ARTICLES: MARIN ESTUARY STRIPERS
By JOSEPH HARGREAVES
March 29, 2006
Goofy weather and dirty water is preventing the first big surge of stripers into the shallow estuaries/flats/creeks. When you do get 2-3 days of stable weather, look for a great bite to develop in the creeks, flats, and estuaries with fish from 2-20 lbs.
These fish will almost certainly be chasing jack smelt, so I will be throwing Rip baits like the Luck Craft pointer in Aurora Black, American Shad and Chartreuse Shad. Also the Storm Wilde Eye Shad Baits in the 4” Size with Top Colors bing Chartreuse Shiner, Blue Shad, Pearl, and Blue Gill.
I’ve also been on the Rapala X-Raps in Ghost or Blue-Black. The Rattle Trap Hair Raisers and Kastmasters will also take these fish. Look for moving water either rising or falling areas where structure provides a bait fish and ambush points.
If you find these things, fish them during morning low light or evening low light.
The game plan:
- Bait fish
- Stable weather
- Moving tides
- Low light
Good Luck!
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