Thursday after work Rock fish trip spot near bay bridge? - The Hull Truth

Proline3250 · 08-07-2006, 11:57 AM

Any advice for a beginner rocker. I was planing on anchoring with a chum bag off the front of the boat a few chucks of elwy on hooks floating off the back. anything else or better?

B-Faithful · 08-07-2006, 12:12 PM

for chumming, just north of the bay bridge on the eastern side is an area known as the sewer pipe and dumping grounds. There have been some decent reports from there lately. You may also want to head north to love point and the mouth of the chester river.

I did well on sat morning trolling small baits (5" and 6" storm shads in tandem) on the bottom just south of bel. shoals. My son and I had 4 fish in the box by ~9am.

dematteoss · 08-07-2006, 12:19 PM

Use fishfinder rigs, (sinker slides) so if a rock takes your bait, he will not feel any resistance so he can run with it. I use Penn 7/0 circle hooks. They set themselves. No need for setting. Also, hang that chum bag off the back of the boat, not the front. You want to be giving it a shake often. If your just north of the bay bridge, work the edges of then channel in 25 feet of water.

Scott

Proline3250 · 08-07-2006, 02:06 PM

Thanks guys, hey chum bag on the top or the bottom?

dematteoss · 08-07-2006, 02:47 PM

I gues it kinda depends on how much chum you have, how quick it's melting and how fast the rip of the tide is taking it. The bay moves like a river when the tide is going out. Normally I tie a 4 foot piece of line to the chum bag and hang it off a sten cleat. If the tide is ripping good, it will come up to the surface behind your boat. Give it a shake every 5 minutes or so and keep your chum release steady as you can. Also, make sure you have enough of aliwive with you, a lot of skates have been taking my bait lately. Heck, they have been taking my hooks, line and weights, and leaders as well.

95Harley · 08-07-2006, 04:15 PM

What kind of rigs are you guys using? I was anchored NE of Love Pt on Sat in 21'. I couldn't keep the 10-14" fish off the line. You guys using any weights to get the bait down? I tried both a 1oz weight with a 3' leader and a straight 3' leader with no weight pitched out in the chum slick. I'm just a beginner too, so any info would be useful.

dematteoss · 08-07-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

95Harley - 8/7/2006 3:15 PM

What kind of rigs are you guys using? I was anchored NE of Love Pt on Sat in 21'. I couldn't keep the 10-14" fish off the line. You guys using any weights to get the bait down? I tried both a 1oz weight with a 3' leader and a straight 3' leader with no weight pitched out in the chum slick. I'm just a beginner too, so any info would be useful.

Rod > 12 Lb Mono > Fish Finder or Sinker Slide with 2 oz pyramid weight > Swivle > 3 foot leader 20 Lb mono or floro > Penn Blood Red 7/0 circle hook with 1 inch chunk of Aliwive.

95Harley · 08-07-2006, 05:02 PM

Yep, bought what I had. Rod, 15 lb, 1 oz pyramid, swivel, and 3' leader of 20lb. I was using 5/0 and it was a big mistake. I had most swallow the hook. I'll have 7/0 circles before next wekeend. I couldn't believe those little things were swallowing the hook.

dematteoss · 08-08-2006, 09:53 AM

Two out of Five seem to swallow even the large 7/0 hooks. but a good amount of the time you lip em nice and safe for the fish. I may swich to 8/0 hooks soon if that 2/5 ratio holds the next few times I go fishing. Just rememeber one thing about circle hooks. When your rod starts talking, do not get excited and grab the rob, you'll most likely pull the hook out of the fishes mouth. Let him run with it for a bit so you know he's set on the hook.

Scott

Proline3250 · 08-09-2006, 08:32 AM

circle hooks?

dematteoss · 08-09-2006, 09:55 AM

Yes! Circle hooks is the way to go. not only do they make it easier for you but DNR likes em and highly approves of them. You can read about WHY CIRCLE hooks on DNR's web site but check out this link. I use these in the size 7/0 though 8/0 would not be a bad idea either.

Click Here

95Harley · 08-09-2006, 09:56 AM

Let's try this link.

http://www.stripersurf.com/circlehooks.html

B-Faithful · 08-09-2006, 10:56 AM

I am not a fan of circle hooks. too me they gut hook just as many but you miss more fish. I prefer el cheap o 8/0 mustads for chumming the bay

95Harley · 08-09-2006, 11:13 AM

Well I can say after trying 5/0's that they are WAY WAY too small!

dematteoss · 08-09-2006, 12:43 PM

Remember that there is no standard in hook sizes. A mustag circle 7/0 is in fact completely different size from a Penn 7/0 circle hook. So when I said Penn 7/0 or Penn 8/0 I would suggest sticking to that brand if you intend to buy the sizes I suggested. I've caught 17-37 rockfish on the hooks I linked to above 7/0.

Scott

Proline3250 · 08-09-2006, 03:13 PM

Last night I went to Anglers and they had only one brand of C hooks but the largest was 5 i think they looked pretty big. He said most use 4 but none of the had leaders like you would expect maybe 12 inches with fishfinding rigs (which i also picked up) I dont think it matters very much.

dematteoss · 08-09-2006, 03:27 PM

Nah I do not buy my hooks with leaders. You just got a box of hooks. I tie either #40 AND Green Mono on the hook or #30 Floro line for a leader. No real reason for either of those two colors or brand, it's just what I got in my tackle box. I will be out tomorrow as well but in the morning from around 6am till around 2:00 pm and I'll be north of the bridge as well. I monitor channel 16 normally. If you're out, gimme a shout. Either Goomah or Scotty will due fine.

Scott