Catching Stripers with Sand Worms

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When the Stripers Turn Finicky, Drift a Sand Worm

Striped bass are aggressive feeders, attacking plugs and lures when they are in the feeding mode. Though they are opportunistic feeders, there are times when striped bass refuse nearly every lure, jig and soft plastic bait in the tackle box.

When the usual lures cannot trigger a strike, try drifting a sand worm. The scent and movement of a sand worm is an irresistible tasty treat to schoolie stripers and lunker bass.

As their name implies, sand worms live in the sand and under rocks along the shoreline and in the shallows. Sold by the dozen, nearly every bait and tackle shop sells live sand worms. Keep them in the box, covered and out of the sun, until ready to put one on the hook.

Be care picking them up - sand worms sport a set of pincers that can give a surprisingly sharp pinch.

Photos by the Author

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Read the Water

type=textSand worm are most effective for catching striped bass when drifted through a moving current in shallow water, on flats, around rocks and piers, and along the shoreline. The local conditions determine how to best set up a rig for drifting a sand worm to target and catch striped bass. The trick is to add enough weight to the line to drift the sand worm down near the bottom. Too much weight, and the bait drags too slowly along the bottom where the sand worm is quickly devoured by crabs. Not enough weight, and the worm just zips by in the current.

In slow and shallow waters, tie a barrel swivel to the end of the line to reduce twist. Attach a length of leader to the barrel swivel, as long as feasible for the rod but at least 30 inches long. Tie a #4 circle hook to the end of the leader. Though they have shorter shanks for holding bait, circle hooks make catch and release fishing much safer for the fish. Circle hooks tend to catch in the corner of the fish's mouth and are seldom swallowed, making it easier to release a schoolie striper without injury to grow and fight again.

If needed, add a small sinker or two to the leader between 18 to 24 inches above the circle hook.

Rigging Sand Worms

In faster and deeper waters, tie the barrel swivel and leader to the end of the line. Then, tie a three-way swivel to the end of the leader. Tie a short 6 inch leader to a small sinker, and tie the other end to the three-way swivel. The weight of the sinker is dependant upon the speed of the current or drift, but should be as light as possible (¼ oz to ½ oz).

Tie an 18 to 24 inch length of leader to the third leg of the swivel, and tie a #4 circle hook to the leader.

Grab a sand worm just behind its head, holding the worm between the thumb and fore finger. Squeeze gently, and the sand worm will extend its pinchers. Holding the circle hook in the opposite hand, thread the point of the hook between the outstretched pinchers. Slide the worm up and around the shank of the hook as far as possible, and then push the point of hook out through the side of the worm.

Cast >>> Drift >>> Retrieve

Gently cast the sand worm upstream and into the current, and then allow the bait to drift back down through the river current. Striped bass often attack the drifting sand worm as it falls downward towards the bottom, aggressively ambushing and sucking in the worm.

After the initial cast, reel in enough of the slack to tighten the line and to feel the drift of the bait. When the striper hits, set the hook quickly. Keep the rod tip high and the line taunt while reeling in the striper.

Keep the worm moving in the current. Sand worms leave a scent trail in the water that the stripers can sense and they will follow the trail for a meal. But lots of other sea creatures eat sand worms, too. If the sand worm stalls or catches on the bottom, hungry crabs and skates will quickly devour your bait.

If sand worms are not available at your local tackle shop, try this same technique with sea clams or small chunks of herring or other fresh bait. The scent and movement of fresh bait drifting through the currents will often entice a strike from a finicky striper.

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“Most big stripers are females. Releasing large fish helps to ensure future populations of stripers.”

Striped Bass Facts

Did You Know?

  • Large striped bass are called Cows, and they can grow larger than the male stripers. A large female striped bass can lay over 1,000,000 eggs every year.
  • Stripers prefer cooler waters with temperatures between 55 to 68 degrees F.
  • Striped bass are most active in the spring and fall, and typically feed at dawn and at dusk. As summer heats up and the water temperatures rise, stripers become more active at night.
  • Striped bass can live in both freshwater and saltwater. Most of their time is spent along the coastline, and they travel to freshwater rivers and bays to spawn.
  • On average, a 30" long striped bass weighs about 15 lbs and is about 8 years old (or older).
  • Every spring, stripers migrate annually from the deep water wintering grounds around the Chesapeake Bay area to the cold waters and rocky shorelines of New England. They return to their southern wintering grounds every fall.
  • The spring and fall migrations are the best seasons to surf cast from the beaches and jetties for catching striped bass.
  • Stripers are also called 'line-siders". Small stripers are call 'schoolies'.

Catch & Release Fishing

Help maintain a healthy striped bass fishery

type=textMost trophy sized striped bass - fish measuring 50 inches or longer - are usually females. Known as cows, these large females lay many times more eggs than their smaller sisters and are essential to maintaining healthy populations of striped bass. Safely releasing large cows helps to ensure future generations of these spectacular fish for years to come.

