Surf Fishing for Striped Bass
“Summer Surf Secret”
by
Capt. Dave Azar
By early to mid-July striped bass have settled into their summer pattern. It is then that most of the baits and lures that worked all spring, and will work again in the fall, fail to produce on any consistent basis. Some savvy surf anglers along the Jersey coast know a secret that will keep them in fish all summer. That secret is soft-shelled crabs. For most people that means a delicious seafood delicacy, but for anglers they mean productive summertime bait. Soft shelled crabs will attract striped bass, weakfish, fluke and even bluefish, but obtaining and fishing with soft shelled crabs is not easy and this article will lay out what’s involved.
Soft shell crabs are those that have shed or molted their hard carapace in the
ongoing growth process. Underneath the old shell a new outer layer is forming.
This new layer is in a thin, filmy state with the crab remaining in this soft
state for only one or two days. During the hardening process the crab cannot
swim or crawl, making them highly vulnerable to predation. These soft crabs
also give a stronger scent than when they are in their hard state and predatory
fish can easily find and root them out from the sandy bottoms where they lay
waiting for their shells to harden.
The common calico crab (the white crab that has recently become popular with blackfish anglers) is abundant along the Jersey shore and can be found in the surf along all ocean beaches. Soft shelled blue-claw crabs are usually available, in season, anywhere quality seafood is sold. Their cost may make their use as bait prohibitive, unless they are large enough to half or quarter and can be rigged the same way as described below.
A few select tackle shops may stock soft shelled calicos, but these are becoming harder to find. The best option is to rake your own. Raking should preferably be done at low tide, in a calm surf where there is a gentle slope. Using a special crab rake, obtainable at local tackle shops that cater to New Jersey surf anglers, anglers willing to put in some time and effort should be able to gather enough baits for several outings. Summer water temperatures stimulate shedding and, if possible, raking should be done around the full or new moon phases as this seems to be the time that most crabs shed, though some crabs will be shedding on any given day. Wading out waste deep the raker should work back to the beach in parallel lines until the entire width of the beach has been covered. A shoulder bag is carried to place any soft crabs while raking. Crabs in the desirable state should be stored in a cooler between salt water dampened paper towels and kept refrigerated where they should last for several days. Only crabs that have recently shed should be kept for bait. The most desirable specimens are those that have just started to toughen up, as these will be easier to secure to the hook, but any soft crabs will work well.
The best rig for fishing softies from the surf is a fish finder rig with a stop. The hook should be a razor sharp, bait holder style, sized according to the size of the crab to be fished, 5/0 or 6/0 is usually about right. For the fish finder rig with stop start by rigging an 18” leader of 30 to 40 pound test with hook and barrel swivel. Attach another 18” of leader material to the barrel swivel and slip on the fish finder before tying on a second barrel swivel. The illustration should clarify this rig (fig. 1).
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Fig. 1
Rigging these baits takes some special care, as they are too delicate to simply be hooked on. Elastic string, the kind tackle shops sell to secure whole clams, is needed to tie the crab to the hook. Lay the hook on top of the crab and grasp the thread on top of the crab with one thumb. While pulling the thread gently taut make three diagonal wraps around the hook and body of the crab, while securing one claw . Be careful not to wrap too tightly as this will deform the shape of the crab. Next make three wraps across the width of the crab. Then make another three wraps on the other diagonal securing the second claw . Finally make six wraps around the hook shank at the bait holder barbs and break off the thread, tucking the tag end under the body wraps, no knot is needed (fig. 2).
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Fig. 2
It is important to fish soft shelled crabs tight to the bottom as that is where the fish will be looking for them. If the water is shallow, and clear enough, it is sometimes possible to spot striped bass “tailing” just like bonefish or permit when they are feeding on crabs. A surf rod of 9 to 11 feet should be used in order to keep the line above the rolling surf and prevent the baits from being lifted and rolled around. A pyramid sinker of the appropriate weight to counteract wave action should be used in order to anchor the bait securely to the bottom. If sea robins become a bait stealing nuisance, some anglers recommend using a string on float near the hook, but it is usually better to move to another beach as sea robins will usually not be on the prowl if big stripers are around.
The best bait placement is in the trough behind the second or third wave, but “crabbing” fish can be caught right in the wash. It is a good idea to fish two rods, one close in and the other further out, as long as they are not placed too far apart from each other. The rods should be placed in secure rod holders and watched carefully. When there is a take the rod will bend deeply, but there is no need to touch the rod. The stop on the fish finder rig will cause the weight of the sinker to come up against the second barrel swivel and is all that is needed to set the hook. The 18 inches of leader gives any fish enough time to swallow the bait. This technique lends itself extremely well to the use of circle hooks. Once the fish is hooked the rod will be jumping and the drag should be screaming, then the rod should be lifted from the holder. The fish can then be fought in the usual manner.
Using this “secret” bait will keep New Jersey surf anglers in the game while others are wishing for the fall run to start.