Stomach Content - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

bloocrab · 02-28-2003, 05:28 PM

I know I'm not the only one who investigates "IT". One of the first things I do when I get home is open up that intestine/stomach sack. I'm always very curious as to what our gamefish have been feeding on, especially in the last 6-10 hours. I believe this will GREATLY increase my catch or at least the odds of.

Within the last few years, the most common denominator <<for me>> has been some sort of crab/crustacean. I don't fresh-water fish, (would if invited) but generally, I stick to salt. The point I'm getting at is, I've seen some pretty funky lures for fresh. IE: Frogs - Crickets - etc...Recently I came across a funky "artificial" specifically made for salt, which is humorous in one way (see below

), but very serious in another. I'm sure some of you have seen this before, but for me..it was a first. I'm not sure how long this "lure" will last, durability wise. I don't imagine it lasting too long with the way its constructed...but I JUST HAVE TO TRY IT!!

I'm pretty sure I can get this 4 inch arti-fishy to work

What do you think,,,, - Will it CATCH???

DaveS · 02-28-2003, 05:31 PM

I just saw some like that at the Sports Authority called "Riptide" baits. I think they'll crush it.

bloocrab · 02-28-2003, 05:36 PM

..yeah Dave,

- those be the ones...

Quote:

I think they'll crush it.

...I guess that means you think it'll catch...at least once, anyways....hee hee hee

....also picked up some of the 5" mullets. I'm such a sucka for tackle I haven't seen/used...

Blitzseeker · 02-28-2003, 05:45 PM

I think it will work if it is fished properly, but I've never used anything like that and I don't know anyone who has.

Does anyone have ideas on how you'd work this thing?

DaveS · 03-01-2003, 06:05 AM

We fish with "softie" calico crabs here in NJ with great sucess, Sometimes thats all they want in the summer months.

Fishpart · 03-01-2003, 06:49 AM

Last couple I ate had either little lobsters or green crabs inside. Got me thinkin' about big crayfish imitations..

STEVE IN MASS · 03-01-2003, 07:16 AM

Bloo - I got one of your baby cousins

sitting on top of my computer monitor that I took out of a bass's stomach last year - fully intact......

Goose · 03-02-2003, 06:19 PM

those craby pattys glow in the dark ya know

Jenn · 03-02-2003, 06:48 PM

too much spongebob there goose???

Clammer · 03-02-2003, 07:41 PM

I had a 800# day a while back fishing Marion ,Mass for tautog==========commercial
crayfish for bait !!!!!!!!!!
smoked them & eneryone one that was there ////////////

mikecc · 03-02-2003, 08:04 PM

all the bass I ever caught on eels I never seen an eel in a stripers belly

GBOUTDOORS · 03-02-2003, 08:04 PM

Three lobster in that Cuttyhunk bass on the June trip. I think they fish rubber crabs for red fish down south and have seen them rigged with a hook in the back so they can be swum backwards like a real crab.

IFG · 03-02-2003, 08:20 PM

try it try everything I just ordered the cajun crab kit from offshore angler

macojoe · 03-02-2003, 08:21 PM

Now that you mention it Mike I never have eaither?? I think they swim back out or rt thur

mikecc · 03-02-2003, 08:38 PM

LOL

bassmaster · 03-02-2003, 08:45 PM

Goose · 03-02-2003, 08:52 PM

thats what happens when ya don't eat your ginger

hooked · 03-02-2003, 10:47 PM

Here's some data from a study that Mass DMF did.

http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dmf/Pr...pbass.htm#bass

=================

Diet Items Found in the Stomachs of Striped Bass Collected from Massachusetts Waters

Striped Bass gut contents displaying different sizes of prey
We also found that the striped bass ate different sizes of prey. Fish prey ranged in size from 0.9" to 19" total length, and crab prey ranged in size from 0.1" to 4" carapace width. Individuals of menhaden and sand lance were generally <5" and the three dominant crabs (rock, green, and lady crabs) were generally <3". American lobsters eaten by striped bass were <2" carapace length.