Successful catch and release fishing begins with your fishing tackle. Circle hooks are very effective, and setting the hook properly usually results in catching the corners of the bass's mouth. Circle hooks are swallowed much less frequently than traditional hooks, saving unnecessary internal injury to the fish.

Landing the fish quickly will help to keep the bass strong for a safe release. Grab the striped bass firmly by the lower jaw, and use your other hand to support the mid section of large fish while lifting and holding out of the water. Do not hold the fish by the gills.

Use a hook extractor or pliers to remove imbedded hooks. Grab the hook as close to the point as possible, while gently yet firmly twisting and backing out the hook. Pliers or an extractor provides extra leverage without putting additional pressure against the fish.

Return the fish to the water as quickly as possible, but releasing an exhausted and disoriented fish before it has time to recover is lethal. Hold the fish in the water by its tail while supporting the midsection, and within a few minutes, a healthy and uninjured fish will begin to regain its strength. Taking the time to allow a tired fish to recover fully before swimming off on its own will significantly increase its chances to survive and to fight again on another day.

Striped Bass - Slot Sizing for Keeper Fish

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Selecting Saltwater Lures

There are thousands of saltwater lures available on the market today from numerous manufacturers, and the choices can be overwhelming for novice and beginner anglers. Flashy lures of every shape, size and color fill the online catalogs and sporting goods shelves, and all claim to catch fish. How do you determine which saltwater lures to buy for your next fishing trip?

While there isn't a single answer to this question, there are several things to consider when buying saltwater lures including the types of fish you are trying to catch, where you are fishing, and if you are casting or trolling. Most weekend anglers can catch fish using only a few basic lures, and then expanding their collection lures as they increase their fishing skills. Here are a few tips to help you select saltwater lures to catch more fish.

Match the lure to the target fish. Knowing the characteristics of the fish you are trying to catch is necessary for selecting an appropriate saltwater lure. For an evening of casting to striped bass, a tackle box should include a top water plug, a diving crank bait and a count down lure. If casting for bluefish, the flash from a metal Kastmaster or metal spoon will entice toothy hits.

Match the lure to the fishing tactics. Most saltwater lures are designed primarily for either casting or trolling, though a few types of lures can be used successfully for both tactics. Casting and retrieving a top water plug creates a commotion at the surface, and is very effective for catching striped bass. Slowly trolling a plastic tube lure is deadly for blues and stripers, but is almost impossible to cast effectively.

Match the lure to the fishing conditions. The weather and water conditions dictate the approach to fishing, and adapting the saltwater lure and presentation to the conditions will increase the chances of catching fish. Casting a surface plug into a head wind is difficult, but is very effective on calmer days or when casting with the wind.

Try using light colored lures in clear water and sky conditions, and darker colored lures for darker water and skies. White and lighter colored lures tend to match the "look" of baitfish in clear water and bright sunshine, while a lure with a black back & bronze sides or painted in a mackerel pattern is often more effective in dark water and lower light conditions.

Take a variety of saltwater lures on every fishing trip. For all of the reasons listed already, carry a small selection of different lure designs, sizes and colors to match the changing conditions, or to change target species of fish. If drifting fish for bottom species, a prepared fisherman can change quickly to a metal casting lure when a school of bluefish breaks the surface. The surfcaster can try top water plugs, then switch to count down or deep running lure to cover the different depths from the same point.

Top water plug - popping and splashing a commotion lure for casting

Jointed swimming lure - surface swimming lure for casting into shallow areas; also effective when trolled very slowly

Silver spoon - perhaps the most versatile lure: cast and flutter retrieve, troll slowly for depth, or tip the hook with clam, worm of soft plastic for deep water jigging

Count down lure - cast, and allow to sink towards the bottom. Then, rip upwards and the float back down again. Fish often strike as the lure starts to fall.

Tubes - killer lure for trolling, especially when tipped with a sand worm
Kastmaster - ready for blues, snag mackerel or bunker

Jigs - heavy lures for bottom fishing, especially when tipped with a sand worm or soft plastic

Deep running plug - not my personal favorite, but effectively dive deeper during the retrieve (I prefer the spoon or count down to get deeper in casting situations)

Throw a lure that you are comfortable with, or want to learn how to use better. In most situations, use the lure that gives you confidence. Learn to fish that lure well, in different conditions, and you will consistently catch more fish.

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Thanks for stopping by!

  • Tipi Jan 1, 2012 @ 10:26 am | delete
    Stopping by to freshen up the angel dust on your sand worms, may you enjoy catching many stripers!
  • Tipi Aug 23, 2011 @ 11:16 am | delete
    You have me wanting to go fishing. You are going to turn everyone into an expert with your excellent advice. I like how you say to gently cast the sand worm, a lot of bait can be lost in casting the wrong way.

Striped Bass

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