Seeing 30-pound bass chasing a 2-pound bunker out of the water is a sight you will never forget. Fortunately for New Jersey fishermen, this is a sight you can expect to see fairly regularly when warming waters put big migrating stripers on a collision course with massive schools of adult Atlantic menhaden, often within casting distance of the beach. There is no better time than June to be a surfcaster in Northern New Jersey.
This is not the time of year to play around with light tackle. Any day that you wet a line in the late spring and early summer, you have the chance of hooking into a massive bass. I recommend using medium-heavy to heavy spinning tackle for casting snag-and-drop rigs and pencil poppers. Anglers looking to throw bunker chunks or heads on fish-finder rigs can use heavy spinning or conventional tackle. Often, casting distance is going to be directly related to your fishing success, so a 10- or 11-foot rod is needed to reach bunker schools far off the beach. The rod will need to be capable of throwing 3- to 4-ounce pencil poppers.
Reels need to be large enough to hold at least 200 yards of line so that if you hook a big bass at the end of your cast, you have enough line to sustain a long run. The most important thing here is to use a good quality reel that has a smooth, reliable drag that will hold up to the runs of a 30- or 40-pound fish.
Line needs to be at least 30-pound test, with most anglers opting for 50- or even 65-pound test. Because of its thin diameter, which increases casting distance and line capacity, braided line is far and away the best choice for this fishery.
In order to catch a big bass from a beach or jetty during the spring bunker run, you’ll need to employ techniques that cast far and somehow get the attention of stripers that are literally swimming in a sea of bait. While there are a number of techniques that can work for these big, bunker-crazed bass, there are three that shine above all the rest.
Snag and Drop
A very simple and very effective tactic for targeting trophy spring stripers is the “snag and drop.” With this technique, you’ll be casting a snag rig into a school of bunker, snagging a bait, and letting the weight drag the struggling baitfish below the school, where hungry stripers will be lurking.
When rigging up to snag and drop for stripers, a weighted treble is a very simple option. These weighed treble hooks usually come in several sizes ranging between 7/0 and 12/0 and have lead molded around the shank to allow anglers to cast them. While weighted trebles work well, I believe the egg sinker snag rig is a better way to go.
Snag ‘n Drop Bunker Rig
This simple rig can be downright deadly for fishing live bunker from the surf. Simply cast it out, snag a bunker, and then let it sit.
The egg sinker snag rig accomplishes several things that the weighed treble cannot. For one, it separates your bait from your weight, which will allow for a more natural presentation. This rig also outcasts a weighted treble considerably. This is my go-to rig when there is a school of bunker far off the beach and I can’t reach them with anything else.
The egg sinker snag rig that I like to use the most is simple to make up. I start out with a good quality barrel swivel and tie a 2-foot piece of 60-pound-test monofilament to it. I thread two medium sized plastic beads onto the leader and then thread a 2- or 3-ounce egg sinker onto the line, followed by two more medium-sized beads. The beads protect the knots from being damaged by the egg sinker. I tie most of my egg sinker rigs with 2- or 3-ounce egg sinkers. The 2-ounce egg sinker rig is used when the bait schools are closer to you and maximum casting distance is not needed. The 3-ounce egg sinker rig is the one you choose when you’re looking for maximum casting distance. At the end of the 60-pound-test monofilament, I tie another barrel swivel, leaving about 12 to 18 inches between the barrel swivels. To second barrel swivel I attach 2 feet of 60-pound-test fluorocarbon leader material. On the end of the fluorocarbon, I tie a size 3/0 to 5/0 treble hook.
It’s wise to keep a second rod ready to go that is set up for snagging.
