A fat, chunk-fed striper caught aboard the author’s boat. (Photo by Capt. Jim Christensen)
In 2024, trophy bass, weighing 30 pounds or more, arrived as early as May 5 off the Norwalk Islands in Connecticut. Daytime trips, including early morning plugging and flutter spoon fishing, were very productive throughout the spring run. However, it was nighttime bait trips with fresh bunker that yielded the majority of trophy bass over 40 pounds.
It was the second week of July and water temperatures in western Long Island Sound had reached 70 degrees. The early rise in water temperatures suggested that the summer lull was approaching. From that point on, trips would likely yield only residential fish, typically ranging from slot size to mid-teens, since the larger bass had moved east toward Block Island and beyond.
On July 2, a father and son I’ve known for a while called to say they wanted one more shot at catching a personal-best bass, a “PB.” Despite explaining the previous week’s poor bite, warm water temperatures, scarcity of bunker, and my lack of enthusiasm, their insistence won out and we settled on July 8.
Daniel, his dad, and I shoved off at 8 p.m. that evening. Typically, fresh bait is my priority, but trying to net bait, given the scarcity of bunker, or catch porgies with hook and line was too time-consuming. Instead, I had to rely on store-bought fresh bunker from Fisherman’s World in Norwalk.
When using store-bought fresh bunker, take extra care to keep it sealed in bags and buried in ice immediately after purchase. Don’t be shy about asking if it was delivered that day. Once it’s on my boat, I submerge the bait in a saltwater slushie (seawater and ice). It never comes out of the slush until it’s ready to be cut (or fished whole) and put on a hook.
With warmer water during summer, store-bought bait can wash out more quickly than bait you catch yourself. If you purchase bait, plan on a chunk or even a whole bunker to be effective for about 20 minutes once it’s dropped over the side. I have had luck with washed-out pieces left longer when I’m desperate for bait, but I have also witnessed fresh-baited rods out-fish bait that has been soaking too long.
Fresh-baited rods tend to out-fish baits that have been soaking too long. The author finds that a chunk is good for about 20 minutes before the scent and oils are “washed out”. (Photo by Andy Nabreski)
The plan was simple. We would fish four rods baited with a combination of whole bunker and chunks while targeting rock piles and drop-offs of 40 feet or more. Although not as glamorous as tossing a plug into a school of busting bass, it is an effective and popular method for seeking out striped bass in western Long Island Sound.
In the western reaches of the Sound, chunking (fishing with cut bunker) typically involves using a fish-finder rig with an 8/0 to 10/0 inline circle hook snelled to the end of a 30- or 40-pound-test leader, about 3 feet long, with a #5-barrel swivel at the end. Above the swivel, a sinker slide is used, allowing the weight to slide up and down the main line. The sinker weight should be the lightest possible, depending on the tide stage. In the western Sound, weights ranging from 2 to 6 ounces are usually sufficient, but during strong moon tides, I’ve had to use up to 8 ounces.
If bluefish are mixed in, I recommend upgrading your leader to 60-pound-test fluorocarbon. Avoid using wire. You will catch stripers with wire leader, though I have missed more than a few bass that have picked up the bait on a wire leader and immediately dropped it. If blues are around and you are using flouro, check for frays every time you bait up.
As water temperatures rise in the summer months, deeper water tends to provide the best opportunities for trophy bass. Sunset to sunrise is the prime time for bait fishing if you’re after larger fish, though not all baits should be dropped to the bottom. I always leave one or two rods up in the water column, especially if I’m near a bait school.
At the first three spots, we managed to land only a few dogfish and a small bluefish. We made a final move out to a rock pile in 65 feet of water. I always tell people that fishing is 30% knowledge, 30% luck, and when asked what the remaining 40% is, I answer “prayer.” By this point, I definitely felt prayer was needed as we were on the far side of midnight.
When fishing cut bunker I usually slice the fish into three pieces: one behind the head by ½ inch, one mid-section, and a tail portion, with the caudal fin removed. I place the hook lightly through the top side of the bait, where it will tear out most easily so the circle hook sets in the striper’s jaw. For the head cut (my favorite), place the hook in the soft part of the meat just behind the head—hooking it through the nose or mouth can cause the bait to spin in strong current. Always check the point of the hook to ensure it doesn’t have a scale on it, which could result in a poor hookset.
The average size bunker should produce three good chunk baits: head, mid-section, and tail. (Photo by Jimmy Fee)
In fishing rocks and humps, I tend to fish in front of structure at the end and start of any tide movement when the current is not strong. As the current gains strength, I relocate my bait behind the structure. Discussions on how to fish structure seem to lean toward being behind it since stripers seek to avoid the current; however, I prefer the front of structure when the tide is not moving. Perhaps it’s as simple as the bait is holding better and not being pushed over the structure with the tide.
After setting up and letting our bait soak for 20 minutes with no sign of fish, we started discussing the possibility of calling it a night. However, I knew this particular reef had yielded jumbo stripers just before and on the turn of high water during the spring run. Since the tide was just turning to outgoing, we agreed to give it another 30 minutes.
