz is a wild surface feed in which bass and birds work together to attack a pod of fish.  Cast a lure and reel in slowly in the general area of the feed and almost always a fish will hit immediately.

And Finally, THE FILLETING

A striped bass needs to be 28 inches in order for it to be legal. Filleting a fish essentially means you are cutting the sides away as they are where the meat primarily sits. Here are some images of Tom harvesting a fish, and some ideal fillets from Camp Harbor View.