Fall Striper

[Tim Clinton]

Any reports of fall striper in the James yet? I know the season opens 10/15, but the season does not always coincide with the best fishin.

Thanx Tim

[madtom]

We are catching a few stripers in the cast net, and a few on hooks. Maybe they will be on time this year.

[martineta]

Doesn't the Striper season open Oct 4th?

[fish-on]

They are there. Doug.

[wasabi]

I wish someone could explain the Striper cycle in terms of when and why they come up the James. Obviously they are not here all year (at least in any numbers) but some are caught in the Spring with the Shad run and now folks are saying some run upriver in the Fall. Are they here in the Spring because the are following the Shad, then run back up in the Fall to fatten up prior to leaving Virginia waters?

[capuzzi2]

I wish someone could explain the Striper cycle in terms of when and why they come up the James. Obviously they are not here all year (at least in any numbers) but some are caught in the Spring with the Shad run and now folks are saying some run upriver in the Fall. Are they here in the Spring because the are following the Shad, then run back up in the Fall to fatten up prior to leaving Virginia waters?

Good queastion. The answer varies according to size class of fish. I believe that there is a year round population of small stripers in the river. I caught about 20 in one throw of my cat net this summer. In the spring, the big migratory breeders are in the river for the obvious stated reasons. I don't know if there is a separate migation in the fall of larger ones. That is the question I would love someone on this board to answer.

[BBCroaker]

Some do stay here year round in deeper water but more come up in the fall as the water cools down .

[cuhollow]

Any reports of fall striper in the James yet? I know the season opens 10/15, but the season does not always coincide with the best fishin.

Thanx Tim

Chesapeake Bay Fall Season .................................................. .......October 4 through December 31
........................................Minimum Size Limit............................................. .................18 inches
........................................Maximum Size Limit * .................................................. ....... 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit - October 4 through December 9.....................2 per person
........................................Possession Limit - December 10 through December 31..............1 per person

* 1 fish of the 2 fish possession limit may be 34 inches or larger; no fish may be kept between 28 and 34 inches.

[Salmo trutta]

In the fall a lot of the bait will start to exit the rivers. The shad that were born last spring are exiting the rivers and have grown to 3-5" in length. A lot of "Schoolie" size fish come from the depths of the bay to enter the rivers to feed in the shallows where they often ambush schools of bait. These "schoolie" size fish range from 18-30" with a mid 30 incher from time to time. These fish are really resident fish, not migratory but they can be impressive in size for resident fish. But not all the fish leave the safety of the deep channels of the bay. This time of year more fish seem to be around than say the summer.

So... the areas of the rivers are not pure fresh water and will still have tidal influence but if you are into light tackle, shallow water fishing than get yourself ready for an annual event. The fall run of resident fish in the rivers and shallows is awesome. Top water, light swim baits, flies... are all favorite ways to catch these fish. Simple LM bass tackle is all that is needed. 10 pound fire line or mono, 20 pound leader and a good drag and have some fun.

Once we get the first major North easter and the temps get into the 40's for a few days, these fish will leave the shallows and the rivers and start congregating around the river mouths and channel edges. But it's the short lived shallow water fishery that occurs along the shoreline of the bay to all the way up tidal rivers that is a truly unique and exiting time to fish.

[colonel_corn]

From what I've read, the population of Striped Bass in the James is rather unique -- they are genetically different from other Chesapeake stripers and tend not to participate in the northward migration after spawning. Maybe the abundance of year round bait allows them to stay put through the winter months?

[wasabi]

How come none of the guides seem to offer or specialize in tidal james striper fishing if they are here year round? Or even seasonally?

[colonel_corn]

...I'll give this post another bump up as I'm always interested in learning what others have to say about Stripers in the James River. The proximity to the river affords me the only real opportunity to fish for Stripers. I do make it out to the Bay, but maybe only once or twice a year. Specific information about the resident population seems scant, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the learning curve. I leave the river a smarter fisherman every time out.