We were about to dip into the third set of bait when the port stern rod suddenly buzzed and bent straight down, then snapped back up. As we reeled in to rebait, I noticed it was crushed and scaled—a sure sign of a summer bass, then we were hit with a burst of activity. For the next hour, we were rewarded with several run-offs, a few swings and misses, and four bass. No trophies, but a welcome catch given the night’s previous efforts. Who says a prayer doesn’t work? Unfortunately, as quickly as it started, it stopped.
Safe Catch and Release for Fish and Angler
Fairland Ultra-Long Fish Grip
I have seen many people lean far over the side of a boat to revive a fish. Although noble, no fish is worth a life. Even on calm days, passing boats can send a wake that might knock you overboard. Strong currents can quickly pull you away, even with a life vest. I witnessed this years ago with a friend who was trying to revive a small bass on a calm night and fell into the water. I managed to get him back on the boat, but the next day, I bought an extended 28-inch long grip. If a fish needs to be revived, the extended grip saves me from having to lean precariously over the side.
After another 20 minutes, with the clock now well past midnight, we all agreed that morning was a lot closer than we wanted it to be, but father and son decided we needed to give it one more try with a set of fresh bait.
It was Daniel who took his turn on the rods. The father/son team had a tradition of alternating turns at the rod regardless of which rod made the catch. I recall Daniel gently nudging all four rods, staying focused, waiting for the slightest twitch of the rod tips.
Another trick to bait fishing is to give it a good nudge by pulling the rod every five minutes. I can’t tell you how often a bass has picked up the bait right after I have nudged the rod. I admit it is much easier to just sit back and crack open a beverage and even cat-nap late at night. However, it’s important to work the bait.
In the sound, in addition to bunker and other baitfish, there’s an abundance of mantis shrimp that burrow into the bottom of the western Sound. I suspect this is why bottom fishing with bait can be so productive. A puff of sand or mud—or just movement—signals to the bass that a treat is nearby.
A few minutes later, the port rod, baited with the head of a bunker, dipped slightly. Daniel grabbed the rod, waiting for the 9/0 inline circle hook to set as the line tightened. After a few seconds, he realized the fish must be swimming toward us because he could feel the sinker bouncing on the bottom but felt no line peeling off the rod. He quickly reeled in the slack and lifted the rod to set the hook with a steady lift, placing the large circle hook into the upper cheek of the bass.
When chunking bunker, or any natural bait, don’t set the hook too hard. Instead, let the inline circle hook set itself with a steady lift of the rod. (Photo by Ron Powers)
Don’t assume that when a bass picks up the bait, it will always run away from you. Many times, the fish comes directly at the boat. As a result, you may think you missed a fish and not realize it before it spits the bait. Often, you can feel the sinker bouncing as the line starts to swing toward you.
The fish turned and made a long first run. Somewhere out in the darkness, the fish rose to the surface, and the faint slap of its tail in the distance made us confident that this was a large bass.
After a couple of short runs, Daniel began to gain ground. The fish emerged from the shadows and into the boat’s lights, when we got our first good look. The bass was significantly larger than our previous fish and would require a two-handed lift of the net and perhaps a little grunting to get it on board.
However, the fish wasn’t done. It made a slow, short burst out of sight before reemerging into the light. We guided it toward the net once more, but with a powerful sweep of its broad tail, aided by the current, it managed to just escape our grasp. Finally, with one last thrust of the net, the fish was hauled into the boat. We were all taken aback by its size, particularly its girth.
We quickly shifted into high gear. What started as excitement and high-fives quickly turned into urgency. Our main concern was getting the bass back into the water as fast as possible. After a quick measurement, Daniel carefully supported the fish for a photo. Within a couple of minutes, we pointed the bass into the current and began to resuscitate it. As its gills began to work and its dorsal fin rose, we knew it was time to let it go. With a slap of its tail, the fish swam down, likely heading east to continue her late spring journey. We all knew we had just landed and released a very special fish.
A striper of a lifetime that supports the “you don’t know if you don’t go” approach. (Photo courtesy of Jim Christensen)
That bass measured slightly over49 ¾ inches in length and had good girth. It was truly a personal best for Daniel. Best of all, we knew we’d treated the fish with the utmost care and eliminated any additional distress by weighing it, giving it the best shot at survival.
Looking back, I reflect on the factors that led to this catch. Despite the less-than-optimistic captain, they insisted on trying one more time for a trophy bass since the spring seemed over. Perhaps it was the attention to fresh bait, the constant changing of locations, or even swapping out the bait every 20 minutes. Maybe it was that final nudge of the rod tip to move the bait.
I commend the father and son who weren’t ready to declare the spring run over and wouldn’t let common sense overrule their passion. They wanted one last chance at a trophy bass, knowing you can’t land a personal best just by dreaming about next year… you have to actually fish for it.
