Best month for stripers?

[Frightnight]

My nephew came down from Canada last week for a vacation. First time he was here in 33 years, and we were hoping to get him on some stripers. he got skunked, and I only got 2 keepers on one day after fishing 12 hours a day for 6 of the 8 days he was here. So dissapointing after what a good year I was having, so...............my question is this. he wants to come back next year, so...............what is the best monthe or time for him to come back to catch good sized stripers, not schoolies?

[E-Z MURF]

In my opinion the month of August can be one of the toughest striper months. For guy's that travel to fish our waters, we must try to recommend a time period that offers the highest percentage of quality fishing.

I have a friend that comes out here to striper fish from California, I always suggest the last week of May or the first week of June as a target. We always seem to find keepers and an occasional cow.

That's my 2 cents.

E-Z MURF

[Teezer]

I agree with Murph. May and into June is the best time for stripers. The push of bait in the spring is awesome.

2 more cents

[Frightnight]

Thanks guys, that is a huge help. Next year I will get him back here around that time. He did catch some blues, and he has never seen one before. They were only about 6 pounders though. Wish he nailed a 10 pounder or more. That would have impressed him. Ok, Thanks so much. Any other comments are greatly appreciated.

[E-Z MURF]

If your buddy wants big blues then I would recommend fishing the last week of August until the third week of September in the bay.

Next I would have to say late October until the end of November along the South County beaches and Watch Hill area.

That's my 3 cents.

E-Z MURF

[Frightnight]

Thanks Murf, but he just went back to Canada, so have to wait until next year. Do the blues stay here the rest of the striper season? I thought they left when the water cooled down, but I was told they stay into November?

[E-Z MURF]

They should be here for the remainder of the season. Many years they are also amongst the last to migrate out of and through here.

To answer your question in terms of bluefish leaving and returning during the season, the answer is yes they do leave to go offshore to spawn, afterwhich they return with a vengence. At least that's the conventional wisdom.

If you would like to learn more about blues and they're seasonal behavior, I would highly recommend reading Blues by John Hersey. It is a great read which contains lots of usefull observations and data delivered through a fishermans eye over the course of a season. It is written in a daily journal format and is very entertaining to read. I won't tell you too much as I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. I believe that it is out of print but you should be able to find it online or through a used book store. I found mine at the used book store in Watch Hill.

I was walking around Watch Hill one day and went in to the used book store to browse around. I asked the person behind the counter if he could recommend a good salt water fishing book with a local twist, I was going on a weekend get away with the family on the Cape and needed something interesting to read. He pointed out a few different ones and lastly mentioned a book named Blues by John Hersey. He briefed me on the book and it sounded interesting, I picked it up and have enjoyed reading it a couple times and have loaned it to a few friends who have also enjoyed it.

E-Z MURF

[Fish Tales]

Blues is definitely a good read - some nice recipes too!

Also it was illustrated with some great paintings and drawings by a local Newport artist, James Baker.