To respond to Wasabi's post, there most certainly are guides on the James that will take you fishing for Stripers but my guess is that the majority of their clients would rather fish for the more glamorous Blue Catfish (if you can call a catfish glamorous!) and there can not be a large enough pool of potential clients out there willing to pay for a Striper trip on the James versus at the Bay Bridge Tunnel. The latter clearly offers a shot at a known better class of fish.

Cheers.

[wasabi]

Catfishing and catfishermen still seems to occupy the lower end of the sportfishing spectrum according to the attitudes of most the fishermen I know. I meet far more fishermen who would prefer to chase bass, striper, crappie, trout, etc. to where a local striper fishery would seem to be of interest. Usually, if the fish are there, you'll find well advertised guides to fulfill the needs of fishermen. Lake Anna has plenty of bass/striper guides, the lower James has plenty of catfish guides, upper James has it's smallie guides, even Moomaw and lesser fished waters have their perch/trout/etc. guides. Almost suggests there isn't a significant striper population to chase in the lower James even if there are lots of anecdotal stories of people catching them. I've caught a few, know others who have too, but almost always byproducts of catfishing. I hear a whole lot more reports than actual pictures. For me I'd much rather catch a few 5 and 10 pound striper on sporting tackle than winch in some bloated 30+ pound catfish. I still enjoy catfishing but would prefer having the option of striper fishing too. Maybe it is because the striper fishing is only decent for short durations each spring and fall? Doesn't make sense the city goes wild for the annual spring shad run but only a few mentions of striper.

[BBCroaker]

Kayak fished for stripers early this morning until 1 pm at the Hopewell Bridge and up to the Railroad Bridge .All artificial lures. Rattle Traps.,Spinners, Crankbaits. No stripers one small bass .Did anybody do any catching?

[madtom]

I went catfishing, but set up in some known striper holes, nada. Maybe I will get some tonight.

[striperjoe32]

I also fished Sat. nite for about 2 hours and concentated heavily on certain areas from Dutch Gap up river about 5-6 miles. I also did not catch any but it was actually an exploratory trip(That what Chris Harris used to call em). I once used a well known "navigation light" to catch enough stripers to wear anyone out, aka Striperjoe32. I was hurt when I was accused of not disclosing the real reason I requested this navigation light be repaired.:cool2: Chris Harris and Neil just to name a few that questioned my integrity, oh was I hurt.........to think they accused me of LYING.....:rolleyes:

32 fish the first night and 41 the second night !ALL but one over 20 inches. All it took was the right time of day, light vs night, right stage of tide movement and - did I mention the right lure yet?
I will fish the next 2 weeks or actually exploring some Old traditional holes and if I do produce stripers I will let you guys know. AS in the past, stripers like big cats are usually caught and released in the Dutch Gap Area(sorry Chris E. - just had to do it);-)

Lures - I will disclose THE lure for 22's as we call em (20" - 28") with most being std size of approx. 22 inches long. Because I have not cleaned out the local WalMarts lately I will tell you the lures that are most effective are found in the fishing aisle. So there.....hope this helps. After I stock up (nothing but greed, I am so sorry for that too) I will give more particulars.
MadTom - interested in any side bets next tourney? :clap:

PS - Was it the right end or left end of the BH bridge, not I mean the Rt 10 bridge, I'm sorry, where is Herring Creek or actually the pylons behind DG in the "warm water" that we used to fish all the time. Actually none of these are my holes but all should produce a striper or two. Just make sure you purchase the right lures, info to follow !

Capt. Joe aka Striperjoe aboard the Catfish Cadillac aka The Striper Showroom.......

[madtom]

side bets? I have to work next weekend. I like 2 big fish anyways. I don't like to fish anything smaller than half a shad. Good luck guys. Save some rocks for me.

[BBCroaker]

Thanx for thr good Info 32~

[CaptainK.Salmon]

We had our limits for stripers this past weekend.Friday( 8 ), Saturday ( 12 ), and only two keepers Sunday. The fish only hit the first 2 hours of day light. (19"--25" fish)

[BBCroaker]

We had our limits for stripers this past weekend.Friday( 8 ), Saturday ( 12 ), and only two keepers Sunday. The fish only hit the first 2 hours of day light. (19"--25" fish)

In the James River?