Using the bioenergetic model, we estimated that an "average" striped bass of six years (27 inches in length) must eat about 16 pounds of prey to gain 1 pound in weight during June-September in Massachusetts' waters. Most energy contributing to the growth of this age class comes from different fish prey during June-July, but mainly from menhaden during August-September. These results confirmed the importance of fishes like menhaden to the survival and health of the striped bass population. (see Graph of Consumption below)

Mike P · 03-03-2003, 12:02 AM

Mike--I never found an eel in a bass' stomach either---found almost everything else. Leper Abbie once cleaned one with a bird in it.

I don't think eels really are that plentiful in the surf when they're not migrating to spawn. Maybe that's why ya don't find them there. The eel that you catch them on usually gets blown out after you hook up, and you find it above the hook, strung on your leader.

BM---looks like an Alberto appetizer

fishsmith · 03-03-2003, 07:50 AM

Those plastic crabs might be good cod teasers too, I always find crabs in their stomachs, then again I've found a toy green army guys in a cod..... hmmm, I'll bet if I put a hook on it someone on ebay would bite.

bloocrab · 03-03-2003, 10:25 AM

..I'm no biologist, but could it be possible that eels get broken down by the acids quicker??...even with "River" caught bass, I have never seen eels in the sack

JohnR · 03-03-2003, 11:28 AM

I've found eels several times in the stomach of a bass. The interesting part is that I really don't check too many stomachs. I'm often rushing after being told to get the blood and scales off the driveway (OK, not really

)...

One of those eels had what could have been a tracheotomy from an angler in it but the others were regular eels in various stages of breaking down.

Spare Spool · 03-03-2003, 12:15 PM

This is my thought on eels. Eels live in freshwater and spawn in saltwater. Stripers spawn in freshwater and live in saltwater. Eels live where stripers spawn. I think female stripers consider eels mortal enemies because they are a threat to their eggs. That's why eels catch big bass. The big bass are all females. The smaller male bass don't care too much about eels but the big female bass aggressively attack eels because they are instictively going after their mortal enemy. Just my $.02.

Notaro · 03-03-2003, 02:26 PM

yo guys, i tried fishing a striper with an eel. it doesnt do a squat. any advice. crabs? how do you make a peeler or rig a crab? i tried using it. the succuess is low.

hooked, does a lobster work? rew u gonna try it?

steve, the soft crab was recently designed and developed by japanese people in japan.

BM- what were those long white tails out of the striper's mouth?

JohnR · 03-03-2003, 02:32 PM

Quote:

yo guys, i tried fishing a striper with an eel

Than you may not have been doing it right or their were no bass around. And sometimes, just sometimes - the feed bag isn't on.

In almost all cases, you can't just stick something on, cast it, expect fish, certainly if a novice. There are some people that can do it but it takes decades of experience to reach that point. You are truly fooling yourself if you think you'll be able to do that right away.

Find one or two things/methods and stick with them until you have a good grasp and some success.

Notaro · 03-03-2003, 02:35 PM

johnr, u re right. so im gonna try using eels in the right time.

bassmaster · 03-03-2003, 02:39 PM

Notaro , those are sand eels in the bass mouth.
You can start eeling in june here on the cape at night.
an olive and white belly eel works during the late after noon at times I found out. I use to eel after I got My fix on plugs
now I do better on plugs

Notaro · 03-03-2003, 02:40 PM

BM-how do i use plastic sandeels? jig them up?

bassmaster · 03-03-2003, 02:53 PM

plastic sand eels as in what eddy stone.
well U drag them along the bottom with a penny weight
I use gs rubber and a 3/4 lead head/bullet now.
guess Im showing My age No

hooked · 03-03-2003, 04:49 PM

The only way I'll use a real lobster is to eat a couple and then go fishing.

Since I read this, I thought of a couple things. First is to see if I can find some artifical crawfish baits (jumbo size) and second is to tie some flies that would imitate.

As far as eels go, they work OK for me.