Unlock the secrets of the rocks to find new ways to target every surfcaster’s favorite fish.
Surfcasters up and down the Striper Coast have countless opportunities awaiting them in the form of open ocean beaches, back bays, rivers and estuaries. All have the potential, at certain times, to offer great success for the surfcaster hoping to catch a striped bass.
One aspect that can give you a clear advantage in your quest is applying your skills to rocky strewn sections of the coast, whether naturally-formed or manmade. It’s certainly not a stretch to say rocks and striped bass go together like meat and potatoes.
Why is it that bass love to lounge around in these types of structures? The answer lies in the structure itself. Rocks, rubble fields, boulders, jetties, and ledges all have the same ingredients in that they offer food and shelter, and both are staple requirements for any living creature looking to survive in the wild. Food comes in many forms in these locales. Crustaceans are abundant, such as crabs, lobsters and shrimp. Baitfish love this underwater topography because it provides countless hiding places and gives them lots of options to dash out of sight of predators as they weave about the rocks.
Also bergals, blackfish and small sea bass congregate in the same places, and these species rate high on the menu for trophy bass. It really is the circle of life playing out in front of you and there opportunities to take advantage of this lying just a cast away!
Forage fish have the benefit of cover from being eaten, and the predators in turn, have cover that they can ambush the forage fish from. In areas of strong currents, the rocks can offer rest areas for both the hunters and the hunted. Large stripers don’t like to expend a lot of energy for a meal, so they will sit in the current break, waiting for their next meal to make a mistake by getting too close. They will simply flare their gills and inhale the unsuspecting entree… there one second, gone the next!
With this knowledge in hand, the pragmatic angler can now put together a strategy leading to success! Gearing up to tackle rocky areas requires some additional apparel that the sand beach angler does not require. Some type of cleated footwear is essential for staying out of the emergency room or worse. Shoreline rocks can be as slick as ice, so absolutely get a pair of Korkers or studded boots
Tackle selection should be on the stout side because of the unforgiving characteristics of these rocky environments. Medium-heavy outfits of 10 to 11 feet, with a good quality braid, paired with strong leaders (of 50- to 80-pound test) are a must to combat the abrasion factor. Lure selection will vary depending on water depth and current. Metal lipped swimmers shine in the shallower areas with less current, while darters, shads and bucktails are great choices in the spots with faster moving currents. Don’t forget to pack a couple of needlefish in your bag as these can be deadly in rocky spots and will offer a different silhouette and subtler presentation that can be a deadly change of pace.
Although daytime can produce well at certain times of the year, I would recommend sticking to the night tides. The cover of darkness amplifies all of the above stated advantages that the bass has over its prey. When working these areas, it’s important to pay attention to tides and winds to find out what tides and conditions produce the best bites and take notes. “Time on the water” is the cliché we all hear, but there’s no replacement for it, the most successful surfcasters learn their craft by spending a lot of time fishing. Through this repetition, you’ll begin to learn to recognize the things that make a spot productive, and this knowledge of nature will be applicable no matter where you fish.
If you haven’t ventured into the rocky spots in your area, or even if you have to travel to find them, take my word for it, it will be worth the effort. Get yourself outfitted with the proper gear and take the rock-hopping plunge. Once you unlock the secrets of the rocks, you will find a whole new realm of surfcasting and gain a whole new avenue of finding every surfcaster’s favorite fish.