[CaptainK.Salmon]

James river near hopewell

[fatcatonthejames]

Appomattox near Hopewell. What was he thinking.

Capt. FAT CAT:bigfish:

[BBCroaker]

Well tried again over the weekend at the mouth of the Appamattox.Was windy. Tides were really high so I casted grubbs into edges of the grass. One measly blue cat.Shoulda braught a magic marker and put stripes on it.

Saw several boats down from me anyone catch any?

[CaptainK.Salmon]

We caught limits this weekend but we were using cut shad.

If you are using grubs fish try stone pier.

[wasabi]

Any pics?

[CaptainK.Salmon]

We do not take any unless they are over 30 lbs.

[BBCroaker]

Thanks for the reply and info.

[BBCroaker]

Went up to Hopewell ramp to try it again today. Tide was so low there was water only in the channel and the wind was howling.Didn't splash my kayak. I'll be back!

[BBCroaker]

Ok finally did it today! Was about to give up.
Caught several dinks, one keeper 23" and one broke my line.
The were jumping at the end of the outgoing tide one almost jumped in my kayak. Sceared the day lite out me he was right a face level to me when he came out of the water. Think he tried to spit in my eye.
All this on the flat at City Point in about1-2ft of water
Was a good day of fishing.:thumbup:
ANYBODY ELSE?

[Kessler]

Was out there til 9:00,will stay longer Sun.night.
Had a few knocks but didn't boat anything.:censored:
'Bout ran over 2 maroons anchored in the channel with no lights!
BB,Were you in the yak?

[fishdadhunt]

The mythic striped one of the Dutch GAp AreA. Either they are almost impposble to catch or they are in such low numbers that it is a waste of time. Spent a bit of the outgoing today and all I could land was a gull. Found fish of unkown type ripping up bait on the surface but if they were striped one they were not taking what I had or someting else. Live too far to the salty waters to go there often. but beat not catching.

[BBCroaker]

Kessler
If it was a yellow yak it was me!


Man today shure looked good for stripers with the cloud cover .
Would love to have been out there but had Sunday things going.

[majnow]

Fished for Stripers in the Dutch Gap/ Deep Bottom area on Sunday. Usally fish for Stripers on the bay, but decided to try the James River this time, plus it is a lot closer to home. We tried cut bait first and after about 2 hours had Nada, decided to troll some redfins, stretch 12s, bucktails and results were Nada. Then decided to cast Rattle Traps looking for the smaller ones and nothing.

So, what is the deal? Local bait shops claim the Stripers are there.

Keith

[BBCroaker]

majnow:
They're there just got to find em. Look for the water coming of off the flats on the out going tide.

Stopped by at the ramp on the way home from monthly retirement breakfeast at Cracker Barrel yesterday with my yak in the back of the truck "man it was windy."
No way i was going to splash my yak with it howling like that at the Hopewll Bridge , and anyway I ate to many buiscuits woulda been rough paddling ,.
Maybe tommorrow or the next day.

[ColdOnTheShoulder]

Do fall stripers come up as far as Richmond?

[FISHPIRATE]

When the water temps come down there will be plenty.....lower james have scattered fish now but temperature is everything to bring these fish up and feeding...these fish have serious feeding patterns even when there here...outgoing tide at dusk is good shot...bucktails rattletraps and sassy shad are my favorites when casting to old dock pylons bridges and dont forget shallow water ive caught them in two feet of water feeding by docks or rock jettys... Pony pasture to the bay every year great fighters... My best fish last year was 29 lbs 41 inches in the james...but many bigger fish were caught last year in the 30s and up in the river... Colder the better

[BBCroaker]

Well no catching yesterday but had one on and got to see it's head just before it came off of my pearl grubb. Guess thats why they call it fishing.:thumbup: