First, I'd like to introduce myself to the board. I fished a bit in my youth, and since I got out of school a couple of years I've done more serious striper fishing from shore on the North Shore, So. NH, and some of the breachways around Westerly RI. I've had decent success, catching fish up to 20lbs thus far. I have joined this board for the quality reports and tips that I have seen thus far, and look forward to contributing in any way I can. My goal for this season is to break the 25# barrier, and maybe approach 30#.
And now for my observation on those ghost-bellied fish around PI... I've brought home/cleaned 2 of my keepers caught on PI this season and noticed very little if any food in their stomachs. One was emty, the other had what appeared to be a partially digested minnow of some kind. For 12-15# fish, I thought this was strange as they must be piggin out this time of year. I have witnessed the barf phenomena during frenzies, but these fish were not in a frenzy. There seems to be plenty of bait around in the river this year, so I don't think it is lack of food. I think it may be due to their feeding cycle and the tides. Their hunting tactics depend on the movement of the water. I fish the mouth around the low, which appears to be a time when the stripers are just moving back through the mouth upriver to chase bait. When the tide turns they ride it down, gorge, and by mid-tide they're outside the mouth again. Perhaps then they rest, digest, and prepare for the rising tide. Just an idea...
