My first striper on a needle was not too long ago. I was fishing an area where the tide has gone out more than thought (messed up reading chart and or confused dates :P) and was throwing everything that was dark colored (no moon visible). I had a yellow over white Gibbs needle (sinks SLOW - more of a floater class). Water wasn't deep in the bay I was fishing (< 3' deep) and when the fish first hit it sounded like an explosion in the water (it missed the lure!) and got it back in fast and rifled it back out .... slow retrieve and WHAM ..... wooooo hooooo.
FAT 34" from an area I had only gotten schoolies and seen tons of peanuts.
Only reason I bothered to stay in this area was during the day driving past and happen to see two guys flip a fish back in the water that was BIG. I just happen to see it otherwise I would have ignored the spot.
Fish had lots of green crabs, some lobster in it's stomach. It wasn't until I fished RI w/ Crafty that I saw a fish with a lobster in the belly. Some companies now offer lures that look like lobsta (black over orange SuperStrike bullets look awesome - I have some in my bag now!).
Keep at it - persistance pays off.
It is that adrenaline rush that keeps us going back. I find solitude standing in the water, having waves rock me and listening to the sounds of the nite until something yanks the rod out of my hands and the drag starts screaming! Of course if you ever tuna fish, that will wreck you and stripers won't seem funny any more!
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