The Striped Bass Road Trip Playbook

CHEASPEAKE BAY

Boasting the accolade as being largest estuary in the United States, with over 150 different freshwater river systems emptying out into the bay, this is where most stocks of striped bass are born. Many bass winter over a little bit south of here, off Virginia Beach and North Carolina, and the Chessy is the first spot to try on the migration northward. As bass set up and enter the Susquehanna River to spawn out, the flats are the perfect place to warm up and gain energy and many cow bass up to 50 and 60 pounds can be found. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, comprised of 5,198 pilings, adding up to 17.6 miles of magnetized striper structure where rockfish pick up mussels, clams, crabs and baitfish that reside around the pilings.

NEW JERSEY SHORE

Known as the “new epicenter” for consistent behemoth bass, the spring run off of Jersey’s coast the last five years has been nothing less than legendary as daily individual scores of 30 pounders are a guarantee, and a 40 pound plus fish is almost a lock in. Dozens of 50 pound plus fish come out every spring as football field size menhaden (bunker) schools amass and attract the colossal cows. Jetty country north of Manasquan Inlet has been the main playground for lunker linesiders, though the expansive Raritan Bay also holds the schools as they trap bunker inside.

MONTAUK, NEW YORK

Defined by it’s algae covered, glacial boulder coastline, and hordes of hardcore rockhoppers, skishers, and general crazy anglers that clamor to “The End” where Long Island juts into the Atlantic Ocean. Swirling rip currents and boulder fields attract and magnetize striper schools to the area as the stage sets perfectly as an ambush point. Historically, this place is a must-do destination for serious striper fishermen to visit at least once in their career. This is surfcaster’s paradise as striper grounds are at your feet, though boats will come in close enough to hug the shore and fish the boulder structure.

BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND 

This lonesome 30-square-mile island holds the distinction of producing some of the largest bass ever caught on rod and reel, including fish in recent years that have been upwards of the 77-pound mark. All around the cliff side of the island lie rock fields and swash points that generate swirly currents, disorienting sand eels and other baitfish. Strong tides and high-ground boulder fields covered with mussels define the south side near Southwest Ledge, while the northeast side is mostly sandy bottom. Squid and scup, which bring in the bass, are drawn to the area.

MASSACHUSETTS CAPE

The names are familiar playgrounds for the rich and famous, but they also attract the silent and secretive striper hunters. From Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket, the Massachusetts coast off Cape Cod attract bass in the same way they attract tourists – to enjoy the cool waters in the summertime, and this is the last prominent stop on the spring migration, though schools trickle up into Maine’s Casco Bay and even up into the Bar Harbor regions.