Once you have located a school of bunker within casting range, cast the rig into or beyond the school of baitfish. Immediately begin reeling the rig through the water as you sweep the rod to the side at the same time. When the treble hook hits a bunker, it will impale the baitfish. At this point, simply open the bail on your reel and let the bunker swim as it fights against the weight. The bunker will try to stay with the school of baitfish because it knows there is safety in numbers, but as a result of being snagged, injured and fighting against the 2- or 3-ounce sinker, it will either fall below or drop behind the school of baitfish. This separation from the group makes the bunker vulnerable and makes it the target of big hungry bass lurking below the school of baitfish.
When snagging and dropping, set the hook immediately after a bass takes a bait. Waiting too long could result in a gut-hooked fish that will be difficult, if not impossible, to release.
Keep in mind, snagging-and-dropping bunker is best used with minimal fishermen around. Snagged bunker will swim wide left and right and could potentially tangle other angler’s lines. When fishing in a large group, it’s best to switch to other, more crowd-friendly tactics.
Pencil Popping
The second technique, which involves throwing large pencil poppers, is the most visible and exciting approach to catching these big, bunker-chasing bass. There is nothing as jaw dropping as working a large pencil popper across the surface and seeing a 30-pound-plus striper come up and crush it.
There are many different types of pencil poppers. Some are factory made and others are made by custom plug builders out of their basements or garages. While all fall under the category of pencil popper, certain plug styles will work best under some conditions.
Pencil poppers that are made of wood are more durable when it comes to being banged on rocks. The most popular wooden pencil poppers are made by Gibbs. Gibbs pencil poppers can be found in almost every bait and tackle shop along the northeast coast. Besides poppers made by the Gibbs Company, there are dozens of small custom plug builders scattered throughout the northeast that supply bait and tackle shops with great quality pencil poppers. One of my favorite custom wooden pencil poppers is the Lex Lures pencil, which has a flat bottom contour and can be worked across the surface very easily at slow speeds.
The manner in which you work your pencil popper will greatly affect your success rate. Details such as the speed of your retrieve, whether it’s calm or aggressive, steady or stop-and-go, will affect your success with these plugs.
Anglers need to be extremely observant of when strikes and follows occur and what the pencil popper was doing at the time of the reaction by the fish. Observing what other anglers are doing when they hookup also gives you important feedback as to what you should or should not be doing when working your plug. Being able to effectively analyze small details such as a fish’s reaction to your lure is in many cases what separates success from failure and a great angler from an average angler.
If you are fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time and have bass blitzing all over the surface chasing bunker, then the presentation of your popper should be erratic and aggressive to mimic the frightened baitfish. Your choice of pencil popper probably does not matter much because the fish are so excited in their feeding.
Carry pencil poppers in an assortment of different colors, and switch up often if you’re not connecting.
Now, let’s change the circumstances. You arrive at daybreak on your favorite sandy beach or jetty front and there is no evidence of bunker schools on the surface. You’re plan is to cover some water with your popper and see if you can raise a fish by moving down the beach or from jetty to jetty. Under these conditions, I would pick a 3-ounce Lex Lures pencil with the flat-bottom construction. Being there is no surface action, I will start out working my plug slow and steady across the surface. After about six casts, I will start experimenting with my retrieve, changing things every couple casts until I get a strike. I will continue covering water as I vary my retrieve in an attempt to attract a fish to my plug. I also vary the aggressiveness with which I work the plug. This refers to how much I make the plug thrash on the surface.
When retrieved with a subtle style, a pencil popper will quietly dance back and forth, barely splashing. When retrieved aggressively, these plugs can be made to splash a lot. Another subtle aspect of pencil popper fishing is that an angler can keep a pencil dancing in one location by slowing down the rate of line taken in with the reel while continuing to work the rod up and down. If you work the pencil popper really hard, you can beat the surface of the water into a froth as the plug frantically dances from side to side. This can be helpful when trying to tease a striper into striking. The subtle aspects of pencil popper fishing are not important when the fish are really hot and they are just crushing the plug, but they are important when you’re trying to trigger strikes.
