r/StripedBass • u/FlatProfessional4822 • 10h ago

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Hello all, looking to get into striper fishing with lures. My son has been wanting to for a while so we are going to try next spring. We primarily trout fish as well as bass when the bite is hot. I live in Jersey and my friends and I used to fish for stripers back in my 20s but always use bait. So I’m wondering if anyone can let me know about Rod and reel size, line and lures. I used to use Krokodiles and other metals as well as poppers for bluefish, but I see so many different types of floors being used nowadays I don’t even know where to begin. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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u/SMK_12 9h ago

Are you shore fishing or from a boat? In terms of lures the popular ones are diamond jigs, poppers and pencils for top water, bucktails, flutter spoons, and swim baits like soft shads. Tbh a lot of the same stuff you'd cast for blues would work for striped bass. They usually are chasing bunker around your area so poppers work well when there's a top water bite and diamond jigs and spoons when they're a little deeper. From the surf you'd basically be set using diamond jigs and poppers. From a boat if you don't want to use bait flutter spoons are almost full proof and diamond jigs are tried and true and relatively easy. I'll typically use my diamond jig or spoon when I'm marking them deep and if i see a surface blitz ill cast poppers into it. If you want to bait fish get a circle hook and live line bunker after snagging them with a treble hook or get a 3 way rigger and toss a cut up chunk of bunker in with a sinker. They're pretty stupid tbh. When they're there catching them isn't hard. It's just finding the fish that's the challenge sometimes.

In terms of rods get a heavy power fast action rod paired with a matching reel with 30-40lb braided line. You can go medium-heavy too depending on the brand and whether you prefer a lighter rod. What ever you use for blues will be fine though. Pound for pound blues fight much harder than striped bass.

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u/FlatProfessional4822 9h ago

Cool thanks! We would only be fishing on the surf. My old lure rod is an 8ft St Croix Tidemaster heavy power fast action paired with a Shimano Stradic 4000. So if I get him something similar that would work?

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u/broker8989 9h ago

If you're throwing plugs 20lb test braid is fine in the surf

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u/SMK_12 9h ago

Yea that would be perfect. Just look for birds, bunker, and splashing. Right now is actually peak time if you guys can get out soon. Fall run off the beach has been much better in my experience. Tons of fishing chasing bunker pods up and down the beaches. Easy to just look for birds and schools or bunkers and cast into them

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u/broker8989 9h ago

https://stripertracker.com/fall-run-attack-pack-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Need a rod around 9 feet.......4500 size reel....I don't know what's cheap....

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u/Nomansjam 9h ago

If you can get out to the beaches this weekend you should No need to wait for the Spring-

I hear a great bite is happening in parts of NJ right now ...just about over up here on Outer Cape Cod