Mackerel chunk on Striper
 

Can you use frozen chunk of mackerel on Striper. Do they bite on this kind of bait.

Sure you can. I would definitely go with herring though.

Do you also use them as frozen chunks?

I once caught three schoolies and a keepah on one individual mac chunk

but I still prefer herring

:D

Can I also use live skipjack as a bait co'z I usually catch a lot of them on a kastmaster. Has anyone tried this one before.

Yup, I've done it. Fresh is always better though, but if its all you have, go for it! I find the frozen stuff tends not to last as long and falls off the hook much sooner. Live bait is always a good idea, give-m-hell. Check a local grocery store for fresh unfrozen fish if you get a chance.

I caught my biggest shore striper - 40 lbs+ on a frozen mackerel chunk on a sunny November afternoon! So yes, the frozen chunks work as long as the bait was fairly fresh at time of freezing.

I seem to have better luck with mack chunks than herring. it might just be a confidence thing. I second the fresh fish from the grocery store. One night in june at the canal i got 4 fish in the 34-40" range on nice fresh mack that i got at stop and shop. To bad they dont sell fresh pogies. I got a few fresh off a boat in Nj this spring and it was like candy, fresh is best but frozen still catches.

i would go with the macks at the supermarket same thing with squid fresh is best

Depending on your bait shop the mackerel there might be just as good as they are all flash frozen.. but the supermarket charges 4-5X's more... and the best squid is the squid you catch in may.. most of the supermarket squid is california squid and also from some island from the far east, again $$..

I like to fish mackerel chunks cut in small 1/2" circles or a fillet cut in half the long way on a gammie shiner hook.. I've pulled large bass from SPL out on the break wall... and if the bass aren't bitting dig it down deeper for some door mat's...


I don't think fresh has alot to do with it as much as presentation. I've caught some nice fish from some really rotten eels and one time I left my squid on the boat 2 days, it went all pink we still used it and still caught stripers...

Although when using fresh bait your stink factor is alot less when you come home and your vehicle will appreciate it as well as others that enter it.


for fluke :D it's the bomb!!! nothing like a little blue one on the bottom dancing like a mad one with a hook in it's butt still trying to hit the silversides and mummychogs while the old door mat is inching it's way over...

Giving the chunk a dose of juice doesn't hurt either. Oh yeah, and don't throw yer left over and freezer burned bait away. Save it for chumming. I like to slice the stuff into sliver dollar pieces. Feed um only enough to keep them interested. It's made the difference on a few trips this year.

Frozen ...well thawed mackerel chunks are one of the best striper baits going. they hold up on the hook better than ''fresh'' and /or frozen pogies and aerodynamically, they cast a lot better into the wind .