Another important tip involves your shock leader and clip. You have to be sure that your leader and clip are up to the task at hand. Start with a heavy barrel swivel attached to a 2-foot length of a minimum of 60-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. The last component of your leader system is connecting your leader to a quality snap. I prefer a large Coastlock snap.
Chunking
Shell E. Caris of Shore Catch Guide service with a big New Jersey surf striper.
The third technique involves presenting a bunker head or a bunker chunk on a fish-finder rig. This is a deadly yet simple approach that takes many big stripers every season. It can be employed from open beaches as well as jetties. It is also one of the best techniques to use at night. One of the most important aspects to being effective with this technique is using the freshest bunker possible. To use this technique, you may have to snag or cast-net your own bait. If this is not an option for you, it means you will have to buy your bait.
The fish-finder rig is a basic rig where you start with a 8/0 to 10/0 circle or octopus-style J-hook and attach it to a 2-foot length of 50- or 60-pound-test fluorocarbon leader material. The end of this leader is tied to a sturdy barrel swivel. The main running line from your reel is then passed through a sinker slide which your sinker will later be attached to. Once your rig is set up, pick yourself a fresh, bloody bunker head or chunk and attach it to your hook. The best way to hook a bunker chunk is to hook it once through the top of the meaty portion of the chunk and leave the hook exposed. There are two different ways to hook your bait when hooking a bunker head. The first choice is to bring the hook up through both lips and out the nose area, leaving the hook tip exposed. The second choice is to place your hook through the meaty portion of the back behind and above the gill opening. Now you’re ready to go. Cast your offering into a deep cut between two sandbars or off the end of a jetty and wait for a pick up.
In the spring of 2004, there was lots of talk about the big stripers that were crushing adult bunker just off the Monmouth County jetties in northern New Jersey. One morning, I arrived at the Allenhurst jetty, which is located just north of the town of Asbury Park just after daybreak. I was surprised to see that there was already a handful of anglers working the front of the jetty. Arriving shortly after I did was two of my regular fishing buddies, Rich Swisstack and Timmy Livingston. Even though it was just after daybreak, it was plain to see that there were many pods of bunker flipping on the surface about two cast lengths off the jetty tip. There were already several boats working within close proximity of the jetty tip, and they all seemed to be fighting and landing nice-sized stripers. The anglers on the front of the jetty were casting snag rigs so they could secure a fresh bunker for chunking or live-lining. The atmosphere this morning was very exciting when you consider that there were multiple schools of bunker on the surface and a fleet of private boats just off the jetty tip landing what looked like striper after striper over the 30-pound mark.
Early that morning, most of the fish being landed on the jetty were big alligator blues hooked by anglers who were live-lining snagged bunker. Within an hour of daybreak, the first bass was landed. It was a nice fish of about 28 pounds, and it was landed by one of the anglers throwing a fresh bloody bunker head off the front of the jetty. The anglers that were snagging-and-dropping live bunker continued connecting with large chopper bluefish. The second bass to hit the rocks, a fat bass weighing in the high 30-pound range, fell for a fresh bunker head. As the morning progressed, there were sporadic flurries of action around the jetty as several more bass weighing in the high 20s and 30s were landed on chunks. The bass were obviously feeding beneath the alligator blues.
As I stood next to my fishing pal Timmy Livingston on the north side of the jetty, I was dying for a run-off on my fresh bunker head. Suddenly, Timmy came alive, pointed his rod at an angle and set the hook aggressively. His rod bent under what looked like the strain of a good fish. He fought the fish to the jetty where it was gaffed and lifted onto the jetty. It was a beautiful fat fish, with a huge head that weighed in at 38 pounds.
The spring bunker run in New Jersey is a great time of year for the surf angler, and it offers a great opportunity to land a big striper. By mastering the techniques I’ve spoken about above and being prepared with the right equipment, you’ll be ready to cash in on a nice cow. The anglers who are successful most often are the ones that are well prepared for the challenge. Get out to the beach during May, June and July and you may land the cow of a lifetime!
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